Spring 2012
The Magazine for Mount Alumnae and Friends
Margaret Norrie McCain
Largest donation in Mount’s history transforms campus
Distance learning celebrates 30 years Over 220 courses available. Which course will you take? msvu.ca/distance
Contents I Spring 2012 3
Girls 2012
4 7
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
14 18
Mount hosts conference that celebrates, inspires and supports girls
Mount reduces its carbon footprint
COVER STORY Margaret Norrie McCain’s $2.25 million donation transforms campus
Alumnae Weekend 2011/2012 See pictures of alumnae weekend 2011 and learn what we have planned for 2012
Zurawski decries “Media Mediocrity” Turn off the TV and learn some science, advises alumnus
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Alumnae Gatherings and Celebrations Alumnae gatherings on campus and off, and in cities across Canada
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Classnotes Find out what your fellow alumnae are doing now
On THE COVER: The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, OC, ONB, DHumL ’05, surrounded by grateful students following her announcement of a $2.25-million investment in the future of the Mount. Photo taken in the newly renovated Rosaria Dining Hall.
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Message from the President On February 9, faculty, staff, students, alumnae and Mount supporters gathered in the Multipurpose Room for the unveiling of a secret. This was a celebration of the largest individual donation in the history of the Mount. The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, OC, ONB, DHumL ‘05, contributed $2.25 million to the University, marking the launch of a partnership with the Mount. McCain invested in the construction of a new and unique Teaching, Learning and Research Centre, which our board of governors unanimously voted to name in her honour. The new Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research at the Mount will embody a focus on women that is unique to a university in this country. The Mount remains the only independent university in Canada that places the advancement of women at the top of its agenda, and at the centre of its academic programming. The Centre will reflect this focus in every aspect of its design and construction. Donors are sponsoring the naming of interior common and academic spaces in honour of individual women. The central Elizabeth and Fred Fountain Atrium will incorporate special art installations telling the stories of 12 Inspiring Women. And, the building’s exterior will feature a special Women’s Wall of Honour that invites donors to pay homage to special women in their lives. The momentum for Project TWENTY12 is building. Our intrepid team of volunteer leaders, which includes many alumnae, has raised $7.5 million to date toward our $12 million private sector fundraising goal for the Margaret McCain Centre. We have committed to providing our students, faculty and staff with new and improved learning and research spaces . . . spaces that provide an immersive experience focused on recognizing women from all walks of life. We invite our alumnae to support this exciting project that is so vital to the future of the Mount.
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Editor’s Note The Magazine for Mount Alumnae and Friends
Editor Alison DeLory, BPR ’98 University Advancement Manager, Alumnae Relations: Shani Pearson Program Coordinator, Alumnae Relations: Beth Pyesmany Arsenault Manager, Development: Anne Thibodeau Program Coordinator, Development: Stéphanie Comeau, BPR ’09 Administrative Assistant: Erin Hemeon Records Clerk: Kathryn Baker Special Events Assistant (Co-op): Emily LeBlanc Contributors Joy Farrell-Grove, arts student The following departments at the Mount: Archives Art Gallery Facilities Management Public Affairs University Advancement COVER Shari Tucker Folia Montana maintains and strengthens the connection among alumnae, friends and the University through coverage of newsworthy accomplishments, discussion of campus issues, information on Alumnae Association activities, and the sharing of class notes. It appears twice a year. The digital edition is posted on the University’s website at www.msvu.ca/alumnae
The stories in this issue of Folia Montana make me hopeful for the present and future of our University. The theme of community service and the spirit of giving back fill these pages much the same way they permeate campus. The Mount exists as part of something bigger than itself, and the many people who comprise its staff, faculty, student body and alumnae seem to share a common understanding and appreciation of the responsibility this brings. “Caritas” is Latin for charity, for acts of selfless kindness that come from a place of love. Caritas Day was celebrated in January, a day on which classes were cancelled so students could learn about and practice volunteerism (see p. 6). When I was doing my undergrad, students regarded Caritas Day as a holiday. It is heartening to see its revival in the true spirit of what the Sisters of Charity envisioned when they declared the day in 1951. In this issue you’ll meet Kelly MacLeod, MAEd ’01, MEd ’05 (p. 12), a school principal who volunteers on the alumnae association’s board of directors, and hear from Richard Zurawski, Mar ’10, (p. 20-21) as to why he thinks we should all turn off our TVs and make an effort to understand science, the basis of our civilization. You can also read about alumnae living in Uozu, Japan, taking the lessons they learned at the Mount about socially responsible teaching into classrooms on the other side of our world (p. 26). If the Mount’s history is rich, so too is its future. Success in the Project TWENTY12 campaign (p. 10-11), most recently evidenced by the remarkably generous gift of $2.25 million toward the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research (p. 7-9), means there will be many more accomplishments by members of the Mount community to come.
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“Presenting at Girls 2012 gave me the opportunity to talk about something important with different generations and see if it mattered to them as well. Being able to sit down and have an open conversation was refreshing.” – Allison Sparling, BPR student who presented Writing for Rights: Realizing Social Media as a Tool for Girls.
Landmark conference tackles social justice
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n March, the Mount community celebrated International As the others listened intently to Abdille at the Women’s Day with a major conference dedicated international students’ panel, I found myself gazing at to discussing the challenges, experiences and another young woman who wiped the tears from her eyes accomplishments of girls and young women. Called GIRLS and ducked her head to see if her friends were as impacted 2012, this landmark conference was a showcase project by Abdille as she was. Investing in women will change the of the Mount’s Institute for Women, world, Abdille reiterated. Her words were Gender, and Social Justice. Nearly simple and heartfelt as she recounted life 300 girls, young women, and those in a refugee camp prior to a life-changing “Body image, sexual concerned about girls’ issues and scholarship that brought her to the Mount. social justice for girls in Canada and In that room with the bright lights, after a assault awareness, around the world took part in two full day of PhD presentations on feminist theory safe schools for LBGTQI days of workshops, seminars, films, and practical applications, the real intent of readings, and discussion. the GIRLS 2012 was realized, another life youth, activism, women Joy Farrell-Grove, Bachelor of Arts sparked and changed because women and student, Class of 2012, attended girls came together. in politics and women’s GIRLS 2012 on behalf of Folia A short time later conference attendees participation in sport and Montana and filed this report. assembled in the auditorium of Seton “The room I sat in was quiet. We Academic Centre to hear about an unrelenting science – all of these waited patiently for our panelist to and powerful thirst for justice that is growing topics were discussed continue her life’s narrative. GIRLS in Kenya, fuelled by girls aged three to 2012 saw people 17 whose lives have been rocked by the and passionately of all genders devastation of rape. The enormity of their and walks of life project is as exhilarating as it is daunting debated. I was greatly converge to share but this group of girls, so far removed from inspired.” in the power, grace Kenya, has seen a way to ease the weight of and inspiration of the project and has already started planning bringing together a fundraising campaign for their school. I – Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, everyone who caught up with a teacher from their school President and Vice-Chancellor shares a concern to remark that she had an amazing group for girls’ rights, of girls, and to think, only in high school. A issues and social justice the world knowing smile filled her face and she told me: over. But what brought us here, in groups and Five Bridges Academy is a junior high school. Those girls, as individuals, faded in the moments as Halima Abdille with swinging ponytails and a steadfast dream of helping raised her eyes to the group assembled before her. Abdillie girls across the world, are in grade nine. is an international student at the Mount, who came from GIRLS 2012 brought together academics, professionals Somalia to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration. and people in the know. It made us think and challenged She reminded us that it is our hopes and dreams that notions of femininity and pop culture, and gave a forum to keep us going, no matter our stories – their differences voices usually silenced. Most importantly it impacted young and similarities. women and drew them into action for other young women.”
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Sustainability initiatives helping Mount reduce its carbon footprint
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The crow knows The meaning of the name Sully is “keen eye,” and thus the ambassador for all things ‘green’ at the Mount, Sully the Sustainable Crow, keeps close watch on environmental practices. Sully strives to promote environmental consciousness and sustainable practices across campus. Crows, all 31 species of them, are known for their intelligence and resilience, and being adaptable to many environments. Sully is a suitable promoter of the Mount’s sustainability program, not just because he’s a crow, but because crows have chosen to call the Mount campus home for many years. It is estimated that as many as 7,500 crows live on campus home and Sully’s ‘stamp of approval’ is placed on initiatives that involve ‘being green’. For example, Sully promotes toner cartridge recycling, reducing paper memos, no idling zones and no smoking areas.
