STU Alumni & Friends
Shaping Emerging Tech Kognitiv Spark Grows its Footprint Around the Globe
Winter 2021
Call for Nominations for the Carolyn LaydenStevenson Distinguished Alumni Award What’s New at STU?
Supporting the STU Fund makes an impact for students today. Your gift helps to make possible such things as:
To mak a gift e
that will s visit ww upport students , w.stu.c a/givin g or ca 506-45 ll 2-2140
“I’m going to university because I want to be able to make the world a better place, but to make that happen I have to understand the world in its entirety. In my opinion, there’s no better way to do so than going on exchange, meeting new people from all over the world, and being a part of something that’s bigger than you are.” – Elizabeth Polk, BA’21, participated in an International Exchange at Örebro University in Sweden.
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Scholarships and Bursaries Travel Study Programs Experiential Learning Opportunities Mentorship, Tutoring & Writing Workshops
Thank You.
“Moot Court is such a rewarding program and an amazing atmosphere. It’s truly wonderful to be part of such a hardworking and supportive team.” – Julia Evans, BA’23, is a member of STU's Moot Court Team and was named the Top Speaker at a regional tournament this fall.
STU Fund impacts today’s students
d in Intereste a new hing establis rd or including our t awa studen s University in y ffice a O St. Thom s? Contact the i lan lumn estate p ncement and A 140 of Adva at 506-452-2 s Relation ing@stu.ca. or giv
Contents
We welcome your comments Phone: 506.452.0521 Email: alumni@stu.ca Website: www.stu.ca Facebook: St. Thomas University Alumni Twitter: @StThomasAlumni
4 Alumni Association 6 Alumni Events Recap 7 Giving News 8 Cover Story 10 Profiles 14 Campus Watch 23 Sports Wall of Fame 24 New & Noteworthy
Connections is a publication of the
Publisher Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, St. Thomas University Editor Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08 Acknowledgements Wanda Bearresto, BA’87 Jeffrey Carleton Michael Forestell, BA’15 Ashlen Henry, BA’09 Dionne Izzard Kathleen Johnson, BA’13 Eric Lewis Jodi Misheal Emily Oleksuk, BA’20 Photos Kyle Albright, BA’13 Keith Minchin Design, Layout, Printing Karen Smith Design KarenSmithDesign66@gmail.com Taylor Printing Group Inc. Tpgi.ca
Alumni Association Board of Directors 2020-2021 Jane Abernethy, BT’73, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Don Bossé, BA’82, BEd’83 (Fredericton, NB) Steven Butler, BA’14 (Fredericton, NB) Dr. Dawne Clarke, BA’95 (Fredericton, NB) Robert Fisher, BA’80 (Burlington, ON) Mary Beth Gorey, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Suzanne Lalla-Murphy, BA’88 (Fredericton, NB) Dennis Livingstone, BA’73 (Riverview, NB) Sheri Shannon, BA’00 (Sussex, NB) Margaret (Margie) Tracy, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Nora Valentino, BA’87 (Fredericton, NB) Melissa Wah, BA’10 (Fredericton, NB)
F E AT U R E S Giving Back to Future Generations Donation from Dr. Joan McFarland creates scholarship and prizes in political economy.
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Photo by: Keith Minchin
Connections
Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5G3. It is distributed free of charge to more than 12,000 St. Thomas University alumni and friends worldwide.
Welcome from St. Thomas University President, Dawn Russell
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his year is one of the most momentous in our 110-year history. Dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 has been the preoccupation of faculty, staff, and students. It has been challenging, frustrating, and inspiring. The end of last term was hectic, as professors and students made significant changes to courses with little notice. Over the summer, we planned for a remote year and so consulted widely, purchased new technology, and conferred with Public Health. Our priority was to support faculty as they converted their courses to an online format. Staff similarly worked hard to offer students support services in an online format. This work was unprecedented. The amount of capacity-building in adapting new software and acquiring new skills has been amazing. Faculty willingly sacrificed research time and many people took less time for vacation. We also learned how to deliver Convocation, Welcome Week, Commencement, and public lectures virtually. Though this year has been very different, we are still connected in many ways. I am proud that we have been able to offer students the opportunity for a successful academic year. The value of a university degree to each individual is well worth the additional efforts. A high-quality education in a responsive, collaborative environment has been the hallmark of STU through the years. I am so proud that STU has risen to that challenge this year.
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Liberal Arts Shaping Emerging Tech St. Thomas alumni are helping Fredericton’s Kognitiv Spark grow its footprint around the globe.
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Stutter Leads STU Alum to Career in Speech-Language Pathology Casey Dumaresq helps others with stuttering and also treats patients with brain injuries and neuromuscular disorders.
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Nature Therapy an Immersive Experience Psychology professor Monika Stelzl is certified as a nature and forest therapy guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. On the Cover: from left: Ben Crouse, BA’17, Sean McCullum, BA’16 and Emily Green, BA’23. Photo by Keith Minchin
Winter 2021
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STU Alumni Association New T-Ring Distributor
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TU has a new distributor for its T-Rings, but rest assured the T-Ring is the same design, created by the same Canadian manufacturer. To purchase a T-Ring through Hogan Diamond Jewellers, email stugradrings@gmail.com. For more information, please visit STU.ca/alumni or contact the Alumni Office at alumni@stu.ca
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Marg Tracy, President of the Alumni Association
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lthough this column is usually an opportunity to share updates and messages from your Alumni Association, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to recognize our graduates of 2020. While members of the class of 2020 have certainly had as memorable a time at STU as their predecessors, the conclusion of their time at the University has been anything but traditional, anything but ‘normal’. Without an in-person Convocation to mark the movement into the ranks of alumni, we are nevertheless delighted to have you join our number – and we couldn’t be more proud of you. More than 17,000 STU alumni all over the world applaud you, celebrate this milestone with you, and welcome you as the newest members of the St. Thomas University Alumni Association. For all my fellow alumni, I would like to note that your Board of Directors has been working to add additional affinity programs and services to the suite of offerings available to you as members. For more information on the newest of these, TD Life, Health, and Dental, and the MBNA credit card, I invite you to visit STU.ca/alumniservices or to call the Alumni Office at (506) 452-0521. Finally, many thanks for reaching out to your Alumni Association, and to one another, to check up and to check in. Please stay safe and healthy.
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T-Ring Winners
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asiimah Joomun (BA’20) and Samantha Arthurs (BA’20) are this year’s recipients of T-Rings from the Alumni Association. “My T-Ring symbolizes four years away from home, the sacrifices my parents and I have made, the growth I have experienced, the inspiring people I have met, the lifelong connections I have made, and the privilege and gratitude I have to have been able to pursue an undergraduate degree at St. Thomas University.” – Wasiimah Joomun
“St. Thomas is such a unique university. We are a tight-knit community dedicated to meaningful and purposeful learning, which is what the T-Ring represents. St. Thomas has helped me in ways indescribable and more than anything, a T-Ring acts as a reminder of the journey I underwent to become the person I am today.” – Samantha Arthurs
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Claude Cyr Receives the Alumni Service Award
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laude Cyr is the recipient of the STU Alumni Association Award for Service for 2020. The award was established to recognize the exemplary engagement of alumni in helping advance the aims and objectives of the Alumni Association and the overall reputation of the University. Claude’s nominators were unanimous in noting his commitment and support to both the University and its alumni through service on the Board of Directors, promotion of alumni events at STU – even when wintering in Florida – and participation in the planning of many class reunions. Claude is described as having “an unfailing love and pride of St. Thomas, with a passion for and commitment to the University which has had a lasting impact, spanning over 50 years.”
