UNIVERSITY NEWS
Ninth annual Girls Conference breeds confidence and self-empowerment by Lisa MacNeil
to become thriving entrepreneurs and the practical knowledge needed to fast track their success in the workplace. In addition to such components as networking and leadership coaching, the program this year will also include such topics as social media marketing, google analytics, and search engine optimization, all of which are becoming imperative skills for successful entrepreneurs.
TD Indigenous Support
Students Afolake Awoyiga and Domini Awoyiga, and poet El Jones Last March, MSVU welcomed over 400 junior and senior high school girls from across the province to the ninth annual Girls Conference hosted by the Alexa McDonough Institute for Women, Gender and Social Justice. Participants had an opportunity to attend various workshops and activity sessions focused on confidence building, leadership skills, and personal and professional growth as well as developing stronger minds and bodies. Grade seven student Domini Awoyiga from Madeline Symonds Middle School has been attending the Girls Conference for the last three years and credits the experience with allowing her to find her voice and to build her confidence. Domini realized her passion for poetry after meeting social activist El Jones at the conference. “El Jones gave me the opportunity to present at one of her workshops last year, and ever since I have been writing my own poems. I write about things like climate change, and last year I attended a workshop on body image so that inspired me to write more poems on that topic.” Domini is grateful for the people who give their time and financial support to make the conference possible. “I’m thankful for all of the donors of the Girls Conference and for the things that they have done to make it the very best it is.”
The TD Bank Group has donated $500,000 to MSVU in support of Indigenous students and programming. Through this support, the university continues to benefit from the leadership of Patrick Small Legs-Nagge, special advisor to the president on Aboriginal affairs, who provides strategic direction, supports Aboriginal learners, and develops initiatives, programs and policies that respond to student, Aboriginal community, and institutional needs. TD Bank Group’s support will also help establish a new TD Aboriginal Student Bursary that will provide financial assistance for Aboriginal students.
Family Studies & Gerontology Celebrate Milestone Anniversary
RBC and CWB offering program for young women entrepreneurs Since 2017, RBC and the Centre for Women in Business at MSVU have been hosting the Alliance of Young Women Entrepreneurs program. The first of its kind in Canada, the program guides female MSVU undergraduate and graduate students from any academic program from the idea stage to the implementation stage of their business, free of charge. Through mentorship and peer-to-peer advising, students gain the competencies required
MSVU’s Department of Family Studies & Gerontology marked their 20th anniversary in 2019 where alumni, faculty, staff, and guests took part in a wonderful reception on campus. Folia 2020
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