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n 2009, the Mount embarked on an initiative known as the Facilities Improvement Program (FIP). FIP encompasses three key initiatives: sustainability, energy efficiency and deferred maintenance. This move was part of the Mount’s overall plan to reduce its environmental footprint by improving upon and creating new environmental initiatives. “The Mount wants to develop an environmentally sustainable campus that is economically viable,” said Rick Walkden, CertBusi ‘84, supervisor, custodial services. “We know it’s possible, and we’re proving it.” The initial program cost $3.4 million and the project was completed on time and under budget. The University’s goal was to have the generated utility savings pay for the project in nine years; however, the audited first year results reduced the payback period to six years, with a further reduction forecast for this year. “We’ve developed an action plan and are monitoring systems that track progress and promote successes,” said Walkden. “So far, we’re very pleased with the results.” They include: • 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions • 48% reduction in heating fuel costs • 22% reduction in electricity usage • 56% water usage reduction In 2011, the Mount switched to natural gas for its energy needs. As an anchor customer, the Mount enabled natural gas pipeline construction to expand into the surrounding Fairview/Clayton Park neighbourhoods. “We strive to meet the current and future energy needs of our students, faculty and staff while preserving the environment for future generations,” said Walkden. His team is mindful of the beauty of the Mount’s campus, and works to help students, staff and faculty become responsible environmental citizens both on and off campus. This includes promoting the Mount’s “green” ambassador, Sully the Sustainable Crow (see sidebar), and using a foot stamp around campus to remind people to take such actions as turning off the lights when they leave a classroom. “We need buy-in from everyone on campus,” said Walkden. “The whole Mount community needs to take this up so there’s a culture of sustainability here.” Education is a key part of the plan, as is cooperating with other post-secondary institutions and government agencies, and ensuring ecological, economic and social considerations form the foundation of the Mount’s planning and operations. Other achievements to date include the development of a sustainability web site, an environmental policy statement, Earth Day/Hour activities, participation in the World Wildlife Federation Canada’s National Sweater Day, and partnering with the Atlantic Universities and Colleges Sustainability Network (AUCSN). On May 28-29, 2012, the Mount will host the AUCSN conference where future initiatives and best practices will be developed. The Mount has also worked with faculty members on developing chemical and lab waste protocols, the student environmental committee (SAVE), and with outside contractors providing “Green Seal” approved cleaning chemicals. The Mount’s Alumnae Relations office has been a strong supporter of this program. Readers of Folia Montana can also get involved by choosing to receive the magazine by email. A digital version is available online and you can request to receive an email reminder the next time it’s published by emailing alumnae@msvu.ca.
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life to celebrate
Dr. Pierre Gérin to learned publications. He became professor emeritus in 1985. Never forgetting his French origins, he became Honorary Consul in Halifax. He received many French honours including the Chevrolet de l’ordre des Palmes Academique in 1984, and Chevalier de l’ordre National du Merit in 1990. He was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Sister Marie Amirault, SCM, ACAD ‘27, BA ‘30, a Mount alumna who died in 2011 at age 100. He was survived by his second wife, Cecile Amirault, his brother, Paul, five children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ursula Johnson, the artist performing Elmiet 2010 (photo: Krista Comeau)
On November 8, 2011, Dr. Pierre Gérin, who taught French language and literature at the Mount for more than 20 years, died. He was born July 28, 1919 in Lyon, France. After serving in the military during WWII, he immigrated to Madagascar. During 17 years there, Gérin held various positions in education including instructor, director and professor. He successfully completed his doctorate in French literature, and in 1967, immigrated to Canada. While at the Mount, Gérin became interested in the Acadians and their culture. He was a prolific author, from short stories
Art Gallery hosts artist-in-resident Ursula Johnson From January 10 through February 18, Mi’kmaw artist Ursula Johnson worked in a studio space within the MSVU Art Gallery, hosting basket-making workshops, open studio days and other events. As an activist, Johnson employs contemporary, theatrical and traditional Aboriginal practices to engage viewers in social situations. A skilled basket maker, she frequently combines basketry with performance and relational aesthetics. For example, in the performance Elmiet (2010), Johnson’s actions and basketry “scalp” headpiece reminded a crowd on the Halifax Grand Parade of the continued existence of the 1756 Scalping Proclamation in Nova Scotia legislation. In Ke’Pitemn (2008), she served tea and bannock to strangers in the North End, to reinforce a sense of community among persons of various backgrounds. As an urban resident, she interprets the sense of urgency of aboriginal cultural preservation. Johnson has exhibited widely and participated in artists’ residencies across Canada.
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Students give back on Caritas Day
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n January 25, 2012, the Mount community celebrated Caritas Day by cancelling classes so students and faculty could volunteer to give back to the community. The Sisters of Charity established Caritas Day after the devastating fire of 1951 that destroyed the only building on campus at the time. In their time of need, people all over Halifax opened their doors to host Mount students and classroom lectures. The community’s response so inspired the Sisters of Charity that they established Caritas Day to remember these tremendous acts of kindness. This year, the Department of Business Administration & Tourism and Hospitality Management spearheaded efforts, and almost 200 of its students signed up to take part. The students attended workshops on volunteerism, made sandwiches with the Sisters of Charity for the Out of the Cold Homeless Shelter, or paired up with faculty to collect non-perishable food donations from neighbouring residences. Alumna Amanda Mombourquette, BEd ’03, MEd ’05, MEd ’06, joined a team of business and tourism students who went door-to-door collecting nonperishable food items for the campus food bank. “I’m home with a baby (her daughter, April, who canvassed with her) so it’s nice to get out and help when I can,” she said. “Life gets so busy, but
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if ever yone helped when they could, there’d be a lot more people out there helping.” Mombourquette said that while many doors went unanswered, the people who were home were ver y generous. Peggy MacKinnon, BA ’00, lives near the Mount and was at home when two students came canvassing for food bank donations. “When I was a student ever yone treated Caritas Day as a day off. These guys are showing us up!” MacKinnon said, adding the students’ efforts make her ver y proud to be part of the alumnae. On Twitter, MacKinnon said Caritas Day is, “Pretty awesome.” Sister Helen Danahy, BSc ’60, BEd ’69, from the Sisters of Charity, kicked-off the day by talking to the students about volunteerism at a free breakfast. She said the Sisters have long sought to identify where the community’s needs are and ways they can help, as well as ways to be a voice for those in need. Where once their efforts included sending clothes to foreign missions, today the Sisters focus more on responding to the needs of those nearby. Sister Helen said students, too, have a lot to offer, and mentioned that a student volunteer at Caritas House, the Sisters’ residence overlooking the Mount campus, helped them learn to use Skype. “Giving,” Sister Helen said, “is paying joyful witness to God.”
Mount students experience volunteer tourism Eleven Mount students, two faculty members (Dr. Peter Mombourquette and Dr. Sandi Findlay-Thompson, BBA ’85) and staff member Scott Daniels, BBA ’09, CertIT ’10, went to New York City during the February 20-25 reading week to participate in “volunteer tourism.” The Mount’s Department of Business & Tourism offered a study tour course during the winter semester on the theme of volunteer tourism – the concept of traveling and volunteering in communities abroad. The Mount partnered with the Sisters of Charity to participate in three volunteer activities during their time in New York. With the support of S. Judy Park, the students volunteered for two days at St. John’s Bread & Life in Brooklyn, NY, working in the pantry to fill client food orders and assist in hot meal preparation. “The experience at St. John’s Bread & Life was humbling for the Mount students and staff members as they had the opportunity to interact directly with the clients,” Daniels said. The students also volunteered at St. Joseph’s Parish in Yonkers, NY, working with S. Kati Hamm and Father George Kuhn to paint space the parish rents out to local community organizations.
Transformational $2.25 million donation largest individual gift in Mount’s history Margaret Norrie McCain honours commitment to women’s education
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he Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, OC, ONB, DHumL ‘05, donated $2.25 million to Mount Saint Vincent University – the largest individual gift in the Mount’s 140-year history. University leaders characterize its value as “transformational” to the institution. At a reception held Feb. 9 for more than 250 students, faculty, staff, alumnae and university friends who gathered to celebrate, Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, the Mount’s president, said, “Mrs. McCain’s act of generosity brings our plans for a new Teaching, Learning and Research Centre for our students, faculty and staff, that much closer to reality.” Mount Board Chair Sarah Veinot added, “It is a wonderful show of confidence in our mission, our place in education, and our vision for the new building. We are simply thrilled.” Mrs. McCain was drawn to the project in part because of the University’s plan to utilize various spaces throughout the building to pay homage to women (see p. 9). The Mount has not constructed a new classroom facility since 1971, and places a high priority on constructing new, better and more functional space. The new building will be named the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research. Construction will begin when the University’s $12 million fundraising program entitled Project TWENTY12, is finished. More than 50 community volunteers currently serve on
Project TWENTY12 fundraising committees. The current total stands at more than $7.4 million. The University aims to conclude fundraising at the end of 2012. The new Margaret McCain Centre will incorporate environmentally friendly design, learning labs, classrooms, interactive and collaborative technology and a student learning commons. Some of the Mount’s flagship programs and initiatives, including communications and public relations, business and tourism, women’s studies, the Gail and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Learning Disabilities, the Institute for Women, Gender and Social Justice, and the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging will make the McCain Centre their new home.