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Father Tom Daley
Scholarship T
he recipient of the Father Tom Daley Scholarship in 2020 was Kassandra Trainor. “Receiving this scholarship meant so much because it alleviated a great amount of financial stress and enabled me to spend more time focusing on my studies that otherwise I would have allocated to additional employment to pay for school. It is contributions like these that constantly demonstrate to me how generous the STU community is.” – Kassandra Trainor
Call for Nominations The Carolyn Layden-Stevenson Distinguished Alumni Award The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of living STU alumni who have earned prominence as a result of their outstanding professional achievements and/or service to society. Deadline: March 31, 2021 The awards will be bestowed at the STU Gala on Saturday, October 16, 2021.
Mar. 3 20211,
Visit STU.ca/alumniawards for more information about the award guidelines and to download the nomination package.
St. Thomas University
GALA Dinner Reception 6:00 PM | Dinner 7:00 PM at the Delta Fredericton St. Thomas University will hold its Gala Dinner on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at the Delta Fredericton (225 Woodstock Rd). The reception starts at 6pm, with dinner beginning at 7pm. The proceeds of the dinner support student bursaries and activities. We will also present the Carolyn LaydenStevenson Distinguished Alumni Award. Tickets: $150 each or $1,000 for a table of 8. New this year: Tickets are $50 for STU students or alumni who have graduated since 2011. To purchase tickets, please contact St. Thomas University at 506.452.0521 or e-mail alumni@stu.ca
Saturday, October 16, 2021
STU ALUMNI AWARDS
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Winter 2021
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STU Alumni Events Recap Alumni Women’s Hockey Weekend January 11- 12, 2020 – Fredericton, NB First Row: Abby Clarke, BA’18, BSW’20. Second Row: Stephanie Ford, BA’18, BSW’20; Jess McCann, ’15 -’17; Samantha Squires, BA’18; Lauren Henman, BA’19; Kristina Kocsis, BA’19; Ashley Duguay, BA’08, BEd’09.
First Row: Emily Ryan, BA’17; Ollie; Ashley Duguay, BA’08, BEd’09; Kristina Kocsis, BA’19 and Samantha Squires, BA’18 Standing: Abby Clarke, BA’18, BSW’20; Jess McCann,’15-’17; Lauren Henman, BA’19; Coach Peter Murphy; Stephanie Ford, BA’18, BSW’20; Kelly Hogg, BA’06, CHS’07; Erin MacIsaac, BA’15 and Stephanie Gates, BA’16, BEd’17
Alumni Women’s Volleyball Weekend February 15-16, 2020 – Fredericton, NB
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Back Row: Assistant Coach Paul Diamond; Deidra Jones, BA’18; Mija MacDonald, BA’20; Amy MacKinnon, BA’04; Emily Dickson, Crystal Cernivz, BA’04, BEd’05; Maddie MacGregor; Dominique Caravan, BA’16, BEd’17; Danica Godin; Jessica Barna, BA’17, BEd’18; Megan Mills; Rebecca Pippy, Krysteena Clements, BA’20; Ksenia Sehic, BA’13; Head Coach Don McKay, BA’74. Front Row: Associate Coach Carys Storey, BA’08; Andrea Bell; Olivia Ormond; Jenna DeGooyer, BEd’20; Jenicca Jean; Caitlin Jones; Hannah Millier; Veronique McGrath, BA’19, BEd’20.
Giving News
by Eric Lewis
Giving Back to Future Generations Dr. Joan McFarland creates scholarship and prizes in political economy
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fter dedicating 48 years to teaching at St. Thomas University, Dr. Joan McFarland is giving back to students even in retirement. The Economics professor who retired in 2019 has made a significant donation to the university, starting an endowment to fund a scholarship and two prizes in her name: the Joan McFarland Scholarship in Political Economy ($3,000), Joan McFarland 2nd Year Prize in Political Economy ($1,000), and Joan McFarland 3rd Year Prize in Political Economy ($1,000). “I wanted to give a gift to St. Thomas because they’ve given me a lot for over 40 years,” says Dr. McFarland. “I wanted it to be in the form of a gift for students, to encourage more students to study Political Economy. Political Economy is an approach to economics that I used in my research and teaching throughout my career. I worked very hard to develop courses using that approach and to have Political Economy included as an option in the Economics program at St. Thomas.” With all three awards, preference is given to students marginalized by gender including women, trans, and non-binary individuals. Further preference is given to students not receiving another major scholarship. “As a woman studying Political Economy, I felt marginalized. I wasn’t always taken seriously, especially when I was young and starting out,” she says. “I think this broader definition of gender is important. I’d like to attract students with a broad range of gender identities into the program.”
Dr. McFarland’s research and teachings have long focused on women and gender studies. Originally from Victoria, B.C. where she received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics, she pursued an MA and PhD in Economics at McGill University in Montreal before accepting an offer to teach at St. Thomas in 1971. In 1973, Dr. McFarland helped launch a women’s studies course. Over the years she taught Political Economy of Women, Women in the Third World, International Development, Community Economic Development, New Brunswick Economy, and Marxian Economics. Her research led to advocacy work. Dr. McFarland is a member of the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity, the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network, and a past president of the Canadian Congress for Learning Opportunities for Women. She attended United Nations world conferences on women in Nairobi (1985) and Beijing (1995).
Dionne Izzard, Director of Advancement (Annual and Planned Giving), said this is the first time a scholarship or prize at the university has been offered with preference to gender-marginalized students. “It speaks to the time that we’re in,” says Izzard. “We’re really trying to present and acknowledge our entire student body and create opportunities for everyone.” Izzard says scholarships and prizes “remove obstacles” so students can pursue their educational dreams. “What Dr. McFarland has done through her very generous gift has ensured that students studying Political Economy will be rewarded for their academic rigour by addressing their financial need. Her legacy as a dedicated educator and supporter of student success will live on forever.” Dr. McFarland admits she was “quite apprehensive” about retirement after 48 years of teaching, but she keeps busy through her advocacy and community work. While she’s originally from the west coast, she has no intention of leaving Fredericton where she raised her daughters Tamara and Najat. Dr. McFarland maintains an office at St. Thomas where she continues her research into the privatization of nursing homes in New Brunswick.
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Winter 2021
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St. Thomas alumni and student are helping Fredericton's Kognitiv Spark grow its footprint around the globe
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n a small second-floor office in Knowledge Park, Fredericton, a team including three St. Thomas University alumni and one second-year student are changing the way an emerging technology company communicates to the world. Kognitiv Spark is a leader in industrial augmented reality. Partnered with hardware providers including Microsoft, the company uses mixed and augmented reality to deliver holographic support to the industrial engineering, aerospace/defence, and energy sectors. It was named one of Canada’s “Companies-to-Watch” by Deloitte, a Microsoft Top Canadian Innovator Award winner, and the company was a finalist for Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Partner of the Year Award in 2019. “Mixed reality is the biggest jump in computing technology in a couple of decades,” says Sean McCullum, marketing manager with a BA in Journalism and Communications.
