St. Francis Xavier University and Coady Institute stand on the lands of Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded home of the Mi’kmaw. We express our deep gratitude and appreciation to the generations of Mi’kmaw who, since time immemorial, have loved and stewarded these lands and the beings who call them home. Colonization is not just history; it exists in the present tense. While we strive to decolonize ourselves and our University, we know there is still much for us to learn.
We are committed to doing the hard work of self-reflection and to repairing relationships with the Mi’kmaw on whose lands we reside, including embracing the Truth and
Commission of Canada Calls to Action and embodying their spirit in our plans to move forward with our University.
A member of CCDB’s Engage project shows off her improved crop yields thanks to climate smart agriculture training. See our story on CCDB on page 8.
DEEPENING PARTNERSHIPS and EMBRACING OPPORTUNITIES
Welcome to Coady Institute’s Annual Report for the year 2023-2024. This year has been a remarkable journey of growth, innovation, and impact for us and our partners in Canada and around the world. At Coady Institute, we remain steadfast in our mission to empower community leaders and foster sustainable development across the globe.
Throughout the past year, we have expanded and tested new education programs, deepened our partnerships, and embraced new opportunities to drive positive change. Our commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion has guided our efforts, ensuring that our initiatives are both impactful and inclusive.
Key Achievements:
y Piloted a redesigned Diploma program in Development Leadership, offered for the first time since 2018.
y Supported over 459 community leaders from 41 countries through our educational programs, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to drive change in their communities.
y Collaborated on community-driven projects that address critical issues such as leadership, climate change, agroecology, gender equality, and economic development.
y Expanded our partnership network to include partnerships with new organizations in Canada such as the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism and the Aboriginal Shelters of Ontario, enhancing our reach and impact at home.
y Increased our online presence with a new series, “Creating Dialogue for Peace”, allowing us to connect with a broader audience and share our mission more effectively.
In this report, we highlight the achievements and milestones that have defined this year. We are proud to share the stories of key participants, alumni, and partners of resilience, creativity, and collaboration that have emerged from our work.
As we reflect on the past year, our team continues to be inspired by the dedication and passion of our funding partners such as outgoing St. Francis Xavier Chancellor John Peacock and his wife, Adrienne. Together, we have made significant strides towards building a more just and equitable world. We look forward to continuing this journey with you and thank you for your continued trust and support.
Eileen Alma Executive Director
This year has been a remarkable journey of growth, innovation, and impact for us and our partners in Canada and around the world
DIPLOMA PROGRAM EXPLORES BLENDED MODEL of LEARNING
In 2023, Coady Institute welcomed a diverse group of participants from 11 different countries to campus for the Diploma in Development Leadership for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Throughout the Diploma program, participants were able to build and draw upon a critical and reflective social change framework to enhance their leadership competencies and their abilities to motivate and support people in creating a better world for future generations.
The Diploma was delivered through a blended model, divided into three mandatory modules:
y Module 1 consisted of an online course focused on the introduction to core concepts and relationship building within the cohort.
y Module 2 was a 10-week, in-person residency at Coady Institute that included a foundational course in leadership grounded in community-driven development, social justice and feminist practice, and facilitating social change through an adult education-informed lens. Feminist Advocacy for Agency, Equity, and Justice, Community-Led Solutions for Climate Change, Livelihoods and Markets, and Asset Based Citizen Led Development: Theory and Practice were electives during the on-campus portion of the program
y Module 3 consisted of a 7-week practical module where participants had the opportunity to reflect on their learnings in practice with the accompaniment of Coady facilitators and through peer learning.
Collaborative relationships fostered among facilitators and participants helped draw out lessons and insights from each participant’s rich and diverse experiences. This sharing and co-creation of knowledge is a cornerstone to the Diploma program. Graduates leave with greater confidence and even stronger leadership skills, joining a global network of committed Coady graduates.
“At Coady, I learned that if you want to change or support the community, there has to be a more participatory involvement – you have to consult with the people in the community.”
- Abdi Mustafe Ahmed
For detailed information on the 2023 Diploma participants, click here.
Kevin Good Canada
Crystal S. Lewis Canada
Agathe Diama Mali
Robert K. Gboluma Jr. Liberia
Richard Osei Sarkodie Ghana
Abdi Mustafe Ahmed Ethiopia
Zelalem Mulugeta Ethiopia
Esther Ikale Ekitela Kenya
Ayatam Simeneh Ethiopia
Nishantha Kumara Sri Lanka
Prossy Nantongo Uganda
Prisca Nandede Uganda
Fr. Glasten Mathew Gonsalves India
Sarwat Husain Naqvi India
Arnest Aninda Sarkar Bangladesh
Lavinia Lingham Papua New Guinea
IMPACT of ENGAGE PROJECT CONTINUES to GROW
Since 2019, Coady Institute and five international partners have worked on the ENGAGE!: Women’s Empowerment and Active Citizenship. The project aims to advance gender equality and reduce poverty for women through asset-based, community-led development (ABCD) to promote sustainable change. Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the project is a partnership between Coady and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India; Organization for Women in Self Employment (WISE) in Ethiopia; Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP); Christian Commission for Development (CCDB) in Bangladesh; and Centre Haïtien du Leadership et de l’Excellence (CLE) in Haiti.