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The ‘Secret’ is out from Mount President Ramona Lumpkin’s blog, Feb. 13, 2012
(http://aviewfromthemount.blogspot.com/)
Since joining the Mount in 2010, I’ve had the chance to gather with staff, faculty, students, alumnae and friends for countless events ranging from our annual holiday luncheon to convocation ceremonies, fundraising events and day-today lunches in the cafeteria. Whatever the occasion, a positive energy and element of storytelling is always present when the Mount community comes together. Our mission has resonated with many people in Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada, and across the country. One woman in particular was moved by the campaign, a woman who has been steadfast in her support of organizations that promote women’s rights, social equality, early childhood education and the arts. This woman is the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, OC, ONB, DHumL ‘05. Mrs. McCain is so supportive of Project TWENTY12 that she has committed $2.25 million, the largest donation in the history of the Mount. As a result, our new building will be named the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research. Mrs. McCain first joined the Mount family in 2005 as the recipient of an Honorary Degree. As the first female Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, and the first woman to serve as Chancellor of her alma mater Mount Allison University, Mrs. McCain is someone whose career path and personal philosophy mirror what this building hopes to achieve. Celebrating Mrs. McCain’s gift to the Mount was a special moment in our University’s history, but perhaps more important, a look forward at what she called an ‘enviable future.’ The donation has brought our fundraising total to more than $7.4 million of a $12 million* goal. Her generosity is transformative for this campaign and for the quality of teaching and learning at the Mount. The announcement of Mrs. McCain’s gift was met with many rounds of cheers and applause throughout a room filled with hundreds of supporters. Later in the evening, at a small dinner for Mrs. McCain’s family and friends, Mount student Alissa Ali expressed the students’ thanks in a rap poem she wrote especially for the occasion. Ali honoured Mrs. McCain in a creative way that reflects our community’s positive energy and reputation for the “personal touch.” Margaret McCain will continue to be a very special member of our University family. I urge you to take a few moments to visit www.msvu.ca/ProjectTWENTY12 and learn more about how you can honour a special woman in your life. Until next time,
“Congratulations, Ramona, on the huge success of this afternoon’s (Feb. 9, 2012) announcement. I don’t think I’ve ever attended such an upbeat event at the Mount and I know there are others who felt the same way. The donation itself, of course, is great news, but the event was also superbly organized. Margaret McCain’s speech was obviously genuinely felt and goes to show that the best kind of institutional vision, and any campaign that arises from it, is based on principles that are true to the institution’s history and character. I think it also shows that the best kind of institutional change goes back to the institution’s roots and thinks about the future on that basis. May I also say that your own speech was true to those roots and that vision and offered real hope for the future.” – Dr. Ken Dewar, Professor Emeritus Department of History
* at print deadline, total was $7.5 million
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Margaret Norrie McCain explains admiration for the Mount in moving speech
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he Mount has always been a respected leader in impacts society. That is why I cannot state too strongly how Canada in the education of women. In fact, today’s important I think it is for us all to cherish the Mount’s mission Mount Saint Vincent is the only independent university and support its efforts to construct this new facility. in Canada that places the advancement As many of you know, my family has its of women at the top of its agenda and at roots and its heart here in Atlantic Canada. the centre of its academic programming. My mother was the first woman appointed That is very important to me. Why? to the Senate from Nova Scotia so I am “The health and Because the health and wellbeing of proud to say that she will be one of the 12 wellbeing of women women and children has been a personal women honoured in this new building. She mission for me for over 25 years. It is was a feminist before me and it was from and children has been at the centre of a healthy society. A her that I inherited this mission. Both of us woman’s physical and mental health is were educated at Mount Allison – another a personal mission for the key determinant in the health of a leader in the education of women and my me for over 25 years. fetus and of a child in the early critical mother was a friend of Sister Catherine developmental years. And, of course, Wallace – one of your former presidents. So It is at the centre of a this includes the education of women. it is with great pride and pleasure that, with healthy society.” Research tells us that the level of my husband Wallace, we are able to make education of a mother has an enormous a contribution that, we believe, will help the – Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain impact on the health and learning Mount realize its vision and meet its most outcomes of her children that, in turn, central need.”
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7.5
$
million to date
raising Project TWENTY12
$12 million in 20 months
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he Mount is more than halfway through an ambitious 20-month campaign to raise $12 million for the new Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research. It is the most ambitious and forward-looking fundraising effort in the Mount’s history. With more than $7.5 million already committed, a taskforce of 50-plus influential and committed leaders who believe our students need a learning environment that is contemporary, technology-rich and interactive are leading Project TWENTY12. “We’re really excited about the momentum the campaign is building. Mrs. McCain’s recent significant gift gives all committees a boost and incentive to reach our targets,” said Lynn Coveyduck, BPR ‘96, chair of the Communications and Public Relations Committee focused on fundraising $1 million of the total. The Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research will be home to flagship programs and initiatives, including: Nova Scotia Centre on Aging, business and tourism, communications and public relations, and the advancement of women/women’s programs. The new centre will transform the instructional environment and in doing so, will have a tremendous impact on our core mission: teaching.
Opportunties to honour and celebrate Mount Saint Vincent University is proud to dedicate its new Margaret Norrie McCain Centre to great women from all walks of life. With Project TWENTY12, the Mount is celebrating and
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honouring women while shaping the future of the university. The Margaret Norrie McCain Centre offers numerous opportunities to profile women and their accomplishments through the naming of various aspects of the facility including classrooms, undergraduate and graduate seminar rooms, learning labs, interview rooms, and a variety of spaces where students gather to socialize, study and learn. “I am confident that throughout Atlantic Canada and across our great country, women who deserve special recognition will be supported by generous donors – family, friends and colleagues – who wish to honour them in the halls of the beautiful new building,” says Ramona Lumpkin, President and Vice-Chancellor.
Make giving a celebration The Mount is known as a place where students succeed, where women shine, and where philanthropic gifts, large and small, have an impact. It holds a unique place in the educational landscape. The Mount is fiscally responsible and has adapted educational offerings to meet the changing needs of learners. Knowing its niche strength, the Mount empowers women to succeed, and every day enhances understanding of women’s issue on campus and beyond. The Mount’s future is bright and its purpose more important than ever. Making a donation to support the new Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research is easy. Call University Advancement at 902.457.6470, email: giving@msvu.ca, or give online at www.msvu.ca/waystogive.
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Women’s Wall of Honour: inspiring generations of students In total, 2012 spaces will make up the Women’s Wall of Honour, recognizing women whose lives and contributions have made a difference in business, public policy, family life, the arts, sciences and community. The installation will be the only one of its kind in Canada – fitting as it will be part of Canada’s leading university dedicated to the advancement and education of women. A sponsorship of $1,200 provides you the opportunity to celebrate a remarkable woman by reserving a space in her name on the Women’s Wall of Honour. This is a great way to celebrate the women in your life today as well as those who may have passed and had an impact on your life. “Alumnae, faculty and staff have responded very favourably to the Women’s Wall of Honour,” says Lumpkin. “We all have had remarkable women in our lives ... mothers, daughters, friends, teachers, colleagues ... all who deserve recognition.” With the Women’s Wall of Honour, the legacy of the women in our lives will inspire generations of students.
“I have chosen to celebrate my mother, Noreen Valenta, because Mum was ahead of her time. A woman taking engineering was quite a novelty in those days. To give you an idea of how it was back then, there was not even a women’s washroom in the building. She had to go to the Arts building for that amenity. But she found her classmates to be very supportive. They were all like brothers to her. We miss her terribly, but I am proud to know that her name will be among the many names of wonderful women on the Women’s Wall of Honour. ” – Dr. Katherine Darvesh
12 Inspiring Women: A unique installation As Canada’s only university founded by, and principally for women, Mount Saint Vincent will honour 12 inspiring women as part of Project TWENTY12. Through our 12 Inspiring Women program, the Mount will publicly celebrate the achievements of women who inspire us everyday. Each inspiring woman celebrated will be memorialized with a beautiful graphic montage centrally suspended in the main foyer (The Elizabeth and Fred Fountain Atrium). Each montage will incorporate a line-drawing of the woman and her signature. They will be designed as 12 individual works of art. In the foyer’s mezzanine, each inspiring woman’s story will be told in a distinctive permanent installation positioned to be accessible and highly visible to our university community and visitors.
Key features of the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research: • environmentally friendly and energy efficient infrastructure • learning labs • collaborative production studios • case rooms • undergraduate and graduate seminar rooms • classrooms • co-operative education centre • video conferencing facilities and technology • student learning commons • interactive and collaborative technology
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Mount Saint Vincent Alumnae Association Board of Directors
President’s Message
2011-12
HONORARY PRESIDENT Dr. Ramona Lumpkin
Executive Committee
Deanne MacLeod, BBA ’92 As spring starts to show itself, my thoughts turn to renewal and rejuvenation. The Mount is entering into an exciting time of renewal and rejuvenation that will set the course for its future. With the recent receipt of the largest donation ever received by the Mount, the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research is one large step closer to completion. The campus renewal that will result from a new, state-of-the-art building is clearly visible on the horizon. The Centre will also provide a catalyst for new research, academic programs and delivery of courses that will keep the Mount at the forefront of academic innovation. On a personal note, this spring marks 20 years since I graduated with my Bachelor of Business Administration (hello, Class of ’92!). Since then, thousands more alumnae have completed studies at the Mount. As our alumnae group continues to grow, we have more opportunities to benefit from our mutual connections to the Mount and to each other. This spring, I hope all of our alumnae feel inspired by the Mount’s renewal to become involved and take part – in the many on-campus events and conferences, the upcoming alumnae events (look for the annual golf tournament and Alumnae Weekend schedule!), Project TWENTY12, or by taking a course or two. Be part of something BIG! Happy spring,
Mark the Date Mount Saint Vincent Alumnae Association Annual General Meeting Monday, June 25, 2012 at 6.00 pm Rosaria Student Centre Mount Saint Vincent University msvu.ca/alumnae 12
President: Deanne MacLeod, BBA ‘92 Vice President: Lisa Whynott, BOA ‘94 Immediate Past President: Sheldon Miller, BBA ‘99 Secretary: Alanna Mason, BSc ‘92 Treasurer: Tanya Baggio, BBA ’95
Members at Large Alison DeLory, BPR ’98 Stephanie Hale, BOA ’03 Tanya Lorimer-Charles, BBA ’89 Todd Jackson, BBA ‘99 Adrienne MacDonald, BTHM ‘06 Tara MacDonald, BBA ’06 Kelly MacLeod, MAEd ’01, MEd ’05 Terri Mann, CertBusi ’03, BTHM ‘06 Kevin Sanford, BBA ‘03 Erin Tomlinson, BPR ’04, BEd ‘08 Caroline Wolfe Stewart, BScHEc ‘90
Student Representative Claire MacEwan, MSVU Students’ Union
Alumnae Representatives on the Mount Board of Governors Deanne MacLeod, BBA ‘92 Lisa Whynott, BOA ‘94 Caroline Wolfe Stewart, BScHEc ‘90
Ex Officio Shani Pearson, Manager, Alumnae Relations
Alumnae News
Board member enjoys being Mount ambassador
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fter graduating from the Mount with her second masters in education degree in 2005, Kelly MacLeod, MAEd ‘01, MEd ‘05, principal at Clayton Park Junior High, in Halifax, wanted to become more involved in her community. “My parents were always active in the community and I wanted to figure out a way to give back myself,” MacLeod said. She tried volunteering with a few different organizations, but found they weren’t the right fit for her, either because they focused on networking more than volunteering, or because meetings were held during the day while she was working. So it was fortuitous that MacLeod picked up a brochure at a Mount’s alumnae dinner a few years ago. “I saw the names of the alumnae association board members listed, and remarked to my sister, Deanne, BBA ‘92, that there were no teachers on the board (at that time). Given the number of teachers in our province who have graduated from the Mount, I thought this was unfortunate,” she said. MacLeod applied and was accepted to the Mount Saint Vincent University Alumnae Association (MSVAA) Board of Directors in 2010. MacLeod has served on two committees, volunteered at the annual golf tournament, represented Mount alumnae at on- and off-campus events, and attended board meetings and the annual general meeting. “I like being connected
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to the Mount beyond the classroom,” she said. For her, highlights are meeting alumnae from different programs, learning about governance, understanding the structure and functioning of the University, and working with leaders she admires including the Mount’s President, Dr. Ramona Lumpkin. “I can take that back and be an ambassador for the Mount. I can speak about it more confidently,” MacLeod said. MacLeod won the Senate Award of Distinction in 2005. “I loved studying at the Mount. I was in a group of about 25 people who all worked in the field, and found the faculty outstanding,” she said. With her family’s involvement in campus life (sister Deanne is now board president and brother-in-law Mark Forward, BBA ‘93, works as the Mount’s Athletics Officer and coaches the women’s varsity basketball team), she has long attended athletic and social events, and returned as guest lecturer to BEd students. MacLeod said she enjoys her volunteer role because she feels she makes a contribution, and has influence—plus, most meetings are early in the evening so that she can be home by 7 p.m. to put her three-year-old son to bed. “You can have a voice,” she urged. This article originally appeared in The Teacher, published by the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, in Spring 2012.