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“It’s taken human interaction with a twodimensional interface like a screen and broken that out into your real-world environment.” Following graduation from St. Thomas in 2016, McCullum embarked on a brief career in journalism before pursuing his interest in technology with a Halifax biotech firm. He found his way to Kognitiv Spark after learning how the company was making waves globally from Fredericton. McCullum hired Ben Crouse (BA’17) as digital strategist this summer. Jake Bracewell (BA’15, BEd’16) joined the company around the same time as a sales development representative. Emily Green, a secondyear Bachelor of Arts student
(Human Rights), joined as a summer intern through the university’s Experiential Learning office. She is staying on part-time through her studies this year. McCullum recognizes that the connection between futuristic emerging tech and a liberal arts education may seem unclear at first, but he is quick to explain how the two coexist and thrive together. While it may take computer science and engineering skills to design and build state of the art technology, a deep understanding of communication and critical thinking is required to properly
Photo by: Keith Minchin
Liberal Arts Shaping Emerging Tech
Cover Story
by Eric Lewis
communicate and market new, innovative products to potential buyers and a broader public. “You can’t sell these technologies without being able to critically think,” McCullum says. “You can’t define how an industry communicates without that skillset. So, these two things kind of need each other.” Ben Crouse agrees. “The interesting thing about this job is that we get to craft the narrative around this emerging technology,” he says. “We get to develop the language that articulates the full use and benefits of it and shape how the global industrial market talks about and feels about this kind of software ... and that’s awesome.” Emily Green had little knowledge of Kognitiv Spark when a summer internship opportunity came her way. She was in Halifax at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and drove back to Fredericton, quarantining for two weeks before arriving at Kognitiv Spark. She laughs when asked how her studies in human rights prepared her for a communications job at a young tech company. “I think in life everything is worth a try but when I first started, I definitely wondered what I was doing here,” she says. She quickly felt welcome. Like her colleagues, Green says a liberal arts education is teaching her critical thinking skills that can be applied to a wide variety of industries. “The emerging tech space is hard to market,” she admits. “It’s not like we’re marketing a food, or a shoe, or a piece of clothing where that handbook has already been written. We’re not playing it by ear, but we get to create our own voice in this space.” Kognitiv Spark’s product RemoteSpark is a communication platform designed for the Microsoft HoloLens. It connects subject matter experts with technicians on the ground to help solve a problem at a job site or repair a piece of equipment. The goal is to minimize
equipment downtime, increase task comprehension, and eliminate expert travel costs. It’s a technology that wound up in high demand when COVID-19 forced businesses to limit travel and have staff work remotely. While a global pandemic was not on anyone’s radar when RemoteSpark was launched, the technology is perfectly suited to enhance remote work for industrial clients. The company has pivoted its messaging to current and prospective clients from more complex industrial jargon to simply “support your workforce remotely.” Demand for Kognitiv Spark’s product has quadrupled in 2020, says McCullum. “You don’t like to capitalize on COVID-19, but at the same time we’re helping a lot of people sustain their operations and keep their workers employed and their operations moving forward,” he says. Jake Bracewell, the sales development representative with a teaching degree, seeks out new clients for Kognitiv Spark. He “had every intention of going into teaching,” but circumstance and a knack for sales led him to the technology space. “Teachers are the greatest salespeople,” he explains. “They’re selling the idea of education every day. If I’m in front of a classroom of 30 students, I can’t talk to each of them the same way, just like I can’t talk to the engineer and the tech guy who has been twisting a wrench for 25 years the same way. So, I focus on selling the idea of technology that is going to
solve a problem and then teach them how to do that.” Bracewell credits his Bachelor of Arts degree (2015) for his critical thinking skills and his Bachelor of Education degree (2016) for his ability to effectively communicate challenging technology to a variety of audiences. “I know how to take something as complex as an emerging technology that no one has seen or fully understands outside of our space and help them understand it and also realize how this is relevant to them,” he says. The four Kognitiv Spark employees who are linked via their careers and their connections to St. Thomas are examples of how liberal arts degrees can lead to fascinating careers in an emerging industry. “Liberal arts students have so much to contribute to some of these advanced tech companies, especially in emerging industries in which there is no benchmark by which everything develops and is communicated,” McCullum says. Yan Simard, Kognitiv Spark’s chief executive officer, agrees and explains that hiring individuals with diverse backgrounds is key to enriching a company. “One thing that is never going out of style is critical thinking and being able to communicate clearly and concisely,” he says. “I think that people with liberal arts backgrounds are especially well suited for those tasks.”
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Winter 2021
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Profiles
by Eric Lewis
Helping Others Find Their Voice
Casey Dumaresq is a Speech Language Pathologist
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hen the stutter that Casey Dumaresq had learned to hide in his youth suddenly worsened in 2011, he was devastated. He could no longer hide the speech disorder. “I remember thinking that I was a well-educated, competent, intelligent professional, and a teacher ... who could no longer speak. The wind had been sucked out of me, and the rug snatched out from under my feet,” he says. “I realized how life-changing and debilitating a communication disorder could be, and how quickly it could seem to change everything.” Dumaresq – who graduated from St. Thomas University with a double major in Psychology and History in 2010 and then completed a Bachelor of Education degree in 2011 – admits that hiding the disorder was “often counterproductive.” “I would switch words around in my sentences, in effect not saying what I actually wanted to say. I would pretend that I didn’t know the answer to a question, or that I had forgotten the punchline to a joke, because I could sense that I would stutter if I spoke those specific words,” he says. Before his stutter worsened Dumaresq had planned to become a teacher. A lack of available jobs led to him to working in a call centre, but talking on the phone and reading scripts all day caused his stutter to worsen to the point he could no longer hide it. He quit his new job and soon sought an entirely new career path in speech-language pathology so he could “help people who stutter find their voice.”
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Dumaresq took a few more classes at St. Thomas and applied for the master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology at Dalhousie University. He is now a speech-language pathologist in Toronto. He sat on the board of directors of the Canadian Stuttering Association for five years and is involved in the National Stuttering Association in the United States. Dumaresq leads a support group in downtown Toronto for teens and adults who stutter. He has a broad range of clients, from individuals who have suffered a stroke or brain injury or those living with dementia or a neuromuscular disorder such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), or Parkinson’s disease. “These disorders often lead to communication impairments – for example, having difficulty in finding the right words to say or in understanding what others are saying, or having slurred or distorted speech,” he explains. “These disorders can also lead to swallowing impairments. Swallowing rehabilitation is facilitated by a speechlanguage pathologist due to our intensive training in laryngeal anatomy.” Dumaresq works in his clients’ homes often after they are discharged from hospital. At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-essential health services in Ontario were suspended and Dumaresq could only see clients via video conference or in person if essential. “I still needed to be working with some of our most vulnerable people for whom contracting COVID-19 would have been devastating, so I had to trust that those people I came in contact with at places like the grocery store, gas station, and the pharmacy were following physical distancing guidelines to keep me safe so that I could continue to keep my clients safe.” He can now see most clients in person again, but screens them for COVID-19 and wears a mask and gloves to all appointments. Dumaresq credits his degrees at St. Thomas for his foundational knowledge in Psychology and Linguistics but also soft skills like critical thinking, communication, research, and data analysis. “Although my main passion is stuttering, I am thankful that my career has led me to also helping a broad and diverse group of people experiencing communication disorders. It is my incredible privilege to help people find their voice.”