The goal of Engage is not only for women to improve their well-being but also for there to be a visible shift within communities to support women in their journeys towards independence and grow their confidence in all aspects, as this is important for the empowerment of the entire community. The project is measured through a series of outcomes under the theme of women’s empowerment.
In 2023-2024
Through education and training programs, follow-up supports, and advocacy and awareness activities the project reached:
11,500
9,800
1,700
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WOMEN AND GIRLS
Engage increased knowledge and skills where training was delivered.
MEN AND BOYS
Overall, partners have witnessed empowerment in individuals and through “ripple effects” that have affected the women’s families and communities. There have been 64 training courses across the five partners. Women have strengthened their knowledge of gender-responsive budgeting, ABCD approaches, climate change, feminist advocacy, and value chain analysis.
4
MEETINGS ORGANIZED BY CLE
Influencing Policy
7
MEETINGS ORGANIZED BY SEWA
20 MEETINGS ORGANIZED BY TGNP
The ultimate goal of empowering women is to instill in them the confidence and skills to become their own advocates and bring about change within their communities and beyond. Engage partners have begun meeting with local or higher policymakers to share the Engage project and lobby for changes at the local, regional, and national levels. We still have on-the-ground coursework, ABCD teachings, and a continued focus on feminism and women’s leadership ahead of us. Our focus on sustainability ensures that these practices will endure for years to come.
Engage is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.
Coady Institute and WISE co-facilitated a Financial Inclusion and Micro-Enterprise Development program in Addis Ababa for ENGAGE partners from India, Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
CCDB, COADY TEAMING up for CLIMATE COURSES
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to the effects of climate change. The Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) has been tirelessly working on adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the ever-changing challenges of climate change. These challenges make it even more difficult for women to be financially and socially independent.
As one of the partners with ENGAGE! Women’s Empowerment and Active Citizenship, the connections between empowering women and building climate-resilient farming solutions are evident. On a trip to Bangladesh in 2022, program teaching staff Marian Turniawan met partners from CCDB and explored the possibility of creating a joint climate course, drawing on each organization’s strengths. Through Engage, we are working alongside each partner to develop co-hosted and co-designed courses and training opportunities that draw out and complement our various expertise.
While a level of collaboration occurs in all offcampus courses, Marian noted the uniqueness of this series of courses as the curriculum was completely co-designed by both Coady and CCDB staff. Marian worked with Md. Foezullah Talukder, Mousumi Halder, and Abdul Alim Shaikh from CCDB to co-design the courses, with Foez, Mousumi, and Palash Sarker co-facilitating alongside Marian. The series produced two courses at Coady and one at CCDB, with participants from multiple countries attending. The courses focused on building resilient communities in the face of climate change.
The Bangladesh iteration, Building Community Resilience in a Changing Climate, was specifically designed for Engage partners to collaborate and learn how to build empowering communities while dealing with the effects of climate change.
Engage partners had the opportunity to learn within the CCDB Climate Centre, a knowledge hub for climate learning that models Bangladesh’s five main ecosystems.
The most recent course at Coady, Community-led Solutions for Climate Change, focused on assetbased community development combined with the local adaptation plan of action process.
Some participants noted that it was meaningful to have a South Asian expert co-facilitating, as it is impactful to have someone from a nonNorth American region explain adaptation and mitigation in a relevant context.
The focus on community in climate change work and diversity in perspectives inspired many, including Anna Sangai from Tanzania.
“The successes achieved during the process have strengthened my belief in the importance of inclusive, participatory approaches in addressing climate change and building resilience,” Anna says.
This past year, CCDB celebrated their 50th anniversary as an organization; CCDB’s work of empowering women and working to mitigate the effects of climate change continues to inspire. Coady Institute has had the privilege to partner with CCDB since 1972 and continues to build our connection now into the future. Congratulations to CCDB for all the milestones they have achieved and the inspirational work they do every day.