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How you can become more involved The Board of Directors of the Mount Saint Vincent University Alumnae Association promotes a strong connection between students, alumnae and the community. It funds and promotes student scholarships, bursaries and prizes, as well as faculty and alumnae awards, and organizes social and professional events like the golf tournament and alumnae weekend. Outside of Halifax, there are alumnae chapters in cities including Ottawa, Toronto and Kingston, Jamaica. All Mount alumnae are invited to become more involved, either by attending or suggesting activities, helping to plan them, or applying to join a committee or the board. We are currently seeking two new board members to replace two retiring members. For more information, or to apply to become a board member, visit www.msvu.ca/en/home/alumnae or call 902.457.6340.
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Alumnae Weekend 2011
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ount alumnae gathered this past September 23-24 on Alumnae Weekend 2011 to participate in a range of activities. The Academy and College Classes of 1961 were special guests at the Golden Jubilee Lunch that kicked off celebrations. It was Mount President Ramona Lumpkin’s first Alumnae Weekend, and she used the Jubilee Lunch and events that followed to get to know many alumnae. It was wonderful to see old friends reconnect, laughing as they shared memories which often seemed to involve shenanigans or “pulling one over” on the Sisters of Charity. There were more somber moments, too, such as during a reception that commemorated the 60th anniversary of the fire that burned the Mount to the ground. In moving speeches and conversations, those who were on campus that cold night in 1961 recalled how they watched their beloved school go up in flames, and the many artifacts that were reduced to ashes. Thankfully however, no one was hurt and the stories shared at the reception showed how deeply the girls appreciated the leadership the Sisters showed in getting them all safely off campus, and the willingness of the wider community that provided temporary residences and classrooms to the students while the Mount was rebuilt. There was also the celebration brunch, during which alumnae again came together to share a meal and memories, a pub night and athletic reception. The weekend concluded with an elegant dinner at Windows Restaurant in the World Trade and Convention Centre, which featured live entertainment and a lobster meal.
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Alumnae Weekend 2012 Message from Chair, Alumnae Weekend Committee Terri Mann, CertBusi ’03, BTHM ’06 I am very excited to be this year’s Alumnae Weekend Committee Chair. I am working with a great group and we are planning some wonderful activities for Alumnae Weekend 2012. Martinis and Mingling at the Meadows will help kick off the weekend and we have a culinary collaboration event to end the weekend. Chefs Craig Flinn (Chives Canadian Bistro) and Luis Clavel (Season’s Bistro) will create a menu that features their two distinct cooking styles, local comfort food and modern flare fusion. Mark your calendars for September 21 and 22, 2012 and plan to connect with new and longtime friends. Our committee looks forward to welcoming you back to campus!
Alumnae Weekend Schedule
2012
Friday, September 21
Saturday, September 22
Golden Jubilee Luncheon
Harvest Brunch
12 noon, Faculty Lounge, Seton 404 Celebrate the 50th Class for the Academy & College Classes of 1962
11.30am, Faculty Lounge, Seton 404 Tickets: $25 per person. Complimentary for Celebration years. Share stories and celebrate the Mount with an elegant, fall themed brunch.Special guests: Classes of 1937, 1942, 1947, 1952 & 1957.
Martinis and Mingling at the Meadows
Two Chefs Showcase for Mount Alumnae & Friends
5.30-7.00pm The Meadows Tickets: $25.00 per person Come mingle with friends while you sample signature Mount themed martinis and an assortment of flavorful canapés.
6.00pm for 6.30pm Season’s by Atlantica, 1980 Robie Street, Halifax Tickets: $60.00 per person Craig Flinn (Chives Canadian Bistro) & Luis Clavel (Seasons by Atlantica), local chefs and colleagues, will highlight their distinctive styles and serve a classic 3-course dinner, with both comfort food and modern fusion cuisine! An evening not to be missed! Limited tickets are available.
The Alumnae Association is looking for volunteers from the Academy, College and University to step forward to gather the troops and make the most of their milestone years. If you are you willing to help out for your year (below) please call 902.457.6433 or email alumnae@msvu.ca 10-year 15-year 25-year 40-year 45-year
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reunion reunion reunion reunion reunion
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Bill McKinley
Anne Marie Montgomery
Ferne McNeil
Genealogical research leads two women to discover they are half-sisters Ferne McNeil and Anne Marie Montgomery both Mount alumnae Editor’s Note: Last alumnae weekend I had the good fortune of being seated at brunch with two alumnae who introduced themselves as sisters. Over our meal I learned that both Anne Marie Montgomery and Ferne McNeil had been raised as only children in different families. When they finally discovered one another in 2003 they learned they had lots in common, including—incredibly—that they had both graduated with English degrees from the Mount. Although they never studied on campus at the same time, both women, from completely different backgrounds, had once each chosen to pursue the same academic program. My interest was piqued. Why did they not know of one another when they were growing up? How did they discover one another and what was it like when they first met face-to-face? Both Montgomery and McNeil patiently shared their photo albums and recollections with me, and I am so pleased to present their very personal story with Folia Montana readers. – Alison DeLory FEEDBACK
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O
n Halloween Day, 2003, Ferne (McKinley) McNeil, BA ‘76, BEd ‘77, MEd ‘09, received a parcel in the mail. It contained photos, documentation, and a letter.
“Dear Ferne, This letter from a stranger brings you news that I hope you will welcome. It may come as a shock to you, or perhaps you have already heard that perhaps you have a half-sister. I am reasonably certain that your father was also my father. . . .” McNeil’s letter came from Anne Marie (McCormack) Montgomery, ACAD ‘48, BA ‘51. Montgomery had been researching her ancestry for years, and was at a point in her investigation that she felt reasonably sure her father was Bill McKinley, from Liscomb, NS. Twenty years after Montgomery’s unmarried birth mother gave her up for adoption, McKinley had a second daughter, Ferne, with his wife, Annie. Both girls had been raised as only children and were thrilled to discover one another. McNeil said after she read the letter, she phoned her friends to share her good news. “I thought about it all the next day. Then I picked up the phone and called Anne Marie. We talked for a very long time,” McNeil said. They first met in Halifax in June 2004. “It was very exciting. Ferne and our cousin, John McKinley, met me at the airport,” said Montgomery. “There was no strong physical resemblance. But we liked each other immediately,” Montgomery said. “We both love to read. We’re both really inquisitive and easy-going,” McNeil said. But perhaps the biggest coincidence of all is that both had been English majors at the Mount. At Alumnae Weekend 2011, they came to campus together to mark their 35th (McNeil) and 60th (Montgomery) reunions.
Anne Marie Montgomery was eight years old when she found out she was adopted. It was 1938 and she was happily living with her adoptive parents in Fredericton at the time. She stayed there until grade 11 when she came to Halifax to attend Mount Saint Vincent Academy. After graduating, she enrolled at Mount Saint Vincent College, finishing an English degree with a diploma in journalism in 1951. Montgomery then moved to Ontario, where she lived in Kingston and Elliot Lake before settling in Toronto in the late 1950s. She lives there still. She married and had three children, while building a career as a journalist with the CBC and later in government communications. But the question of who her birth parents were long nagged Montgomery, so in 1995 she started searching for them. Montgomery’s adoption records were sealed, and she had to petition the New Brunswick government to release them to her. Her birth mother had died while the investigation was underway and her mother’s nephew (Montgomery’s cousin) objected to the government releasing his aunt’s name, pleading a desire for privacy. Montgomery persisted. “Doesn’t my need to know my antecedents trump his need for privacy?” she asked. The New Brunswick
government agreed it did, and in 2001 she finally learned her mother’s name, and that she was from Liscomb, N.S. “Although my birth mother eventually married she had no more children, so Ferne is my one and only sibling,” Montgomery said. Unfortunately her birth mother had died in 1996, but rather than be discouraged, Montgomery went to Liscomb and did some sleuthing. “A man working at the hotel marina had known my mother well during her retirement years in Liscomb and sent me on to visit an elderly man who knew of my birth.” That elderly man told Montgomery Bill McKinley was her father (her adoption papers had the name “McKinley” penciled in the margin). He also passed her on to John McKinley, Bill’s nephew, who approached his father (Bill’s younger brother), then living in retirement in Lunenburg, NS, who confirmed that Bill was Montgomery’s father. He also told Montgomery that Bill had later married and fathered another girl, Anne Marie’s halfsister, Ferne.