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by Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08
The Fallibility of Memory in Courtrooms Janelle Marchand’s research is published in top law journal
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TU alumna Janelle Marchand (BA’17) believes all jurors should learn about fallibility of memory from experts in the field before deliberating on cases. Marchand’s research on the subject adds to an ongoing debate within the North American legal system about whether the use of expert witnesses on the fallibility of memory is valid in courtroom proceedings. Her findings, which were part of her honours thesis under the supervision of STU Psychology professor Dr. Ian Fraser, have been published in The Criminal Law Quarterly. The article is the latest in a series of research articles on the understanding of the fallibility of memory, which have been undertaken by Prof. Louise Bond-Fraser and Dr. Ian Fraser, together with various students and colleagues. They hope that this work will indeed influence the workings of the judicial process in a positive manner. Legal experts such as judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, or correctional officers tend to think using expert witnesses in the area is unnecessary, because they claim the fallibility of memory is common knowledge. “It has been argued that if jurors needed to be reminded of the facts that can influence an eyewitness’ memory, then the legal experts could provide the information themselves. However, recent research that was conducted by Bond-Fraser, Fraser, and their colleagues has demonstrated that legal experts are not sufficiently educated on the factors that can influence an eyewitness’ memory,” she explained. “If this is the case, then the onus is on the jurors to have this knowledge themselves. So that was really the question we were
looking at – are the facts that can influence an eyewitness’ memory common knowledge?” During her research, Marchand tested the difference between the knowledge and beliefs of jurors and non-jurors concerning the fallibility of eyewitness testimony. A total of 473 eligible jurors from across Canada participated in the study. They completed a questionnaire which gauged their general and applied knowledge of expert eyewitness items. “The results of our study were concerning,” she said. “On average, participants scored 64.3% on the expert knowledge items. Even more concerning was that those with jury experience had an average score of 59.4%, while those with no jury experience performed significantly better, scoring 64.9%.” Marchand says these results mean the general population seems to be unable to distinguish if eyewitness testimony is reliable. The results also suggest that there is a problem with the information that is being provided to the jurors in the courtroom. It is possible that this information is inadequate or even incorrect. This is a major issue considering that expert witness’ evidence is often not permitted. “In reality, our results have major implications. Jury members could be unintentionally accrediting fallible eyewitness
testimonies as significant and relevant sources of evidence during deliberations. We argued that the Supreme Court of Canada should reconsider rulings against the admissibility of expert witnesses in our justice system, as legal safeguards are needed to be put in place in order to have a just verdict.” Marchand was thrilled to learn that her research was going to be published in The Criminal Law Quarterly. “It’s honestly a dream come true,” she said. “During my undergrad, I used Professor Roach’s textbook and I always admired his writing and teachings. My jaw nearly dropped when I learned that he had said, as the editor of The Criminal Law Quarterly, that my findings were “very important and influential” and “could help the courts change on this important issue.” As a young researcher trying to make a mark in this large research landscape, having your name in a renowned journal is a major motivator to continue this work. Research is exciting but it can also be tedious, hard work, and lengthy. It just makes it all worth it to be recognized.” “The quality of education at St. Thomas is such that our psychology honours’ students are frequently able to engage in publishable research. Ms. Marchand’s valuable contribution is a case in point,” said Dr. Fraser.
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Comradery and Mutual Support
Photo by: Ross Dance Photography
by Michael Forestell, BA’15
Dr. Anne Dance, BA’07
Dr. Anne Dance reflects on her role as Director of the Parliamentary Internship Programme
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his summer, Dr. Anne Dance (BA’07) completed her four-year tenure as Director of the Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP), an initiative that gives recent graduates experience working on Parliament Hill. After completing a BA in History at St. Thomas, Dance pursued environmental history for her master’s at the University of Victoria and her doctorate in Scotland. Between those degrees, she was a PIP intern herself in 2008-2009. PIP is the longest-running initiative of its kind in Canada. Since 1969, the program has allowed ten recent university graduates to split the year between two work placements: one with a government-side Member of Parliament and the other with an opposition MP. Interns have extraordinary opportunities to meet with political leaders
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and to organize study tours to legislatures in Canada and abroad. Participants also take advantage of their Parliament Hill access to research and write academic papers on Canadian government. Starting in 2016, Dance led four cohorts of young people, each with a ringside seat to the triumphs and follies of the parliamentary year. She says that idealistic interns often bristle at the Hill’s partisanship, which can breed conformity and even harassment. But amid the highstakes pressure of political life, parties also provide “comradery and mutual support.” After working on both sides of the House of Commons, interns learn that “good ideas come from many different sources.”
St. Thomas University | Connections
Studying History gave Dance lasting tools to navigate the ambiguities of the democratic process. “Being able to see multiple sides of an issue is extremely useful in policymaking”, a skill that “every History student at STU develops after reviewing contradictory primary sources and analyzing them with our classmates.” The historical record reveals “that people can be both brilliant and flawed”, and that many celebrated social movements “faced just as many obstacles (if not more) than those today.” Dance’s experiences with PIP often called her undergraduate courses to mind. She points to an especially memorable meeting during a study tour to Washington, DC, with the late Congressman John Lewis, a veteran civil rights leader. “I had read Mr. Lewis’s autobiography in Professor Rusty Bittermann’s wonderful Social Movements class…we were all spellbound by his account of the American civil rights movement.” She also credits the Native Studies Department for giving her an
early introduction to Indigenous peoples’ history and concerns, which have since become more visible to other Canadians. PIP also boasts a capacity to connect Canadians across regional divides. Originally from Ottawa herself, Dance opted to work with MPs from two dissimilar regions: one a Conservative from Fort McMurray and the other a Bloc Québécois member from the Eastern Townships. “PIP is the opportunity to challenge the assumptions we have about each other and different parts of the country. More often than not, this sharing goes both ways, and MPs make an effort to learn about the interns’ home communities, too.” Over these four years, Dance has made enduring contributions to PIP. She helped establish a permanent charitable foundation to ensure the internship’s longterm sustainability and oversaw its 50th anniversary celebrations. She also created new policies to address workplace harassment and promote inclusive recruitment. Now, Dance is joining the federal civil service through the Recruitment of Policy Leaders program.
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Profiles
by Eric Lewis
Immersing Oneself in Nature
Dr. Monika Stelzl is a nature and forest therapy guide
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rowing up under oppressive government rule in Czechoslovakia taught Dr. Monika Stelzl that she could find peace and solace in nature. Decades later, the Psychology professor continues to find new, meaningful ways to connect with nature, and she hopes to inspire students to do the same. Recently certified as a nature and forest therapy guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, Stelzl says, “I help people connect with nature through their senses, and the forest offers them what they need.” Stelzl calls nature and forest therapy “a sensory immersion practice in nature.” According to the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, nature and forest therapy is “a researchbased framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments.” New Brunswick is the perfect place for such a practice. “There is incredible nature here,” says Stelzl, who joined St. Thomas in 2006. “It’s not that difficult to be in nature (in New Brunswick). I’m a professor, which is a pretty demanding job. Being in nature helps me to navigate the stresses and the workload demands of being in academia.” Wanting to take her love of nature a step further, Stelzl took one week of residential training in Ottawa through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy – “with people from all over the world” – followed by six
months of remote learning to become a certified nature and forest therapy guide. The Association’s website explains that studies have demonstrated that nature therapy can offer “a wide array of health benefits, especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and for stabilizing and improving mood and cognition.” However, there is no prescription for what a person “should” experience or what benefits they “should” receive from nature therapy. “What I have witnessed is that people have the typical benefits that we think about – they relax, their stress levels go down, sleep can improve, heart rate decreases, anxiety and depression can be helped through repeated sessions, and there can be cognitive benefits including improved focus and attention,” says Stelzl. A typical nature therapy session is about three hours long, but it is not a hike or strenuous activity and may only involve walking up to 300 metres. Participants take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the environment around them through “invitations” offered to them by their guide. “The invitation is not ‘do this’ or ‘don’t do this,’” she says. “It’s very open and not prescriptive. I’ve seen people laughing. I’ve seen people cry because it was the first time they could really be with their grief and let it out. I have also seen people pick up garbage during the
invitations that I offer. So, there is a strong sense of reciprocity. It’s not only how they are benefitting but also, ‘what can I offer to the forest?’” Stelzl is introducing nature and forest therapy through a new course, Psychology of Human-Nature Connection. Focused on examining human connection to nature, it includes in-class and outdoor experiential learning components (which will be done virtually this year). For those interested in trying nature and forest therapy, Stelzl suggests “sit spotting.” Find a safe, comfortable, and distraction-free spot in nature – on a beach, in the forest, or a quiet park – and sit for 15 to 20 minutes, “with nothing to do and nowhere to be,” simply noticing whatever is around you.