“The successes achieved during the process have strengthened my belief in the importance of inclusive, participatory approaches in addressing climate change and building resilience”
Kamrun Nahar, Action for Social Development (left); Marian Turniawan, Coady Institute; Army Desai, SEWA
Anna Sangai, Tanzania Gender Networking Programme
In 2023-2024, Coady Institute hosted dynamic courses that continue to build resilient changemakers worldwide and create a strong network of Coady graduates who are designing and supporting initiatives to strengthen their communities. This year, we held four on-campus, eight off-campus, and 10 online programs, including:
ON CAMPUS
Diploma in Development Leadership
Feminist Advocacy for Agency, Equity, and Justice
Community-Led Solutions for Climate Change
Livelihoods and Markets
OFF CAMPUS
Redevabilité sociale: Stratégies et pratiques
Social Accountability: Strategies and Practices, Senegal
Building Community Resilience in a Changing Climate, Bangladesh
Synergy: An Asset-Based and Community-Led Development Workshop, Kenya
Towards Decolonial Feminist Leadership, Tanzania
ACTivate - Activating Community Tourism – Level 1 (blended online and off campus)
Financial Inclusion and Micro-Enterprise; Deepening the Experience, Ethiopia
Reflective Practice in Action, Zimbabwe
Towards Feminist Alternatives for a Just World, India
ONLINE
Women’s Economic Empowerment: A Livelihoods and Markets
Approach
Leadership and Safety (2-day workshop)
Building on Abundance in Indigenous Communities
Reflective Leadership (Module 1) Diploma in Development
Leadership
Feminist Leadership for Capabilities, Ecology, and Transformation
Future of Work and Workers
Applying Indigenous Knowledge in a Shelter Context: Indigenous Leadership Professional Development
Grassroots Peacebuilding
Leadership for Young Professionals
Asset-Based and Community-Led Development Principles
AWARD WINNER’S WORK in UGANDA HONOURS KATHERINE FLEMING
As the recipient of the 2019 Katherine Fleming International Development Award Grace Arach was recognized for her work in Uganda as founder of the Foundation for Women Affected by Conflicts (FOWAC). After participating in Coady Institute’s Diploma in Development Leadership program, Grace committed herself to honouring and promoting the legacy of Katherine Fleming.
Fleming, a 1985 graduate from St. Francis Xavier University, dedicated her life’s work to overcoming child poverty in Africa. In her work with the United Nations Children’s Fund, she was committed to human rights and the defense of those rights on behalf of children. She died at her home in Tanzania in May 1999 at the age of 35. Fleming’s classmates established the Fleming award and for the past 24 years various African woman leaders have been supported in their studies at Coady Institute.
In 2019, Grace returned to Uganda and was able to raise $3,000 during the Covid pandemic to train a group of girls and mothers to sew and design dresses, shirts, and bags to sell.
“The beauty about this is that after training the 25 girls it created a multiplier effect, because about 10 to 15 of them were able to train other girls,” Grace says. “Now we have about 68 girls who have been trained. They are training other girls in schools, in the community, and in the office. Our role as an organization is to market what they do.”
She credits her learnings from Coady in helping FOWAC’s success, noting she uses asset-based, community-led methods to engage others and uses her learnings in social entrepreneurship daily.
“The courses I took were very important in dealing with leadership issues,” Grace says, noting the award gave her more energy to do even more.
“We are identifying talents and locally available resources in the community. We then support the community in understanding the value of those natural resources, how best they can use them, and then turning it into income generating activity.”
FOWAC is also training women in beekeeping as well shea nut and sesame oil production. The organization provides machines and equipment for harvesting and processing. Together the women are using value chain development to get the most out of the products while FOWAC helps market the products.
“We have a lot of shea nuts in the local community, and we encourage them to invest in the nuts which we squeeze the oil from. We make products like smearing oil over a kind of cosmetic which we can take to market.”
Grace says she was inspired during her visit to Antigonish to create a gift centre where these products as well as other items are sold. Items are bought, or donated, locally and sold at a reasonable price.
“There is a percentage we give them, and they really enjoy knowing at the end of it all they are going to get something and are able to save every week.”
FOWAC is also partnering with Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivor (TAPS), a U.S. based aid organization which supports those who are grieving a loved one who died from the impact of war and violence.
“This organization has been supporting us in areas of capacity building where we do a lot of training on how to assist war victims and widows of veterans of war,” Grace says.
She recently spent time with TAPS during an exchange visit to Washington, D.C. to share, learn, and copy best practices to help create a transitional justice program with the government in Uganda. Grace says she was introduced to various dignitaries and hopes the networking allows FOWAC to reach greater heights.
“They requested the girls that we trained with vocational skills in honour of Katherine Fleming to make bags,” she says.
Grace says the girls were encouraging each other to come together for the effort and that making 1,000 bags was a life transforming moment
because the girls were paid for each bag. The money will help with school fees and uniforms, and other needs such as supporting families.
“I asked them to put their stories on the bag inside so each of them put their own story in the bags,” Grace says. “Everyone had a connection with at least one of the girls who made the bags, and TAPS was really, really appreciative.”
She says the project used recycled cloth and allowed for the creativity of the girls to shine as they created beautiful designs while learning from one another.
“The day we finished making the bags, the girls were like, ‘Wow! we made it. We made it’,” Grace says.
“They were able to turn an environmental issue into income – it was economic empowerment for the girls.”
Visit Katherine Fleming International Development Award to learn more, or to donate to the fund.
Grace Arach with Carroll Bonnie, President and founder of TAPS. Girls trained in honour of Katherine Fleming with bags they created.
WALLACE INTERNSHIP
HELPS X STUDENTS GAIN
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
“Having the support from the Wallace Foundation really let me live that out and experience running my own business for the summer.”
Before the summer of her final year of her Bachelor of Business Administration degree at St. Francis Xavier University, Kali Beaton wanted to create her own business but did not have the financial means to do so on her own.
However, through the opportunities at StFX DiscoverBox, she won a pitch competition and became a Wallace Family intern, which provided her with not only financial assistance but also advice and mentorship from StFX staff. StFX DiscoverBox is one of Coady Institute’s strong ties with the university and local community.