Ferne McNeil was born in 1950 and raised primarily by her mother, Annie, in Chester, NS. Bill McKinley had contracted tuberculosis as a soldier in the Second World War and lived mostly in the sanatorium in Kentville, NS while McNeil was growing up. He died in 1966. “He was a kind man. He never complained about being sick. He was truly an empathetic man,” McNeil said. He never told his wife or McNeil he had fathered another child, although McNeil suspects he knew and she wonders if the secret tormented him. “It was a very different time,” she said. Like Montgomery had a quarter-century earlier, McNeil chose to go to the Mount. She’s lived in Halifax her entire adult life. Married, with three boys, she’s had careers in administration, music education, and teaching. Today she works with students who have special needs in a public school learning centre. McNeil and Montgomery keep in touch by email and visit each other in Halifax and Toronto. They’ve jointly researched their shared family tree and perused the history of the Liscomb area, detailed in two recent books, family trees mapped out by cousin John and a distant cousin in Vancouver, and a family history (published in the NS Historical Review) by another cousin, a distinguished professor at McGill University. “I consider myself of two families,” said Montgomery. “It’s an age thing. As you become older you become more interested in family history.”
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“The best part of my life over the past five years has been increasing my education. Coming out of classes is when I feel my best.” – Richard Zurawski
Turn off the TV and learn some science We all have to wake up, says Richard Zurawski
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ichard Zurawski, MAR ‘10, holds multiple titles: documentary film-maker, weather enthusiast, broadcaster, author, speaker, teacher and student. He is both Mount alumnus and currently a student in the Mount’s first PhD program, an inter-university doctoral program in educational studies offered jointly with Acadia and St. Francis Xavier Universities. Zurawski is a quintessential lifelong learner who as a child read the encyclopaedias his mother brought home from the grocery store from cover to cover. He was interested in science from a young age, and while he earned an undergraduate degree in math and physics from the University of Windsor, he credits spending lots of time outdoors as a child with providing much of his scientific education. He explored fields and woods growing up in a tiny community on Ontario’s Georgian Bay called Victoria Harbour, learning concepts such as photosynthesis by studying trees. “Go outside,” he recommends to children today, concerned they are spending too much time occupied with toys or sitting in front of screens. Zurawski got rid of his cable TV years ago, but still watches science documentaries such as Shark Week and Walking with Dinosaurs. He said without exception, there are factual errors in every show, usually two or three that he can pick out within five minutes of watching something. He said it is because of the spectacle nature of broadcasting, the formulas such programs follow, and stereotyping. Media is big business, with vested corporate interests that bias reporting (see sidebar about his book Media Mediocrity). Plus science journalists often have no science education or background. The biggest problems our planet now faces, including climate change, ocean pollution, medical dilemmas, education and technology, are not well-explained on TV. “Science journalism looks at the goofy stuff. The quirky. What is the latest study? It might not be the best scientific evidence. Banting and Best may offer the best scientific evidence. But they’re not new,” Zurawski said. He cited the reporting of isolated medical studies that suggest we Continued page 19
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Zurawski decries “Media Mediocrity” in new book In an ironic twist for someone who makes his living in part as a broadcaster, Zurawski is highly critical of the media, and television in particular. “TV is an emotional medium. A pacifier. You get nothing out of it,” he said. In his most recent book Media Mediocrity, published in 2011, he argued that not only does television not teach anything worthwhile, it actually makes people stupider. “We find television so attractive, alluring and addictive. Our response to television is instinctual and automatic. We cannot help ourselves. Few of us can walk into a room with a switched-on TV and not be immediately refocused to the box. It is no accident that what appears on television is called ‘programming’ because we are programmed to watch,” he wrote. He calls TV the ‘cyclops, the one-eyed unblinking monster’ and said it fails as a medium of communicating— particularly communicating science. In Media Mediocrity, he wrote: “In spite of the purported benefits of educational and informational TV, television fails us in science education in a way that is catastrophic. Educational TV is an oxymoron. The stats on this are irrefutable. Study after study, including my own, have shown that the more TV programming we get, the less educated we become, the less we read and especially the less we understand science, the basis of our civilization.”
need vitamin supplements, that red wine is good for us, or that experimental surgeries can reverse disease progression as examples of bad science journalism. Such information is only truly understood within the context and examination of many studies so the reader can make an informed and objective deductions, but that isn’t provided outside of dense, academic journals. Plus he said people, especially baby boomers (Zurawski’s own demographic), want information that suits them. “They feel it is their right.” He said they feel entitled—to drive SUVs, eat fast food, and once retired, to make no further contribution to society. Zurawski’s stance has not been popular with either journalists or some of his peers and contemporaries. He’s unconcerned. “We all have to wake up,” he said. “Our consumptive rate in North America is 60 times that of someone in Africa. And the top 20% amongst us consume 80% of the resources. We’re a planet of seven billion people all crawling on top of one another.” He’s not interested in just raising concerns about these issues, he wants to effect change. He thinks education is one way, especially because it encourages criticism. “The key is criticism. Things only get better if we say, ‘We’re doing this wrong.’ “ He said it could be between two and 10 years before he finishes his PhD, but that he’s focusing on the journey rather than the destination. There are several in his class of 15 students, who like him, are in their 50s, but he shrugs it off. “I couldn’t have done this before.” His son has grown up and moved away, he’s explored his interests in meteorology and spent time working for Environment Canada before becoming a weather reporter, and authored two books about the weather before coming to the Mount. Zurawski also teaches in the Mount’s Department of Communication Studies, currently teaching mass communications, and communication theory and practice. The best part, he said, are the students. “They work hard. They make me think. I’m climbing the hill with them.” He’s also buoyed by the Mount’s new Bachelor of Science degree in science communication, and sees it as a start in improving how we talk about and understand science. As I child he heard that Leonardo Da Vinci once said there wasn’t enough time in life to accomplish all he wanted to do. At the time Zurawski thought that was ridiculous. Now he gets it. “I wish I’d listened.”
Mount grad creates toy to help kids sleep at night Susan Smith, BA ’96, has created an award-winning plush toy, the Nightmare Nibbler, and authored a newly released children’s picture book – Norbert the Nightmare Nibbler. Inspired by her young son Sam’s fear of things that went ‘bump in the night,’ Smith created a loveable monster that could be his playmate by day and protector by night. This furry friend stays awake and on duty through the night devouring any and all scary things that come his way before they can frighten Sam. Success with this in Smith’s London, ON home, along with interest in the Nightmare Nibbler character from others, fuelled Smith’s desire to don a ‘mompreneur’ hat, and turn her attention to bringing this nightmare management tool to market for other families to benefit from and enjoy. Norbert was the first Nibbler to arrive on Earth from the Nightmare Nibbler Nation a little over one year ago and he’s enjoying the smorgasbord of nightmares that are so common in young children. Nightmare Nibbler products are available on-line at www. nightmarenibbler.com and at select retailers in Canada and the United States. Mount alumnae can receive a 15% discount on purchases made via the Nightmare Nibbler online store to Mount alumnae with the coupon code: MSVU2012.
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Alumnae Gatherings
Celebrations 1 Calgary reception The Ranchmen’s Club in downtown Calgary in September 2011 was the site for an alumnae and friends reception hosted by the Mount’s president, Dr. Ramona Lumpkin and Shani Pearson, Manager of Alumnae Relations.
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2 Toronto reception In October 2011, alumnae in Toronto met at the historic National Club for a reception with the Mount’s president, Dr. Ramona Lumpkin and Shani Pearson, Manager of Alumnae Relations.
3 Mount students vs. alumnae trivia night The second Mount Students vs. Alumnae Trivia Night in January 2012 was a success, bringing students and alumnae together for an evening of friendly competition in Vinnie’s Pub. A team of alumnae and students, “The Dominators,” walked away with the first place prize!
4 Ottawa reception Mount alumnae and friends gathered for a reception on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in February 2012. The Honourable Jane Cordy, the Honourable Nancy Ruth and Megan Leslie, MP, with the Mount’s president Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, hosted the evening. The event was covered by Maclean’s magazine in the “Capital Diary” section, which noted MPs Geoff Regan and Peter Stoffer enjoyed the reception.
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5 Basketball doubleheader Alumnae, friends and students gathered at the Halifax Metro Centre to cheer on the Mount Mystics men’s basketball team as they defeated the University of King’s College Blue Devils at the February 2012 Basketball Doubleheader. A reception at the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame brought the Mystics and their supporters together before they returned to the Mount’s cheering section for the Halifax Rainmen game.
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6 Etiquette brunch Alumnae and students learned a lesson in etiquette from alumna Sharon Skaling, BHEc ’80, Image Consultant and Personal Brand Artist, at the first Etiquette Brunch in February 2012. Throughout the brunch, Sharon offered tips on dining and personal etiquette and answered questions enthusiastically. This event brought students and alumnae together for a fun and informative morning.