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Winter 2021
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STUdent Wins Provincial Experiential Learning Award
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ustyn Forbes has won the FutureNB Student Excellence Award. The award recognizes undergraduate students who participated in an experiential learning opportunity, contributed to their community, and demonstrated personal and professional growth. Forbes worked with local theatre company Solo Chicken Productions. He was a full-time dancer with the company and was also responsible to teach classes. “This was the first opportunity
I was given to work as part of a theatre company as a full-time employee,” Forbes said. “The experience gave me a better understanding of what it takes to run a theatre company and I finished the summer knowing how to advance in my career.” Forbes also took on the role of acting marketing manager/ assistant producer. This provided exposure to a different side of theatre – promotion, funding, health and safety standards, and community building.
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Indigenous Film Festival
STUdents Give Back Through STU Cares Day of Action
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he Senate Committee on Reconciliation hosted the inaugural Indigenous Film Festival at St. Thomas University in January 2020. The three-day event included the New Brunswick premiere of Alanis Obomsawin’s Jordan River Anderson: The Messenger (2019), as well as the screening of short films by Maritime Indigenous filmmakers, and Basketmaker, a new documentary by award-winning Mi’kmaq filmmaker Cathy Martin. Alanis Obomsawin (LLD’19) also hosted a filmmaking workshop for students.
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St. Thomas University | Connections
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his fall’s STU Cares Day of Action brought STUdents together for virtual and in-person volunteer work that provided insight into local nonprofit organizations and opportunities to engage with the community. Participating STUdents spent the day working with the Multicultural Association of Fredericton, Nature New Brunswick, The Ville Cooperative, Sexual Violence New Brunswick, L’Arche Fredericton, the NB Community Harvest Gardens, York Care Centre, and Greener Village.
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Campus Watch
Faculty Members Recognized for Contributions to University
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our faculty members were recognized for their professional achievement and impact on the university.
Dr. Jamie Gillies (Communications and Public Policy) received the John McKendy Memorial Teaching Award. Dr. Matthew Hayes (Sociology) was the recipient of the University Scholarship Award.
Rusty Bittermann Named Professor Emeritus
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Dr. Mark Temelini (Romance Languages) received the Teaching Excellence Award for PartTime Faculty.
Dr. Dawne Clarke (Criminology) was the recipient of the University Service Award.
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etired History professor Dr. Rusty Bittermann has received the designation of professor emeritus. This honorary rank is awarded to retired professors who have served the University with great distinction through teaching of exceptional merit, research and publication of unusually high quality, and a notable contribution to the administration and development of the University. For more than 15 years, he taught courses in Canadian and world history, and developed numerous new courses including thematic world history courses on water, the environment, agriculture and social movements. He was at the forefront of the movement to link Canadian history to global historical and historiographical trends. He served as department chair and led the development of the World History program, which is one of the first in Canada with the fullest array of course offerings. In retirement, Bittermann has transferred his interest in the history of agriculture and rural life to the operation of a 300-acre farm with heritage breeds of cattle and sheep.
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Winter 2021
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Dawn Russell’s Term as President and Vice-Chancellor Extended
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he Board of Governors has extended the term of President Dawn Russell, BA’77, for two years to June 30, 2023. “President Russell’s accomplishments over the past nine years have allowed St. Thomas to progress during a challenging period,” said Peter R. Forestell, QC, Chair of the Board of Governors. Early accomplishments were in establishing inclusive methods for consultation, planning, and implementing organizational modernization, a wider distribution of governance responsibilities, building an effective senior management team, developing and implementing a strategic plan, and improved transparency and accountability. All of these factors, including her ability to build consensus while making difficult decisions, have resulted in an improved working environment and institutional success, said Forestell.
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Dr. Peter Toner Appointed Associate Vice-President (Research)
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nthropology professor Dr. Peter Toner, BA’94, has been appointed Associate Vice-President (Research) for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2020. Dr. Toner graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from St. Thomas University in 1994. He earned a PhD in Anthropology from the Australian National University in 2001, and from 2001-2004 held an
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Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Centre for Cross Cultural Research at the Australian National University. He returned to his alma mater as an Assistant Professor in 2004 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2007. He served as Department Chair from 2004-2008.
St. Thomas University | Connections
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Campus Watch
STU Moot Court Season Recap 2019-2020
New Campus American Moot Court Association National Tournament LGBTQIA2S+ Wellness Coordinator
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usoni Raymond and Elizabeth Tuck, and Grace Baker and Megan Cormier tied for 17th place at the American Moot Court Association National Tournament out of 474 teams that competed
nationwide throughout the season. Olivia Ricketts and Brandon Case finished 33rd, and following the final round of competition Case was named a top orator, placing 9th overall.
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Lions Cup Moot Competition
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n June, Husoni Raymond and Elizabeth Tuck finished first in the Lions Cup Moot Competition, a virtual event hosted by York University. Raymond received a second place speaker award while Tuck received a fourth-place speaker award.
Osgoode Cup
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t. Thomas Moot Court was among the top teams at the Osgoode Cup – a national undergraduate competition in Toronto. Husoni Raymond and teammate Brandon Case finished second, while STU teams of Sarie Lakes and Victoria Loucks, and Valeria Espinal and Marc Edgar advanced to the quarterfinals. Following the competition, Raymond was named the Osgoode Cup Top Advocate out of 240 participants, while Case and Edgar received distinguished speaker awards.
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assidy Wilson (she/her) is the new campus LGBTQIA2S+ Wellness Coordinator, a position shared between STU, UNB, and NBCC. Wilson provides counselling to students, acts as a resource for student clubs, provides educational sessions and resources to the campus community, and advises the university on matters of policy and programming related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
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Black History Month at STU
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TU commemorated Black History Month in February with a billboard display in Sir James Dunn Hall, an art showcase, and a panel discussion on intersectionality from a racial and feminist perspective. In addition, The Make Africa Proud dance group were on campus for an interactive and educational performance including drums, dancing, and an information session. There was also a screening of the film Hidden Figures.
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Husoni Raymond Recipient of Tom McCann Second Memorial Trophy Term Lectures at a Glance
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contributions was starting the now annual Black History Month celebration. After noting a lack of programming in his first year, Raymond raised funds and organized a series of events including a panel with prominent activists, a poetry night, film and documentary screenings, and social media and poster education campaigns. Raymond was also a student representative on the Senate and Board of Governors, lead organizer for the ‘Get Out The Vote’ campaign, Caribbean Ambassador for the International Students’ Association, and an Off-Campus Engagement Committee member.
n “Truth be Told: One Canadian’s Journey Through Life and the Law,” former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin spoke about her journey from rural obscurity through the legal system, and offered reflections on life and the law.
Photo by: Roy Grogan
usoni Raymond, from Kingston, Jamaica, has been named the 2020 recipient of the Tom McCann Memorial Trophy. The trophy is presented annually to a senior student who possesses strong leadership, character and personality traits and best portrays the spirit of the university. During his four years as a student, Raymond’s contributions have been extensive. He was involved in the Students’ Union, as a member of Harrington Hall House Committee and then as Vice-President Administration, before becoming the first Black student to be elected STUSU President. He worked as an intern with the Career Development Office, re-launched the STU Debate Society, and has been an award-winning member of the STU Moot Court team. He also served as the Vice-Chair of the New Brunswick Student Alliance. One of his most meaningful
In his lecture “Making (Up) History,” award-winning writer and journalist Linden MacIntyre walked listeners through his transition from journalism to fiction, then memoir, and, finally, to a hybrid specimen of memoir and history.
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Welcome Back Winter Carnival
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TU celebrated the winter season and the beginning of the second semester by bringing back one of its oldest traditions – the Winter Carnival. The carnival included activities such as a coffee house and a social in the lower courtyard. Joel Palmer of Swamp Bear Art was on campus to do a live carving of a STUthemed ice sculpture.