“The highlight was definitely learning how to be resourceful and what it takes to start your own business.”
“Having the support from the Wallace Foundation really let me live that out and experience running my own business for the summer,” Kali says.
Kali’s business, Positive Placement, is a marketing firm that works with small businesses and Airbnbs in Atlantic Canada.
“The highlight was definitely learning how to be resourceful and what it takes to start your own business,” Kali says. “It was a great experience for me, but I learned I wasn’t ready to run my own business fully after graduation.”
While she chose not to pursue her business full-time after graduation, Kali appreciated the supportive community around her, which included other interns, guest speakers, and her mentors, Neil Maltby and Caitlin McLaughlin.
The interns also had bi-weekly meetings with Paula Brophy, the coordinator of StFX DiscoverBox, where they learned about different topics that she was not taught during her business degree, including how to file your taxes when you’re running a small business and how to register your business with the government.
Kali says the internship format allowed for a more “personalized experience” when building a business and gave her a lot of freedom to be your own boss.
“Any other job that’s ever paid me has been me working on someone else’s projects; it was cool to get an experience where you’re paid to work on your own project,” Kali says.
For students interested in pitching a business idea, Kali says, “Go for it!”
“Practice with your roommates and your friends a lot. That’s what I did. I would recommend everyone do it. It’s a great experience to get to work on your own project.”
Following her graduation from StFX, Kali participated in the Ventures for Canada Fellowship, a start-up-based fellowship hosted at Queen’s University and is now working as a corporate legal assistant at Patterson Law in Halifax.
YEAR in REVIEW
Coady’s ENGAGE team travelled to TGNP where they visited the Majohe Knowledge Centre in the outskirts of Dar Es Salaam. The centre was established in 2020 with the support of the ENGAGE project.
APRIL
The 2023 Wallace Interns begin orientation as they prepare for a summer dedicated to developing their own unique business ideas.
The Circle of Abundance team and partners from the Further Education Society of Alberta travelled to Saugeen First Nation to learn more about their approach to leadership.
Former Coady Institute director and VP, Dr. John Gaventa received an honourary degree at the StFX University spring convocation ceremony.
As the 2023 Diploma in Development Leadership participants arrive, staff, donors, and community members gather together for the Diploma Welcome Social.
MAY
The Centre for Employment Innovation (CEI) launched a virtual Knowledge Hub aimed to support the Nova Scotia Works system by providing relevant and impactful resources, tools, and information, and provides practitioners with evidence-based strategies and research to better serve their communities.
Pathy Fellows from Cohort 7 present their learnings from their yearlong Fellowship experience.
The Rural Women Cultivating Change team travelled to Nanyuki, Kenya with SeedChange and partners from Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia where they met with women farmers focused on agroecology in their rural communities.
We were thrilled to host Patricia Peña (Assistant Deputy Minister) from Global Affairs Canada.
The team at CARE Zimbabwe led a panel presentation on the START4GIRLS initiative in partnership with CARE Canada, Coady Institute, and Global Affairs Canada.
JUNE
34 participants from across Atlantic Canada graduated from the first ACTivate Program in partnership with the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism (GMIST).
Feminist Advocacy for Agency, Equity, and Justice participants shared with us their action plans aimed to strengthen community agency, participation, and voice through advocacy in the context of their work and communities.
58 social change leaders from countries around the world celebrated their graduation from one of three oncampus certificate programs: Feminist Advocacy for Agency, Equity, and Justice, Livelihoods and Markets, and Community Led Solutions for Climate Change.
Diploma participants, Coady staff, and supporters joined in the annual Antigonish Highland Games Parade.
JULY
As Diploma participants prepared to leave campus, they shared their planned social change initiatives in a gallery walk followed by a closing social and farewell at the People’s Place Library.
On the anniversary of Rt. Rev Moses Coady’s death, Coady staff members gathered to remember Coady, other founders of the Antigonish Movement, and former Coady staff and participants who have passed away.
The Sister-to-Sister Mentorship Program began in partnership with the Nobel Women’s Initiative. The cohort included 20 young feminist activists and leaders from 17 countries.
AUGUST
The Centre for Employment Innovation hosted the 2023 Nova Scotia Career and Employment Student Symposium featuring presentations from postsecondary student interns from across Nova Scotia highlighting research and emerging best practices related to career development, employment, and labour.
CEI Intern Elora Gehue shared her research alongside Mi'kmaw Economic Benefits Office of Nova Scotia (MEBO)
Executive Director Alex Paul exploring anti-Indigenous racism in the labour movement in Nova Scotia.
Coady Staff Sarika Sinha facilitated one week of the South Asian Feminist Critical Thinking School hosted by Jagori Grameen which focused on gender, human rights, just governance, sustainable development and the politics and practice of feminist activism.
SEPTEMBER
StFX students Emma Jewkes and Sydney Anthony presented their findings as part of the Sears Internships in Social Enterprise Program. The students worked alongside the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India to conduct participatory research on the impact of climate change for women working in India’s informal economy.