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BookClub Faculty and Alumnae
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@Home in Dubai
Hello, My Name is Ollie
Storm Passing
(Summertime Publishing) By Ann O’Connell, BPR ’90 From getting a work permit to finding a WiFi hotspot, or even connecting with a fun sport or social group, @Home in Dubai has the inside scoop on how to get it done. Knowing the drill is half the battle and O’Connell, and other expats who weigh in with their advice and experiences, are happy to share a few ‘how tos’. www.athomeindubaigettingconnected.com
(Author House Publishing) By Reg McCulley, BSc ’05 In this young adult book, Ollie and Anthony are finally adopted after spending two years in an orphanage, only to find out their adoptive parents are hiding a secret. They have to rely on their trust for each other and the unspoken bond between them to make a life in their new home.
(Self Published) By Francis Perry, MEd ’91 Storm Passing is a suspense thriller, the sequel to Perry’s first novel Approaching Storm. A childhood marred by abuse and murder has slowly changed into a normal teenage life for young Belle Lapointe. But can she really escape the past? www.stormpassing.ca
Inventing Atlantic Canada
Threading Light
(University of Toronto Press) By Dr. Corey Slumkoski, Assistant Professor, Department of History Inventing Atlantic Canada is the first book to analyze the reaction of the Maritime provinces to Newfoundland’s entry into Confederation. Drawing on editorials, government documents, and political papers, Dr. Slumkoski examines how each Maritime province used the addition of a new provincial cousin to fight underdevelopment.
(Hagios Press) By Dr. Lorri Neilsen Glenn, Professor, Faculty of Education This collection of linked prose explores Dr. Neilsen Glenn’s journey into poetry and deepening understanding of poetry as a model of secular compunction that serves as a form of prayer. Here are personal essays about loss from childhood through to adulthood as well as essays about Dr. Neilsen Glenn’s initiation into the practice of poetry.
Lunar Lifter
Transformative Practice
(Bryler Publications) By Alison DeLory, BPR ’98 In this early chapter adventure novel for children seven to 10 years old, Cameron and Erin use magic markers to decorate a giant refrigerator box, never imagining that it would be the start of a wild, real life adventure! Suddenly finding themselves on the moon and faced with a series of problems to overcome, the siblings must rely on their imagination and new friends to find a way home. www.alisondelory.com
(Kappa Omieron Nu Honor Society) By Dr. Sue McGregor, Professor, Faculty of Education This book raises critical questions and proposes some alternatives for developing more effective and ethical models of practice within professions. Dr. McGregor challenges professionals to evolve beyond commonly accepted methods and views by engaging in critical reflection and transformative action.
Blue Cheese for Breakfast (Glen Margaret Publishing) By Frances L. (Burgess) Taggart, Acad ’59 Blue Cheese for Breakfast is a book of innovative ideas, techniques and strategies for making life more bearable following the loss of your life partner. It contains unique solutions for conquering problems, insights on dealing with the unexpected, financial advice and useful tips for day-to-day living. www.glenmargaret.com
Damned Nations (Signal/McClelland & Stewart) By Samantha Nutt, DHumL ’11 Damned Nations is the distillation of Dr. Nutt’s observations over 15 years providing hands-on care in some of the world’s most violent flashpoints, all the while building the world-class non-profit War Child North America. Combining original research with her personal story, it is a deeply thoughtful meditation on war as it is being waged around the world against millions of civilians – primarily women and children. www.samanthanutt.com
If you are a graduate of the Mount and have recently published a book, please let us know. Email us at alumnae@msvu.ca21
Applauding Achievement Mount Saint Vincent University prepares students for professional accreditation. Congratulations.
Look who joins our alumnae
S
heila Fraser, former Auditor General of Canada, and Mary Walsh, CM, one of Canada’s foremost comedic icons, were awarded honorary doctorate degrees from the Mount during two separate convocation ceremonies that took place in November 2011. “We’re thrilled to honour two incredibly successful women who have made a lasting mark in their professions,” said Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, the Mount’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “I like to think that their diverse talent is reflective of the wide range of talent and character within the students who come to the Mount.” Fraser was the first woman to hold the office of Auditor General of Canada. While in this role from 2001 to 2011, Fraser focused the office’s efforts on working to ensure parliamentarians had objective and reliable information to examine government activities and hold the government accountable for its handling of public funds. At her initiative, Canada was the first legislative audit office to request a review of its performance audit practices in an effort to provide assurance about the quality of work. Fraser addressed the morning ceremony graduates: “Even if your heart is set on a direction, welcome the unexpected. Don’t limit yourself to opportunities that come your way. Always stand up for what you believe to be right. You may find yourself in a situation where speaking the truth leads to criticism. I urge you to muster your courage and always stay true to who you are. And finally, always remember to have fun.” Walsh is best known for her work on This Hour has 22 Minutes, CBC’s popular take on current affairs. The series, which she created, has received a number of Gemini awards and has introduced Canadians to the unmatchable wit of characters such as ‘Marg Delahunty’. Walsh has also appeared in the CBC’s series Republic of Doyle and CityTV’s Murdoch Mysteries, The Quality of Life, The Matters of Life and Dating with Ricky Lake. Her feature film roster includes the award winning Crackie as well as Mambo Italiano and The New Waterford Girl. The afternoon ceremony brought colourful comedy to a formal setting as Walsh grabbed the podium and exclaimed, “Now, I beg you, please remain calm. Do not be afraid.” Aside from the laughter that rang through the auditorium, Walsh’s words gave sobering reference to issues in gender and societal gaps. “Women get a day,” she noted. “For the love of God, nuts get a whole month!” referring to April having been National Pecan Month by a USbased association.
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Chartered Accountant Thomas William Drover, BBA ’08 James Michael Hayes, BBA ’09 Megan Lee Jordan, BBA ’09 Jason Nicholson, BBA ’09 Jennifer Major, BBA ’09 Darlene Gail Shaw, BBA ’09
Certified General Accountant Wayne Keddy, BBA ‘97 Gail Murray-Grant
Certified Management Accountant Ayman El-Amassi, BBA ’04 Patrick Matthews, BBA ’05 Frances Ouellette, BBA ’08 Frances Paterson, BBA ’02
Class Notes Folia Montana is pleased to announce it will now publish photos to accompany milestone events in the lives of Mount alumnae. Please let your classmates know what you are up to by sending a brief update to alumnae@msvu.ca, and if you’d like, please include a high-resolution photo, too. We want to showcase weddings, baby announcements, or pictures of your career highlights, so get snapping! Our featured model this month is Lucas Kevin Dando, son of Ashley Lapierre, BCY ’09, who was born in January 2011.
1950s
Frances (Burgess) Taggart, ACAD ’59 Frances published Blue Cheese for Breakfast on May 7, 2011, one day before her 70th birthday. The book has tips and suggestions for making life easier when you have lost your life partner. Frances and her husband ran two successful businesses until she was widowed 12 years ago. She is now busy marketing, signing, doing interviews, etc. and is thrilled to have just seen her book go into a second printing. She is also a guest lecturer at the Dalhousie University School of Nursing. Email: ftaggart@ns.sympatico. ca. This photo was taken at the launch with ’59 classmates: (from left) Marguerite (Miles) Dockrill, Frances (Burgess) Taggart, Norma (Leask) Boudreau.
1960s Catherine McKinnon, ACAD ’63, DHumL ’04 Catherine has won the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award, an honorary award from the East Coast Music Association for her singing career.
1970s Elizabeth Bennett, BA ’76, BEd ’77 Elizabeth retired from teaching in Weymouth, NS in 2010. She now enjoys traveling to the UK to visit friends and explore new areas. “Retirement is wonderful,” she writes.
Janet Lugar Millar, BEd ’79 Janet retired from 32 years of teaching core French with the Halifax Regional School Board. She also had the opportunity to visit various schools in Zimbabwe and The Gambia. Janet will be spending most of her retirement traveling and looking after her daughter’s horse. She would welcome any contact with classmates, e-mail: jlugarmiller@gmail. com.
1980s Mary Elizabeth (MacQueen) Stewart, BHEc ’80 Mary Elizabeth is now working at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 as retail sales and product development manager. She recently moved to old Dartmouth with her husband, Doug, and their children, Neil and Emma. Natalie Maclean, BPR ’89 Natalie has released a new free mobile app that gives top 10 wines in your closest liquor store using GPS technology and real-time inventory data. 1+ delivers a top 10 list by wine type, score or price. The new Wine Picks & Pairings app is the next generation of Natalie’s mobile app, the only Canadian wine app featured on Apple’s iTunes store under App Essentials for “Apps for Foodies” and “Pocket Sommelier.” 1+ is also available for Android and BlackBerry. Joan Matji, BScHEc ’89 Joan is the head of the nutrition program with UNICEF, and lives in South Africa. She is desperately trying to get in touch with Jacqueline (Kerr) Forrest who graduated with the same degree in her year. Jacqueline, please contact the Mount for Joan’s e-mail.
1990s Angela Murray, BPR ’90 Angela was elected to the National Board of the Canadian Public Relations Society in June 2011 for a three-year term. She is currently on leave from her job as Public Relations Coordinator with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union pursuing her Master of Public Relations at the Mount. Sonya Horsburgh, BBA ’91, MA(PR) ’11 Sonya graduated in November 2011 with her Master of Arts in Public Relations and received the Kappa Gamma Phi Award. Sonya is the manager of co-operative education at the Mount. Kim (Brown) Gaudet, BTHM ’91 Kim has a new position as of late 2011. She is now the inflight training manager with Jazz Aviation LP. She just celebrated her 18th anniversary with Jazz. Kim can be reached via e-mail at kim.gaudet@ flyjazz.ca. Claudette Porter, BBA ’92 Claudette has been named vice-president, finance and information technology for Nova Scotia Power. Claudette earned her chartered accountant designation in 1994 and has specialized experience with natural gas distributors, and telecommunications and information technology. She has been part of the Nova Scotia Power team since 2005, working in finance. Claudette is active in the community, having volunteered with Symphony Nova Scotia, the Canadian Institute for Chartered Accountants (CICA) Board of Examiners, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia (ICANS). She has also taught accounting including Controllership for Chartered Accountants for ICANS.