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Campus Watch
Celebrating the Class of 2020
STU Held Bachelor of Social Work Convocation in January
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n January, St. Thomas University held its first convocation devoted entirely to Bachelor of Social Work graduates. “As social workers, you will provide a vital service to our community,” President Dawn Russell told the 49 graduates. “The world you live in will be better served because of your efforts. Social work attracts people who care about others and who want to make a difference. Those are the kinds of people who stand out and create new environments.” Alumna Carla Gregan-Burns, BSW’82,
regional director at Social Development in Miramichi, spoke to the BSW graduates about her time as a social worker and what they can expect in their new career. “Social work offers you the privilege to come alongside people in their lives – their sometimes chaotic, scary, beautiful lives,” Gregan-Burns said. “You will meet them where they are, honour what life experience has brought them to you, and advocate for what they need. At the end of your time with them, you will ensure they have what is necessary to continue their journey without you.”
Medals and Awards The University Medal for Academic Excellence in the Bachelor of Social Work Megen Gaudet, Kensington, PE
The Fay Nagler Levine Memorial Prize Julie Lavallée, Riverview, NB
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Medal Winners Spring and Summer Grads Governor General’s Celebrate Virtually Academic Medal Jillian Debly, Fredericton, NB – Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Psychology)
University Medal for Arts Alexandra Cunningham, Saint John, NB – (Honours in Great Books and Honours in Philosophy)
University Medal for Academic Excellence in the Bachelor of Education Program Alison Anne Anningson, St. Stephen, NB – (Bachelor of Education)
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lthough COVID-19 may have changed the course of the academic year, the university community still came together to celebrate our class of 2020, albeit in a different way! Faculty, staff, and alumni sent their best wishes to the grads virtually, either through social media or on STU.ca. Valedictorians Brandon Case (Spring Convocation) and Priya Bhutani (Summer Convocation) also shared their speeches virtually on social media and on the STU website. You can see some of the virtual messages here: www.stu.ca/classof2020/ and www. stu.ca/classof2020/summer-convocation-2020/ In addition, to celebrate Summer Convocation, the School of Education organized a virtual ceremony through Zoom so students could chat with their classmates and professors on the platform while watching from home.
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Theatre at a Glance 2019-2020
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim Directed by Tania Breen
STU Musical Theatre presented Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, a dark tale of love and revenge. To present Stephen Sondheim’s mid-career masterpiece, the STU Musical Theatre students redesigned the Black Box Theatre, transforming the space with immersive staging, a full orchestra and a set that allowed the music of Sweeney Todd to take centre stage.
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Scooter Thomas Makes it to The Top of the World
As You Like It
by Peter Parnell Directed by Ben Smith
by William Shakespeare Directed by Ilkay Silk
Ilkay Silk was back at Theatre St. Thomas, directing a playful and passionate version of Shakespeare’s much-loved romantic comedy As You Like It. Rosalind is banished and with her best friend Celia by her side, she journeys to a world of exile – but not before catching the eye of lovestruck Orlando who is also forced from the Court into the Forest ... what ensues is a riotous combination of a feisty cross-dressing heroine, a tartan-clad fool, melodic songs, questionable poetry, and laughs aplenty.
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Although the show’s run was cut short because of COVID-19, Theatre St. Thomas presented Scooter Thomas Makes it to The Top of the World, a show that reflects how life changes from adolescence to adulthood. We follow Scooter and Dennis, and their very different world views about what it was like growing up, and what it means for us to “make it to the top of the world.” How do we measure success? What would you want to do if you died tomorrow? What would you regret not doing? Were you “successful?”
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Concord Floral by Jordan Tannahill Directed by Len Falkenstein
Theatre St. Thomas and their cast of talented young actors presented the Fredericton premiere of Canadian playwright Jordan Tannahill’s gripping work, Concord Floral. Arriving on stage just in time for Halloween, Concord Floral was a thoroughly contemporary ghost story. Like all good horror movies, it featured a cast of teen characters, a haunted house, and an avenging ghost. But that’s where comparisons break down…
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Campus Watch
Athletics News 2019-2020
Tommies Major Award Winners
John Frederick Walls Memorial Award – Eric Prior (Men’s Soccer)
Female Athlete of the Year – Vanessa Soffee (Women’s Basketball) Vanessa Soffee, a point guard from Fredericton, NB, took her game to the next level this year leading the Tommies to a firstplace finish in the ACAA regular season. She was also a CCAA All-Canadian, ACAA Player of the Year and ACAA Defensive Player of the Year.
Male Athlete of the Year – Christian Christie (Men’s Volleyball) Christian Christie, a perennial ACAA All-Star, also stepped his game up this year leading the Tommies to an ACAA banner. The outside hitter from Langley, BC was the driving force behind the Tommies ACAA dominance this season, as he was named a CCAA All-Canadian and ACAA Player of the Year.
Cathy Wadden Commitment Award – Alexandra Swift (Women’s Hockey) Alexandra Swift, of Ottawa, ON is a two-time U Sports Academic All-Canadian who also contributes in the community. She was the President of the STU Student Athlete Council, helping to organize the STU Food Drive and a hygiene product drive in support of the Fredericton Women’s Shelter and Chrysalis House, and supported other community organizations.
Gananoque, ON, native Eric Prior was named a first team ACAA All-Star and the recipient of the prestigious Bob Coe Award, awarded annually to the male soccer player in the ACAA who best combines qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, enthusiasm and ability. He was also a co-recipient of his team’s Leadership Award and was one of the chairs of #studentsletsact mental health awareness initiative, as well as volunteering with the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, Fredericton Marathon, and STU Food Drive.
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Men’s Volleyball Win 9th ACAA Banner Before Hosting National Championships
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he men’s volleyball team had an historic season in 2019-20. After falling in their opening match of the season, the team proceeded to go on an amazing run of 11 straight match victories which helped them on their way to a ninth ACAA championship. The team was led offensively by ACAA Player of the Year, Christian Christie, who had career bests in almost every statistical category. Joining Christie on the ACAA All-Star team were Garret Dickson, Nathan Brown, and Dallas Melnick, who was also named the league’s Rookie of the Year. Head Coach Henri Mallet was named ACAA Coach of the Year
for the second straight year. The Tommies were hosts of the CCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championships, where they finished 1-2 with losses to last year’s silver
medalists the Red Deer College Kings and the bronze medalists Cegep Sherbrooke Voluntaires, while they defeated the Durham College Lords.
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Winter 2021
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Research at a Glance Dr. Kristi Allain Named Canada Research Chair
SSHRC Insight Development Grant In her research, “Frozen Food and the Pursuit of Empire,” Dr. Julia Torrie (History) is exploring connections between industrial food technology and imperialism from the 1890s through the 1970s. Dr. Kristi Allain (Sociology) has been named a Canada Research Chair in Physical Culture and Social Life. Dr. Allain will examine the ways that power operates through the intersections of physical activity, aging, gender, and Canadian national identity. She will look at why sport celebrates certain kinds of people as national heroes, while excluding others, and how media representations position some as central to national myths, while making others peripheral. She will also examine how institutional policies impact the ways people engage in, think about, and remember sport and physical activity; how older people understand their participation in sports; and how such understandings challenge or support national identity constructions.
Mitacs Research Grant Dr. Albert Banerjee (Gerontology) is studying the experience of social isolation among older adults. The project’s goal is to contribute to the development of communitybased strategies to address social isolation.
Harrison McCain Faculty Awards The Harrison McCain Faculty Awards create research opportunities for faculty scholars and for annual student research assistants and internships. Here are some of the research projects being funded this year: “Populism and the Personalization of Executive Leadership in North America and Europe” by Dr. Jamie Gillies (Communications and Public Policy) “Hearing Settlement Workers in Schools: New Brunswick Pilot” by Dr. Gül Çalıskan (Sociology)
NBIF COVID-19 Research Fund Dr. Janet Durkee-Lloyd (Gerontology) will assess communication strategies in the New Brunswick long-term care sector in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
AGE-WELL Grant Dr. Clive Baldwin (Social Work) and Dr. Bill Randall (Gerontology) are researching inclusive interactive apps to reduce older adults’ social isolation and digital marginalization.