We celebrated the life, work, and wisdom of L’nu Elder, Dr. Sister Dorothy Moore as well as the launch of her most recent book, "A Journey of Love and Hope: The Inspirational Words of a Mi'kmaw Elder".
YEAR in REVIEW
Redevabilité sociale: Stratégies et Pratiques French-language course took place in Sénégal in partnership with the Tostan Training Center (TTC).
OCTOBER
StFX Homecoming, Coffee with Coady: We were joined by 2023 Katherine Fleming International Development Award recipient, Prossy Nantongo who shared about her work helping vulnerable and orphaned girls and women in Uganda and Rwanda as they transition from school to employment.
Coady joined the ABCD Unconference, leading a session focused on applying Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) in varying contexts.
Staff, graduates, and partners gathered in Tanzania with the support of Comart Foundation for a narrative project aimed to document how ABCD has and continues to impact lives at the local level in communities.
NOVEMBER
Coady staff, graduates, partners, and several Pathy Fellows attended the TGNP Gender Festival, celebrating 30 Years of TGNP with learning sessions focused on Transformative Feminist Movements.
Coady staff Karri-Lynn Paul and Wellington Sousa facilitated an AssetBased Community Development (ABCD) workshop with Seed Savers Network in Kenya.
Pauline MacIntosh (Program Teaching Staff) received the St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) Community Outreach Award at the university’s December convocation ceremony. The award recognizes university faculty and staff who have demonstrated a long and consistent commitment to serving the Nova Scotia community.
DECEMBER
The Circle of Abundance Team, Krista Hanscomb and Karri-Lynn Paul, hosted a staff lunch and learn where they shared the values and principles that create the foundation of their work, how they use Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing) in their approaches, and lessons learned while working with Indigenous organizations and communities in Belize, Australia, and the United States throughout the past year.
Representatives from Global Affairs Canada joined Coady Institute, TGNP and participants of the Towards Decolonial Feminist Leadership course in Tanzania for a session on the successes and best practices of feminist movement building across East Africa.
JANUARY
StFX Discover Box and the Gerald Schwartz School of Business announced the new Social Entrepreneurship Fund and the recipient of the first award, Inka Mittler.
FEBRUARY
Coady Institute and WISE co-facilitated a Financial Inclusion and MicroEnterprise Development program in Addis Ababa for ENGAGE partners from India, Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
The annual Rural Women Cultivating Change (RWCC) planning session was hosted by WE-Action Ethiopia and the Institute for Sustainable Development in Ethiopia. Staff from Coady Institute, SeedChange, and other partner organizations gathered to discuss communications and advocacy strategies as the project passed the midway mark.
International Women’s Day, Investing in Women in with ENGAGE partners: Engage partners in India, Bangladesh, Haiti, Ethiopia, and Tanzania shared how they’re investing in women through education, advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and more.
MARCH
Hum Sab Gathering in Bhopal, India: Approximately 2,000 people gathered in Bhopal, India in recognition of International Women’s Day. Coady staff Sarika Sinha (Program Teaching Staff) and Eileen Alma (Executive Director) attended.
144 graduates from online certificate programs joined the Coady alumni network.
CIRCLE OF ABUNDANCE PARTICIPANT MOTIVATED by DECOLONIZING APPROACH to LEARNING
After hearing about the course from a friend, Ashley Sheppard decided that enrolling in Coady Institute’s Building on Abundance in Indigenous Communities course would be an excellent opportunity to connect with other Indigenous women leaders from across Turtle Island while learning about community leadership.
“The course immediately resonated with me as an opportunity to expand my understanding of what it means to be a good leader and how to exemplify that in my community,” Ashley reflects.
The seven-week online course focused on Indigenous community-building practices, emphasizing strengths and assets. Participants were encouraged to identify changes they wanted to see in their communities and use the tools provided to create an engagement plan that they could implement locally.
Originally from Newfoundland and now residing in Nova Scotia, Ashley wondered if she would meet other Indigenous women local to her area. She was pleasantly surprised to find that two women from Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation were also enrolled in the course.
“The opportunity to learn from, and with, these women was invaluable,” Ashley says.
“As a newcomer to the area, I am still finding my own path to community engagement here and have a lot to learn. Being able to hear their perspectives on the strengths and challenges within the community was deeply impactful and has motivated me to expand my own efforts.”
One of the most impactful tools for Ashley was the paper basket exercise facilitated by Circle of Abundance teaching staff member Karri-Lynn Paul.
“This exercise helped us to rethink how communities utilize the skills and resources they already have,” Ashley notes.
“Hearing from the other participants helped me to realize that even though we all come from different places, there are so many things that we have in common, and that we are much stronger than we realize.”
Beyond the core tools taught in the course, Ashley appreciated the decolonized structure of the program and has begun incorporating this approach into her work at the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, as well as within her own community.
“The course’s decolonized framework challenged me to rethink conventional approaches to leadership and community engagement, inspiring me to integrate these principles into my professional and community work.”