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In keeping with an honoured Mount tradition, we present orchids to the following outstanding members of the Mount community. Dewar: Is history in flower or crisis? Dr. Ken Dewar, professor emeritus in the Mount’s Department of History, has the lead article in the most recent Literary Review of Canada (Vol. 20, No. 1, Jan/Feb 2012), “Does the Past Have a Future?” Dewar celebrates the recent popularity of historical fiction and says the past is everywhere today, or so it seems. Scholars, however, are less certain about history’s future. Dewar asks: Is history in flower, or is it in crisis? Mary Walsh wins Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) Mary Walsh, DHumL ’11, has won a GGPAA 2012, Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award (Broadcasting). The GGPAAs are Canada’s foremost distinction for excellence in the performing arts. Former Nancy’s Chair Honoured Congratulations to Sylvia Hamilton on receiving the 2012 WAVE Award which honours outstanding contributions by women in the field of film, digital and TV media. Hamilton is a multi-award-winning filmmaker, writer and educator who is known for her documentaries exploring the history, contributions and experience of African Canadians. Her newest film, The Little Black School House, unearths the story of the women, men and children who studied and taught at Canada’s racially segregated schools.
1990s Tracy (Knutsen) Chisholm, BPR ’93 Tracy received the accredited business communicator (ABC) designation from the International Association of Business Communicators in December 2011. Tracy lives in Toronto and runs a communications consulting business. She can be reached by e-mail: tracy@tchisholm.com. Andrea M. Winn, BA ’93 Andrea practices as a dream whisperer, using solid practical strategies combined with spiritual fire to empower people to transform their stress into relief: www.andreamwinn.com Sara Napier, BPR ’95 Sara, director, marketing & communications at the IWK Health Centre Foundation, has won a Progress Women of Excellence Award for Communication and Public Affairs. For more than 15 years, Sara has been a member of the Nova Scotia professional community focusing on strategic communication, marketing and leadership with business, government, education and philanthropic sectors. Under Sara’s leadership at the IWK, her team has received three Canadian Public Relations Society Gemstone awards and one Excellence in Healthcare Communication Award.
June 25 – Alumnae Association AGM, Rosaria Student Centre July 26 – MSV Golf Classic 2012, Granite Springs Golf Club September 21 & 22 – Alumnae Weekend, Mount Campus
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Terri Roberts, BA ’99, BEd ’02 In August 2011, Terri was a featured speaker at the TEDxBrasd’Or event, one of the many prestigious TEDx events held worldwide throughout the year. The video of her presentation, Is it so wrong to run like a girl? can be viewed on youtube.
2000s Scott Morrison, BPR ’01 Scott was appointed a crown attorney in the Yarmouth office of the Public Prosecution Service. After graduating from the Mount he spent five years working in public relations in Toronto before going to Dalhousie Law School. He articled with Stewart McKelvey and was appointed a crown attorney in B.C. in 2009. Linda Kearley, CertGer ’01, BA ’02, CertHon ’03 Linda attended Kingstec College and completed a two-year program in disability support services. She is currently taking counseling skills training and works with people who have disabilities, an exciting and rewarding job that she loves.
Upcoming Events May 17 & 18 – Spring Convocation, Mount Campus
Brooke Yeates, BPR ’98 Brooke has been named to the Top 40 Under 40TM in Sudbury, ON. Brooke is the change management lead, production support, North Atlantic at the Vale Mining Company. Fluently bilingual, she specializes in strategic and diplomatic change communications. A public affairs professional, she also gives her time and talent to various community organizations including the Art Gallery of Sudbury. The Top 40 awards recognize leadership, community involvement, and going above and beyond the call of duty.
Rob Batherson, BPR ’97, and Cathy MacIsaac, BPR ’05 welcomed their son Sam Batherson in July 2011. Carolyn Chaplin, BPR ’97 Carolyn has started Thru Thick & Thin, a fitness and lifestyle blog created for anyone at the start, middle, or currently living a healthy lifestyle. The site features healthy recipes, easy ways to stay focused, her favourite fit and healthy products, and stories based on Carolyn’s experiences: www.thruthickandthin.ca.
Stephanie Hale, BOA ’03, MEd ’11 Now the Mount’s Assistant Registrar, Stephanie has been a valued employee at the Mount since 1993. Stephanie also has a long history of volunteerism. She has previously been involved with the Pictou County Relay for Life, and is currently volunteering with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s Run for the Cure. When asked why she gives back, Stephanie notes, “We have such a strong sense of community at the Mount.”
Class Notes Amy Thomas, BSc ’09 Amy was awarded a $1,500 bursary by the G.I. Smith Memorial Trust. She is currently in her second year at the University of New Brunswick law school. She plans to return to her hometown of Truro to practice.
Michelle (Hofstatter) Hanway, BBA ’04 Michelle had a baby boy, Joel Adams Gregory Hanway, on January 4, 2011.
Christy (Downie) Wilson, MEd ’09 Christy was married this past summer and changed her surname to Wilson. Her new email is: clwilson@staff.ednet.ns.ca.
Andrew Stuckless, BBA ’03 Andrew works with Stroll Promotions and recently organized a cross-Canada Coronation Street tour that stopped in Halifax in March. Amy MacAulay, BCYS ’04 Amy is the new business owner of Embrace Doula, www.embracedoula.ca. Jereme Ramsay, BA ’06 Jereme earned a master of business administration degree with a specialization in marketing from the University of Liverpool in Dec. 2011. He was also elected as an MCIM Member to The Chartered Institute of Marketing in Feb, 2012. Jereme currently works as eSales Manager, AVP at HSBC. Charline Elizabeth Wahrmann-Taylor, BEd ’08 The Jamaica Teaching Council and the Ministry of Education in Jamaica named Charline a “Teacher of Excellence.” She teaches grade four at Harewood Primary School and is designated to be the acting principal come September. She is mother to four children. “I will definitely be visiting the Mount by next year, by the grace of God! Please publish all you can about me so that I get some more Mount friends to meet in Canada when I visit.” You can also find her on Facebook: Charline Wahrmann-Taylor.
Mount ring found –
Aaron Zinck, BA’ 09 & Stéphanie Comeau, BPR ’09 Aaron and Stéphanie were married on August 20, 2011 in the beautiful St. Mary’s church in Church Point, Nova Scotia. They are currently living and working in Halifax.
2010s Katherine Brien, BBA ’10 Katherine is now coordinator, game operations and special events, for the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club. She brings entertainment into the Raptors arena for home games. She organizes anthem singers and halftime shows, and brings promotions to life. She also works with corporate sponsors to come up with creative ways for them to market their products in-arena during the games, and works with the interactive squad to gets fans on their feet. Katherine writes, “I love being in the atmosphere of a home town crowd!”
A Mount ring was found in the playground behind Enfield District School within the last two years. Calls were made within the community by the school to reunite the ring with its owner, however, no one came forward. If you believe you lost your Mount ring in Enfield, please contact the Alumnae Relations Office at 902.457.6340. If would be great to see this Mount ring find its way home.
Mount Alumna Bermuda’s new Chair of the Human Rights Commission Michelle Scott-Outerbridge, BBA ’82 Michelle has been appointed Chair of the Human Rights Commission in Bermuda. Prior to this appointment, she held the post of chair of the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality until the Commission was dissolved in 2010, and during 2011 served as the deputy chair of the Human Rights Commission. Michelle graduated from the Berkeley Institute and the Mount where she obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in accounting and management. She graduated outstanding student and received faculty endorsements that read “a consummate professional” and “an extremely well-prepared individual who pushes the issues and relates them to the practical environment.” Michelle said: “I believe in advocacy and social justice, fairness and equality, especially in the workplace. I also believe in respect for one another and each other’s differences.”
30th Anniversary of Distance Education We’re looking for stories, memories, photos and more to help us celebrate 30 years of accessible distance learning at the Mount. If you can contribute, please contact Peggy Watts, Director of Distance Learning and Continuing Education at peggy. watts@msvu.ca. Watch for our open house in the fall.
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Grads around the globe Name: Chris Noel, BEd ‘09; Amy Derrah, BEd ‘09 Where the couple, who were married in 2011, lives now: Uozu, Toyama Prefecture, Japan, on the western coast of Honshu, on the Sea of Japan Job: Assistant Language Teacher (ALTs) in local high schools
What brought us to Japan was . . . (Noel) adventure seeking. I took a year, before going to the Mount, to see if teaching was for me. I ended up going to Nagoya, Japan, to work for a private company. I taught children as young as two and retired people 60 and older. It was an amazing experience and I knew that one year was too short. By the time graduation rolled around Amy and I were in a serious relationship and she wanted to join me on my adventure to Japan. Living here suits me because . . . (Noel) I can walk or bike to school every day. This town is sandwiched between the Sea of Japan and the Japan Alps (a mountain range that was home to the Nagano Winter Olympics of 1998) and when it is clear I can see both. The mountains are awe-inspiring and powerfully close. They are a sobering reminder of the history of earthquakes this country has.
The biggest culture shock has been . . . (Derrah) being “different” or “foreign.” You stand out in a crowd and people will openly stare at you. Walking to work one day we actually caused an accident because an old man was watching us and not the car in front of him.