“Objective Desire: A Material History of Everyday and Extraordinary Aluminum Artifacts of 20th Century Life” by Dr. Brad Cross (History) “Mindfulness in North America: An Intellectual and Cultural History, 1950 to 2010” by Dr. Catherine Gidney (History) “A Comparative Study of Arts-Based Collaborative Teaching and Learning Practices Between University Professors and Undergraduate Students in British Columbia, Ontario, and the Maritimes” by Dr. Lisa Mitchell (Education) “Canada and the Huawei Conundrum” by Dr. Shaun Narine (Political Science) “Perspectives of Transition from Engineering Programs to Industry” by Dr. Shaunda Wood (Education) •
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Sports Wall of Fame Induction
Newest Inductees to STU Sports Wall of Fame Announced Kirk Firlotte
Ivan Rideout
Ed Welch
Kirk Firlotte, BA’84, was an outstanding goaltender for the Tommies’ men’s hockey team from 1979 to 1982. He was twice named to the Atlantic Athletic University Association first team All-Conference. In 1981-82, he was team MVP and STU Male Athlete of the Year. He is in the New Brunswick Sports Wall of Fame, Campbellton Sports Wall of Fame, and PEI Sports Wall of Fame as a member of championship teams. He was also inducted as an individual member to the Dalhousie Sports Wall of Fame and Minto Sports Wall of Fame.
Ivan Rideout, BA’75, was the men’s basketball coach from 1980-1993 when his teams competed in the NB Collegiate League, the Maine State Small College League, and the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association. He coached his team to seven consecutive championships in the New Brunswick Collegiate League. The Tommies then went on to win a State of Maine championship before moving into the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association. Ivan was named Coach of the Year, three times in New Brunswick, once in Maine, and twice in the Atlantic conference.
Ed Welch led the Tommies’ women’s volleyball team from 1999 to 2013. In his 14 years at the helm, he guided the Tommies to seven ACAA championships. From December 2001 to the ACAA championship final in 2007, he led the team to an incredible 138-game win streak. He was named ACAA Coach of the Year four straight years and was the CCAA Coach of the Year in 2005. In 2001, Ed was inducted into the Oromocto Sports Wall of Fame. In 2013, his teams from 2000-2006 were inducted into the STU Sports Wall of Fame.
Susan (Ross) Morkin Susan Ross, BA’00, BEd’01, was a tri-sport athlete, competing for the Tommies’ in volleyball, basketball, and rugby. She was a three-time MVP for women’s rugby (1996-97, 1997-98, 199900) and helped lead them to back-to-back championships in the NB/PEI League. Susan was twice named to the ACAA women’s basketball First Team All-Conference. In 199798, she was named Tommies’ MVP and STU Female Athlete of the Year, a milestone she would repeat in 1999-00.
Alicia Sterling Alicia Sterling, BA’09, was a member of the Tommies’ women’s basketball team from 2005 to 2009. In 2008-09, she was named the team MVP and STU Female Athlete of the Year. In her final season with the Tommies, Alicia led the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game, was second in steals with 3.2 per game, and third in rebounding averaging 5.6 per game. She was the first member of the women’s basketball team to be named the ACAA Player of the Year and a CCAA All-Canadian. At the ACAA playoffs, Alicia led the Tommies to their first ACAA championship in over a decade.
Larry Wood Larry Wood, BA’62, BEd’64, began his hockey career with the Tommies playing for St. Thomas High School in Chatham in 1955 and would finish in 1963 playing for the university. In his first year with the Tommies, Larry helped them reach the Maritime final and he later played a key role on the team that captured the 1960-1961 Maritime College Championship. In that tournament, Larry scored the game-winning goal against Mount Allison and in the championship rematch with St. FX, he scored two goals. In 2010, Larry was inducted into the STU Sports Wall of Fame as a member of the 1960-1961 men’s hockey team. He was inducted into the Miramichi Sports Wall of Fame in 2012.
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Winter 2021
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New & Noteworthy 1970s
Dr. Stephen Ward (BA’73) has published an updated second edition of Ethics and the Media, with a focus on the issues created by social media and technology.
1980s
John L. McLaughlin (BA’82) has been appointed to a two-year term as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto, effective July 1, 2020. Dr. McLaughlin is Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at St. Michael’s and an Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Toronto.
Richard A. Williams, Q.C. (BA’85) was elected as President of the Law Society of New Brunswick. Dr. Denis Grecco (BA’77) has been named Rector at St. Peter’s Seminary, the Roman Catholic seminary of the Diocese of London in London, Ontario.
News from classmates and friends around the world
1990s
Nathalie Godbout, QC, (BA’91) was appointed Judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of New Brunswick, Family Division.
Mike Morrison (BA’04, BEd’05) has been named Calgary’s Best Civic Activist. Ryan O’Shea (BA’05, BEd’08) was recently recognized by the City of Fredericton with an Unsung Hero Award for leading a local running group for kids under 10, the Speeding Cheetahs. The focus of this running group is to promote physical literacy skills in a fun environment.
2000s
For the last year, James McKay (BA’08), has been leading the Business Operations and Strategy team at Clearbanc in Toronto. They are a Canadian founded company, and one of the top technology employers in the country. Additionally, he works on a daily basis with their Co-Founder and President, Michele Romanow, who is one of the Dragons on CBC’s Dragons’ Den and one of the most celebrated business people in the country. The company is trying to democratize access to funding for ecommerce businesses, and remove gender and ethnicity bias in the business world.
Look at the Green and Gold pride at Tobique Valley High School! Thank you for sending us this photo, folks. From left to right: Jason Green (VP), Holly Rasmussen (Guidance), Amy Sisson (R&M), BA’99, Danielle Fillmore (principal), and in front with sign Joyce Cote (French teacher), BA’02.
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Caitlin Mahoney (BA’08) has been named partner at Cox & Palmer in Moncton. Caitlin has an extensive legal practice focused on commercial litigation, insurance litigation, and restructuring and insolvency law, and has appeared at all levels of court throughout the province. Brian McEachern (BA’08) is currently living in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut with his wife and son. He is teaching grade six and loving every moment. Matthew Gwathmey (BEd’08) has published a book of poetry, Our Latest in Folktales.
In Memoriam Emily Bossé (BA’11) won the 2019 Fiddlehead Short Fiction Contest for her story “The Most Beautiful Woman in New Brunswick: Coming to a Field Near You.”
Terry Meyers (BA’09) is living in his hometown of Okotoks, Alberta. He married his wife Sasha in 2012 and they now have two daughters, Raegan (2015) and Vivian (2018). He graduated from the University of Alberta’s Juris doctor program in 2011, was called to the Law Society of Alberta and the Law Society of Nunavut in 2012, and has been practicing law with different firms since then. In July, he took the next big step in his legal career, starting his own law firm, Achieve Legal, practicing out of Okotoks and serving southern Alberta and Nunavut.
Emily Lutz (BA’11) was re-elected as a Kings County councillor.
August 25, 2018
Casey Daniel Lordon, BA’99 May 31, 2019
Malcolm Alphonsus Barry, BA’53 June 7, 2019
Paul J. Rice, BA’59 June 11, 2019
Carolyn Nicholas, BA’12 January 15, 2020
Joseph Breen, BA’66, BEd’75 January 15, 2020
Rev. Dr. John Joseph “Jack” Dolan, former faculty February 5, 2020
Carly Rioux, STU ’16-’18 February 12, 2020
Viola Jean (Sappier) VanDijk, BSW’96 February 16, 2020
Joseph Tunney (BA’16) won gold in the Best Personal Essay category of the 2020 Digital Publishing Awards. His piece, “What It’s Like to See the World Through a Lazy Eye,” was published in Walrus Magazine.