Ashley emphasizes that the course allowed her to feel “deeply supported and heard,” not only by the facilitators but also by her peers. The experience
and connections she formed during the course motivated her to apply for the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program, a six-month program offered every two years which supports Indigenous women in building upon their trusted leadership capacities for community-led, community-driven work.
Having been accepted into the program, Ashley concludes, “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue to expand my knowledge of individual and collective responsibility, reciprocity, and relationship to one another and the land, and to put these skills to use for the benefit of my community.”
“The course’s decolonized framework challenged me to rethink conventional approaches to leadership and community engagement, inspiring me to integrate these principles into my professional and community work.”
Pathy fellowship Cohort 8 and fellowship staff Jessica Franko (back left), Anthony Ighomuaye, Aubrey Rose Apps, Sophie McCafferty, Fanta Ly, Laila Alfadhli, Courtney Murdoch, Sara-Maya Kaba (front left), Jacqueline Tomazic, Maëlle Weber, and Danie K. Mahirane enjoy time in the Warren Gardens at Coady Institute.
Pathy Foundation Fellowship: YOUTH LEADERS for SOCIAL CHANGE
The Pathy Foundation Fellowship is a 12-month community-focused and experiential learning opportunity for young leaders from Canadian partner universities. Graduating students from Bishop’s University, McGill University, Queen’s University, University of Ottawa, St. Francis Xavier University, and newly added partner Carleton University are eligible. Applicants submit a self-designed initiative proposal to work with a community to foster sustainable positive social change in Canada and around the world. The Pathy Family Foundation supports each Fellow with funding of up to $40,000.
In May 2023, six Fellows from the seventh cohort celebrated the completion of their Fellowship journey with a small ceremony in Coady’s Marie Michael Library. These six young leaders from across Canada dedicated the past year to their own personal and professional development, and to leading positive social change in their communities in collaboration with community partners, mentors, and Coady staff.
In June, we welcomed the nine young leaders of Cohort 8 to campus for orientation and the four-week Foundations for Community Change module where participants develop their skills, learn new tools, and adapt their plans in preparation to launch their community initiatives.
“One of the main impacts the Fellowship has had on me is teaching me where my heart lies. As a result of the Fellowship, I am grateful for the resilience that I have gained. The constant changes in my journey and the many unexpected twists and turns that I was seemingly always navigating forced me to be more resilient [and] thoughtful” - Sara-Maya Kaba
With initiatives ranging from ‘Agroecological Soil Remediation with Goats’ in Malawi to ‘Youth for Consent Culture’ in Canada, the Pathy Fellows have been working throughout the year to drive social change through asset-based approaches and community partnership.
Anthony Ighomuaye has been working with rickshaw drivers in Nigeria to convert from fuel to solar energy, helping drivers save on fuel costs and power their homes while minimizing negative environmental impacts.
Sara-Maya Kaba has been working with students and teachers in Pakistan to improve mental health outcomes through arts and sports activities, and in partnership with The Booni Environmental Academy launched Pakistan’s first-ever ringette program.
The Fellowship team is led by program alumnx including program manager, Jessica Franko (Cohort 5) and program assistant Courtney Murdoch (Cohort 6), and in an effort to further honour alumnx expertise and experience, a new designated seat has been added to the selection committee in preparation for the selection of the 9th cohort. The alumnx seat was held by Daniela Gallardo (Cohort 6).
Anthony Ighomuaye
Sara-Maya Kaba
NEW ONLINE SERIES CREATING DIALOGUE for PEACE
Coady webinars, webinar series, and online symposiums are an important part of how the Institute continues to connect with our graduate network, introduces new programs and projects, and engages with social change leaders around the world on issues such as diversity, equity, and justice.
In 2023-2024, we continued the popular Engaging with Feminist Leadership series and introduced a Coady Coffee House series. New Coady teaching staff member Digafie Debalke hosts the series which takes place both on campus at Coady Institute and online and is an ongoing dialogue on peace and conflict transformation.
The objectives of the Coady Coffee Houses are to:
y stimulate dialogue and deepen understanding of the assumptions and complexities surrounding peacebuilding frame works and practices that lead toward positive peace;
y Identify the role of religion in promoting understanding, peace and harmonious coexistence between and among communities;
y explore and identify the ways in which creative imagination plays role in advancing peace and reducing escalation of conflict.
The sessions feature coffee and speakers have included Sr. Joanne O’Regan, Congregation Secretary for the Sisters of St. Martha and Rieaz Shaik, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Canada.