The best thing about living here is . . . (Noel) the kindness of strangers. There is always someone around that will do what they can to help you in a host of various situations. Once we were setting up a trellis in our garden using bamboo poles, twine and shears. A neighbour saw us struggling and stopped his work and came over to teach us how to do it. He wanted nothing in return. It was just a simple act of pure kindness.
Going to the Mount helped prepare me to live and work in Japan by . . . (Derrah) teaching me to be a socially responsible teacher and knowing how to maintain my professional image in the community. (Everyone watches you in a small town. Everyone knows where the “foreigner” went to eat last night.) Also, knowing how to properly address social issues in the classroom, such as women’s rights, gay rights, minority rights, all these things are about 30 years behind in our area.
The most remarkable experience I’ve had working in Japan is . . . (Derrah) running a 7.5-km race with the boys at school. Each year the students run a race. The girls run three km and the boys run 7.5 km. I wanted to show everyone that girls should be able to run the 7.5-km race too. All the students cheered as I crossed the finish, and then congratulated me.
The scariest experience I’ve had working in Japan is . . . (Noel) the great earthquake of March 11, 2011. I was sitting at my desk and started to feel nauseous. My body was moving uncontrollably. I thought, “Am I having a seizure? What is going on?” Then a teacher came into the office and said, “We’re having an earthquake.” The blood left my face and I went into a state of controlled panic. My heart was near explosion and all the teachers began to evacuate the building. In the parking lot I could see all the vehicles rocking back and forth. My prefecture does not get many earthquakes, but on that day we had one that measured 4 on the Richter scale (the earthquake measured 8.9 in Japan’s worst hit area, Sendai). I had to familiarize myself with evacuation routes in my town, school, and apartment because of the constant aftershocks. It was incredibly unsettling to wake up in the middle of the night because of aftershocks.
What I miss most about going to the Mount is . . . (Derrah) The guidance and advice from experienced teachers! I wish I could still get my lessons critiqued, which might sound strange. Lately I’ve been looking at my lesson plans and thinking, “Is that a good activity? What else could I try? How can I make it more interesting?” At the Mount we were encouraged to try different activities and teaching methods. Having someone with experience who is happy to say, “Oh, I’ve got the perfect activity for that topic, the students will love it,” is so precious.
The advice I’d give to alumnae considering working abroad is . . . (Noel) Absolutely DO IT! Everyone will benefit from living and working in a foreign country. I have loved every minute of my four years of teaching and living in Japan. I’m thankful I have been given this opportunity.
In this feature, Folia Montana profiles alumnae working abroad. If you are currently employed outside of Canada and willing to talk about how your time at the Mount helped prepare you, we’d love to hear from you. Email: alumnae@msvu.ca.
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IN TOUCH Do you know the face? Can you help identify the faces, when exactly the photo was taken, and what they were up to? Please let us know. Contact: Editor, Folia Montana at alumnae@msvu.ca, or Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6.
Online Communities Join our online communities on Facebook and LinkedIn. You will find Mount alumnae groups on both social networking sites. Also, become a fan of Mount Saint Vincent University on Facebook! Find friends, hear about alumnae events and stay connected. And follow us on twitter @MountAlumnae Folia via Email Prefer to read Folia at your computer? Let us know by contacting alumnae@ msvu.ca and the next time Folia is published we will send you an email with a link to the latest issue. Class notes What are you up to lately? Let your classmates know your news by sending pics and announcements to alumnae@msvu.ca Address Changes Moving? Help us keep you informed about the Mount. Call 902.457.6470 or 1.888.678.2586 (toll free in Canada/USA/Bermuda), email alumnae@msvu.ca or update your contact information online at www.msvu.ca/alumnae Advertising Advertising inquiries 902.457.6433 or alumnae@msvu.ca. Discount available for alumnae.
You knew the face The four people in this photo are, from left: Lorna Jean “Sandy” (Laurence) O’Connor; me, Claire ( Murphy) Correia; Janet ( Pottie) Murray; and Thea V. Andre. I’m guessing the year was 1952 or 1953 and very probably year book staff activity. – Claire Correia, BA ’54, BEd ’55 I just had phone calls from my daughter and son, Suellen Murray and Brian Murray, both Mount graduates, to tell me to check the latest issue of Folia Montana. And yes I do know the faces. From left: Lorna Jean “Sandy” Laurence from Baldwin, Long Island; Claire (Murphy) Correia, from Halifax; me, Janet (Pottie) Murray, from Halifax, and Thea Andre from Yonkers, New York. The picture was taken for the Kappa Kronicle 1954, and Sandy, Claire and Thea were in the Class of ‘54. I was a sophomore in this picture, and graduated in arts and journalism in 1956. The lines accompanying the photo in the yearbook indicate that we are journalism students scanning the news via teletype. Claire was the student council president that year. – Janet (Pottie) Murray, BA ’56
Correspondence Alumnae Relations University Advancement Advancement House Mount Saint Vincent University Halifax NS B3M 2J6 F: 902.445.3962 The Mount respects your privacy and we want you to know that it is important to us. We use your information to keep you informed of Mount events and news, including the distribution of Folia Montana and Alumnae e-news. The information is used to administer our programs and services which includes allowing our affinity partners to occasionally send you information about products or services we consider valuable. In these cases, we protect your privacy as we never provide your name or contact information directly to the supplier; all contact is through a third-party organization operating under strict rules of confidentiality. You can, of course, choose not to receive such communications. If this is your preference, please let us know by calling 902.457.6470 or 1.888.MSV.ALUM (toll free in Canada/USA/ Bermuda) or via email at alumnae@msvu.ca
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In memoriams
The Mount Saint Vincent Alumnae Association has made a donation towards Alumnae Association scholarships and bursaries in memory of the following alumnae.
1930s
1960s
2000s
Anna (Macdonald) Godwin, BA ’39, DipEd ’40 March 22, 2012
Nora Eileen Pelham-McKay, ACAD ’55, BA ’61, BEd ’62 February 26, 2012
Jane Storey, BScAHN ’07 January 25, 2012
Elizabeth Craig Keith, ACAD January 22, 2012
1970s
1940s
Joanne Foran-Patterson, CDC ’75 January 30, 2012
Frank R Bailly Former Employee November 21, 2011
Judith Anne “Judy” (Davis) MacAskill, ACAD ’72 October 13, 2011
The Most Reverend Colin Campbell Former Employee January 17, 2012
Diane Mae Bernadette (Kemp) Trudel, DOA ’72, BA ’74 December 2, 2010
Kathleen Marie Gallant Current Student February 27, 2012
Maxine Young, BSCN ’74 August 25, 2011
Toni Jane Gaunt Former Employee August 30, 2011
1980s
Dr. Pierre Gérin Retired Faculty November 8, 2011
Beryl McDonald, ACAD ’40, BScSec ’44 April 3, 2012
1950s Christine Therese Dunn February 23, 2012 Mary Patricia Anne (Ritcey) Jourdain, ACAD ’51 February 8, 2012 Sister Mary Carmelina MacLellan, BA ’55 December 25, 2011
Anita (Rosenblum) Dubinsky, DHumL ’83 February 7, 2012
1960s
1990s
Georgette (Lapierre) Bergstrom, BA ’64, BEd ’66 October 5, 2011
Jennifer (Gerrior) Lesperance, BCS ’92, MEd ’01 February 22, 2012
Sister Sheila Marie Buckley, BA ’61 September 23, 2011
Mary Elizabeth (Williams) Maloney, DOA ’86, BBA ’93 November 17, 2011
Mount Community
Dr. Glen Hancock Retired Faculty December 4, 2011 Howard Leroy Jackson Former Women’s Volleyball Coach November 10, 2011
Newspaper publisher Graham W. Dennis, OC, DHumL ’06 Publisher of The Chronicle Herald for more than 57 years and a legend in Canadian journalism, Graham Dennis died December 1, 2011 after a brief illness. Dennis, 84, died at home in Halifax, surrounded by family. Born in Halifax in 1927 and a fiercely proud Nova Scotian, Dennis became publisher at age 26, after the death of his revered father. He was the third generation Dennis to run the newspaper and Sarah Dennis, his daughter, is now the chief executive officer for The Halifax Herald Ltd. Sarah, his other daughter, Heather, and his wife, Gay, were with the publisher in his final hours. His cherished son William died in August 2002 at age 30. Those who knew him were well aware that while he might have been conservative in economic matters, he was very liberal in his social views. A boy during the Great Depression, Mr. Dennis never forgot how hard life was for his fellow citizens during that terrible period. Dennis contributed generously to charities and to the disadvantaged, often anonymously. He always remained humble, quick to praise others for their achievements while minimizing his own.
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Women’s Wall of Honour Celebrate a remarkable woman in your life.
Mount Saint Vincent University is proud to dedicate its new Margaret Norrie McCain Teaching, Learning & Research Centre to great women from all walks of life.
Each name on the Women’s Wall of Honour is the result of a generous $1,200 sponsorship.
This beautiful new facility will celebrate women’s contributions to business, public policy, family life, academia, the arts, sciences, and community. You have the opportunity to commemorate a great woman by reserving a space in her name on the Women’s Wall of Honour in a garden installation at the entrance of the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning & Research. Your honouree’s name will take its place on the Women’s Wall of Honour along with other great women whose lives and contributions are being celebrated. This unique installation is the only one of its kind in Canada. Its home will be Canada’s leading University primarily focused on the advancement of women.
To reserve space on the Women’s Wall of Honour, contact us at: University Advancement Mount Saint Vincent University Halifax, NS B3M 2J6 Tel: 902.457.6470 Email: giving@msvu.ca www.womenswallofhonour.ca
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Spring 2012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Advancement House Mount Saint Vincent University Halifax NS B3M 2J6 Canada