New & Noteworthy
Dan Murphy (BA’08) and Melissa Wah (BA’10) were married on July 17th, at the Gallery on Queen in Fredericton.
Jason Cassidy (BA’11) was appointed the head of marketing strategy and category management for Tim Hortons. In his new role, Cassidy will be in charge of the strategic development of marketing programs in Canada, leading 12 people across the QSR’s category management, calendar lead, and consumer insights teams.
J. Paul Lordon, BA’65
Sarah Karam (BA’16) launched Karam College Canadian STEAM Institute, a virtual elementary STEAM based program based in New Brunswick that is credited by the Department of Education.
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Lost Alumni Contest These lucky alumni received STU Swag Packages as part of our Lost Alumni Contest. • Shawn Rouse, BA’96 • G. Arthur (Art) Loggie, BA’79, BEd’80 • Kimberley Reid, BA’03 • Vanessa Michel, BA’12
Ann Elizabeth Wheeler, BA’88 February 21, 2020
Douglas Edward Breen, BA’69 March 4, 2020
Sarah Christie, BA’02, BEd’04 March 8, 2020
James Doyle, BEd’66, LLD’88 April 15, 2020
Elaine (Simpson, Coy) Bernard, BA’89, BEd’90 June 27, 2020
Anne-Marie (Mulder) Breen, BA’69 July 8, 2020
(Kenneth) Guy White, BA’68 July 21, 2020
John Hume, LLD’07 August 3, 2020
Paula (Potsie) Paul, BA’04 August 9, 2020
Mary Louise McCurdy, BT’76 August 23, 2020
Harry Rigby, retired professor, dean of men and leader of the Thomists August 23, 2020
in memoriam
2010s
The St. Thomas University Alumni Relations office, STU Alumni Association, and the university community extend condolences to the family and friends of the following alumni who passed away recently:
Margaret Anne Wilby, BA’74, BEd’75 September 2, 2020
Michael Anthony Rutter, BA’70, BEd’73 September 17, 2020
Ken Gould, BA’65, BEd ’68 September 22, 2020
Aranyam Bora, BA’21 September 23, 2020
Donald Joseph Cormier, BA’69 September 24, 2020
Hope Carolyn Piers, BA’97, BSW’01
Constance (Connie) Elizabeth Petrie, BA’75
April 23, 2020
September 30, 2020
Glendon Eugene Pierce, BA’70
Dr. Barbara Ann Fisher-Townsend, former faculty
April 26, 2020
Dr. Lissa Beauchamp, English Professor May 6, 2020
Mary Christine Watling, BSc’55 June 7, 2020
Michael Irving Regan, BA’59 June 14, 2020
Rose Burtt, STU ’05-’06
October 11, 2020
Gregory Michael Doyle, STU ’93-’95 October 27, 2020
Valerie O’Brien, wife of President Emeritus Dr. Daniel O’Brien Nov. 7, 2020
Derek Jason Bell, BA’96 Nov. 14, 2020
June 25, 2020
Mary Stella Francis, STU ’02-’08 June 26, 2020
Winter 2021
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Tributes Rev. Dr. John Joseph “Jack” Dolan
February 15, 1931 – February 5, 2020
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ather Jack Dolan was born in Saint John, NB, on February 15, 1931, son of the late John J. Dolan and Lillian Horgan. He taught at St. Thomas University for over 26 years, teaching courses in Catholic Studies, in addition to his full-time work as a parish priest. He was a very popular professor, not only in the classroom, but wherever students gathered. He was deeply loved by students of all faiths and no faith, and he treated all with dignity and respect. More than one student was happy to buy him a coffee in appreciation for his faithful presence among them. Father Jack retired as pastor of Holy Family Parish in 2013 but continued to love and serve the parish after retirement. He was comfortable in church, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, in the classroom, in the cafeteria, in the hockey rink, in the various haunts of politicians of all stripes, in the woods, in the bee hive fields, and wherever people were gathered. He lived simply and quietly, but touched many, many lives. Father Jack is survived by his sister-in-law, Patricia, and by his nephews and nieces David, Kevin, John, Bill, Tina, Judy, Frank, and Michael. He was predeceased by his parents, and his brother Bill.
•
Harry Rigby
January 10, 1927 – August 23, 2020
Valerie Ruth (Hart) O’Brien
May 4, 1942 – November 7, 2020
V
alerie (Hart) O’Brien was born in 1942 to Bruce and Pauline (McKay) Hart. She married Daniel O’Brien (d. 2016) in 1965. They have two sons: Prof. Peter O’Brien (Paula Simpson-O’Brien, Halifax), and Fr. Craig O’Brien, SSC (Sackville, NB), and two grandchildren: Rachel and Gabriel. Val was a Registered Social Worker who worked as a family and child counsellor in Toronto and Halifax, and then in private practice in Fredericton, where Dan was President of St. Thomas University from 1990-2006. Valerie was a key ally in the cause of St. Thomas and integral to our success. Perhaps nowhere was this more evident than through her work organizing the annual Gala Dinner benefitting the Millennium Scholarship Fund. As the driving force, Valerie helped raise $1 million for the fund which, to this day, assists students in financial need. In every duty that Valerie carried out in her 16 years at St. Thomas, she was genuine in her affection for our university and its people, and she knew the students, faculty, and staff as well as everyone connected to STU.
•
B
orn in Dublin, Ireland on January 10, 1927, Harry Rigby was the eldest son of William & Anne (Manning) Rigby. Guided by an unwavering faith, Harry was passionate about his family and generously shared his musical gifts and talent with the broader community. He filled every room he occupied with his larger-than-life personality. Harry began teaching at St. Thomas University in 1965, where he contributed to hundreds of students’ musical and personal development. He was the boisterous and engaging band leader of The Thomists, the swing band he founded in the 1960s and fronted for decades. Harry’s contribution to STU extended beyond music. He was also an energetic Latin and Philosophy professor, and was the Dean of Men in Harrington Hall between 1965 and 1995. He is survived by a large and loving family.
•
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Planning for the future is a key part of ensuring the people you love and the institutions you hold dear are part of your legacy. Leaving a planned gift is an easy way to declare your commitment to St. Thomas and to safeguard the future of its students. Imagine knowing that your connection to St. Thomas will serve as a catalyst and motivation for future learners. Many students, every year, benefit from the thoughtfulness and planning of those who have chosen to make St. Thomas part of their legacy.
STUdents are asking for your perspective. We’ve partnered with Ten Thousand Coffees to create STU Connects, a networking platform that matches alumni with students and recent grads for career inspiring conversations, either online or in person. All you have to do is meet a student virtually once a month. Chat on the phone or exchange emails. Answer their questions, share your experience and provide insight.
There are several ways to plan for the future:
Beneficiary Designation | You can name St. Thomas University as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance or insurance annuity assets.
If you have been thinking about including St. Thomas in your plans for the future, please contact Dionne Izzard at dizzard@stu.ca or 506-452-2140.
planned giving
Securities | You can give publicly-listed securities such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds to St. Thomas University through your estate. A donation of securities is a great way to make a significant difference to our students and university. The elimination of the capital gains tax on gifts of securities may create a considerable tax advantage for you.
Join today: stu.ca/stuconnects/alumni
506-452-2140
Bequest | Consider leaving a Bequest for St. Thomas in your Will. You can either determine a set amount, leave a percentage or the remainder of your estate to St. Thomas University once all other bequests and expenses have been paid.
stu.ca/stuconnects/alumni
Be Part of the Future
Sailmaker • Hayes Farm • Bright winter décor • Mark Arendz • Old, bold pilots
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