With Coady teaching staff member
Digafie Debalke
COADY COFFEE HOUSE
2023-2024 Coady Webinars:
2,765
630
REGISTRATIONS UNIQUE
PARTICIPANTS
April 3, 2023
1,688
YOUTUBE VIEWS
Engaging with Feminist Leadership - Healing and Wellbeing from a Feminist Perspective
April 27, 2023 National Day of Mourning
May 1, 2023
August 15, 2023
August 15, 2023
August 16, 2023
August 16, 2023
October 19, 2023
November 27, 2023
Engaging with Feminist Leadership - Transnational Feminist Movement: A Transforming Perspective and Practice
2023 Student Symposium: Inclusive Education and Institutions
2023 Student Symposium: Inclusive Workplaces and Employment
2023 Student Symposium: Community- Led Development
2023 Student Symposium: Youth Engagement
Engaging with Feminist Leadership - Queering Feminist Movement
Coady Coffee House: Building Peace at Home and Abroad: Identifying Risks and Opportunities
January 22, 2024 Sisters of Saint Martha: Lifelong Journey of Peace
February 7, 2024
March 8, 2024
March 27, 2024
Challenging Hegemony in International Development: A Conversation with Pathy Fellows
International Women's Day - Invest in Women with ENGAGE Partners
South Africa’s Journey to Reconciliation and Healing: Lessons for the World
PARTICIPANTS IMPRESS, INSPIRE PHILANTHROPISTS
As graduates of St. Francis Xavier University’s class of 1963, John and Adrienne Peacock have always been generous financially and in their service to their alma mater with John recently completing a term as Chancellor of the university. That generosity extends to Coady Institute which they have supported since 2003.
John is a former member of the Coady Advisory Committee and the couple have donated generously both personally and through the Peacock Family Foundation. That support includes the Institute’s International Centre for Women Leadership and more recently the Circle of Abundance – Amplifying Indigenous Women’s Leadership.
“We started at StFX in 1960 in the early days of Coady and I was intrigued by what Coady meant and the Antigonish Movement,” John says. “It was part of the curriculum, and it struck a chord. Even today we are motivated to be giving because we want to help people help themselves and, to me, that is what Coady stands for.”
He says he has not only collaborated with various executive directors but also gotten to know Coady participants, and various Peacock family members have had the opportunity to witness participants at work in India and Nepal. His admiration for the work continues to grow.
“I feel even more so today, when I see what's going on in the world, having people in these countries, and in our own country, doing things that are community based and using human capital to help does make a difference.”
Giselle Murphy, John and Adrienne’s daughterin-law and the foundation’s executive director, says meeting participants and seeing what they are learning and planning on taking back to their communities is inspiring.
“The knowledge sharing between different representatives from the different countries is pretty powerful,” Giselle says. “It’s like anything, you can hear about these initiatives and projects and on paper they are obviously very powerful, but when you see them in action and working like that, it's that much more impressive and makes it that much easier to support Coady.”
John says the quality of Coady participants, and how individually accomplished they are, always impresses him noting that besides reinforcing education and knowledge of the individual, Coady is helping participants build their own leadership skills.
Giselle adds that besides John and Adrienne’s links to StFX, the pillars of the Peacock Family Foundation include supporting education and community which align with the Institute’s work not only internationally but also within Nova Scotia and Canada.
“Moving forward when we're talking about women in leadership, that's something that hasn't been at the forefront for a lot of organizations and especially Indigenous women in leadership,” Giselle says.
“We want to be cutting edge, on top of being present, and being part of the bigger themes in philanthropy. Coady offers the opportunity for us to do that.”
John also mentions how the foundation established the John T. Sears Chair in Corporate
Responsibility at StFX’s Gerald Schwartz School of Business to help create teaching and research opportunities for students to better understand corporate social responsibility.
“When we were establishing the terms of reference for that chair, one of the things I insisted be in there was some effort by whoever held that chair to cooperate with the Coady,” John says. “I've just felt there was a natural tie in there. The corporate justice, social justice, it all kind of ties into what Coady does.”
Giselle and John say Coady continues to find ways to give voices to various people locally, in Nova Scotia, Canada, and globally.
“There are many different programs that can bring these different issues to light whether it is Indigenous and Black voices in Nova Scotia or different social justice and economic issues in Canada or in the developing world,” Giselle says.
“If you're a philanthropist and you want to give money, Coady is where there's something for everybody in terms of what you could support and there's a great need, obviously.”
“We
want to be cutting edge, on top of being present, and being part of the bigger themes in philanthropy. Coady offers the opportunity for us to do that.”
John Peacock greets Brenda Gatera during an open house at Coady Institute.
Adrienne Peacock took part in a Coady learning trip to Nepal and India in 2009.
THANK YOU to our SUPPORTERS
Coady Institute relies on the generosity and support of donors to fund our programs. On a daily basis our fund development team have the great fortune of interacting with incredible individuals and foundations who believe in the work being done at Coady. We would like to take this opportunity to show gratitude to our donors of all levels of giving this year.
FOUNDATION AND INSTITUTIONAL DONORS
A.H. Roy & Associates Ltd.
Atlantic Central Credit Union
Bealight Foundation
C.L. Curry Funeral Services Ltd
Canadian Martyrs Parish CWL
Catholic Women’s League of Canada
Christ the Redeemer Council
CWL
Comart Foundation
Congregation des Soeurs de Sainte-Anne
Congregation of Notre Dame Visitation Province
St. Monica Council CWL
Donner Canadian Foundation
Donata Real Estate Developments Ltd.
G. DeCoste Interiors Ltd.
East Coast Credit Union
Global Affairs Canada
High-Crest Enterprises Limited
Les Religieuses de Notre-Dame du Sacre-Coeur-Generalat
Les Soeurs de La Congregation de Notre Dame (National)
Micro Boutique Living Inc.
Municipality of the County of Antigonish
Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
Nova Scotia Knights of Columbus
Charitable Foundation
Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU)
Pathy Family Foundation
Peacock Family Foundation
Probst & Partner Investments Ltd.
Rotary Club of Port Hawkesbury
Saanich Peninsula CWL
Sacred Heart CWL
Sisters of Charity - Halifax
Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland
Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada
Sisters of St. Martha
Sodexo
St. Annes CWL
St. Clements CWL
St. Francis of Assisi CWL
St. Ignatius CWL
St. Joseph CWL
St. Kevins Parish Council CWL
St. Leonard’s CWL
St. Marys CWL
St. Mary’s CWL
St. Padre Pio CWL
St. Patrick’s CWL
St. Peters CWL
St. Peter’s Parish CWL
St. Boniface CWL
St. Elizabeth Seton Women’s Guild
St. Joseph’s CWL
St. Patricks CWL
Steelmac Limited
StFX Students’ Union
The Edwards Family Charitable Foundation
Tony’s Meats
Valleyview CWL
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS
Eileen Alma and Guangul Tessema
Hilary R. Amit
Rev. Jacob E. Andrea
Aida Arnold
Dr. Donald F. Arseneau
B. John Baxter
Loretta Bennett
Roland Bertin
Valerie A. Bobyk
Dr. William and Nancy Booth
Dr. Jacques and Laurie Boucher
Dr. Karen Brebner
Dr. Terry E. Brennan
Tom and Bridget Brennan
Elaine Cairns
Dan R. Cameron
Paul and Ann Marie Cameron
Gerald and Marjorie Casey
Helen Castle
Emilie Chiasson
Michele Chiasson Suart
Carl Chisholm
Hon. Peter I. Chisholm
Maureen Coleman
Hon. Mary Coyle
Susan Crocker and John Hunkin
Donald and Katrina Davenport
Katrina Davenport
Denise M. Davies
Ryan J. Davies
Peter V. Dawson
Jeffrey S. Dee and Amy MacDonald
Vernon and Marilyn Dee
Paul M. Doiron
Dr. J. R. Hamilton
William C. Ellsworth
Estate of George William Kyte
Estate of Jeannine Deveau
Dr. Catharina Felderhof
Ann Marie FitzGerald
Frank and Mary Fitzpatrick
Kathryn M. Fleiger
Amy C. Fleming
Karen Foley
John A. Forbes
MaryAnn Forbes
Marian V. Fortune-Stone
Dr. David and Sandra Gibeault
John Gillies
Hugh and Doris Gillis
Joan E. Gillis
Amy Gordinier
Lucie Goulet
Ruth Gunn
Bill and Jeanine Gunn
Nicola Harwood
Jola Hubisz
Esther W. Hudson
Catherine J. Irving
Robb and Elizabeth Kell
Peter Kenny
John and Joanne Kerr
Dorothy Lander and John Graham-Pole
Brenda M. Lehmann
Agnes Leung Sham Yuk Sheung
Keith P. MacCormick
Catherine Anne MacDonald
Rev. Daniel G. MacDonald
Helen MacDonnell
J. Alexander MacEachern
Hon. Angus MacIsaac
Margaret A. MacIsaac-Taylor
William O. Mackasey
John MacLatchy
Douglas L. MacLellan
Leon and Pauline MacLellan
Sara Malcolm
Ranjit B Mani
Kathleen M. McDonald
Devon McGrath
Helen C. Neufeld
Hon. Graydon and Beth Nicholas
Kathleen Niro
Francis and Maureen Nolan
Dr J. Michael O’Brien
Virginia O’Connell
Lynn O’Donnell
Michael O’Keefe and Crystal Pelly
Mary O’Regan
Stephen M. O’Regan
Hon. Sandra E. Oxner, OC
Pak C. Lip
Lou Palmer
Peter Parkinson
Karri-Lynn Paul
Susan Perreault
Scott and Donna Rappard
Dr. Carolyn Rideout
Barry and Mary Roderick
Sheilagh Ross
Shelagh Savage
Sylvia Skrepichuk
Cyril and Doreen Smith
Maurice G. and Jane Smith
Steve and Kathy Smith
Nancy Stewart
Jack and Valerie Sullivan
Robyn J. Tingley
Julia Tufts
Peter Tufts
Adele Upton
Lori Ward
Walter S. Watkins
Ian Wilson
Peter Wong
Elizabeth Yeo
Nick and Trudy Zutt
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
St. Francis Xavier University established Coady Institute as part of its commitment to community leadership development. The Executive Director of Coady Institute reports to the University’s Academic Vice-President and Provost who reports to the President of the University who in turn is responsible to the Board of Governors, the senior governing body of the University.
See below for segmented financial information of Coady Institute, which is included in the University’s audited financial statements at https://stfx.ca/financial-services/stfxfinancial-statements
** The University is a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA Registration/BN: 10808 3270 RR0001) registered under the legal name: Governors of St. Francis Xavier University
