STU Alumni & Friends
Summer 2018
Eve Baird, BA’16
The Sleep Kit Studying Sleep Disturbances in People Living with Dementia
Call for Nominations for Alumni Service Award Meet our Campaign Leadership Team What’s New at STU
Alumni Weekend October 19-21, 2018
October
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St. Thomas University | Connections
2018
• Maritime Kitchen Party • Harrington Hall Reunion • Dinner and Dance with the Thomists • President’s Special Reunion Brunch • And more!
alumni weekend
View event details and register to join friends and former classmates back on campus by visiting www.stu.ca/alumniweekend. For more information, please call 506-452-0521.
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 8 Cover Story 10 Profiles 14 Opinion 15 Giving News
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 12,500 St. Thomas University alumni and friends worldwide.
Photo by: Keith Minchin
Connections is a publication of the
Publisher Office of Advancement and Alumni, St. Thomas University Editor Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08 Acknowledgements Oscar Baker III, BA’16 Wanda Bearresto, BA’87 Jeffrey Carleton Ashlen Henry, BA’09 Khairunnisa Intiar, BA’13 Dionne Izzard Kathleen Johnson, BA’13 Jodi Misheal Vanessa Paesani, BEd’10 Photos Kyle Albright, BA’13 Elaine Fancy Keith Minchin James West Design, Layout, Printing Karen Smith Design KarenSmithDesign@eastlink.ca Taylor Printing Group Inc. Tpgi.ca
Alumni Association Board of Directors 2017-18 Frank McBrearty, BA’06 (Saint John, NB) Margaret (Margie) Tracy, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Emily Cochrane, BA’11 (Fredericton, NB) Jeanne Smith, BA’76 (Saint John, NB) Jane Abernethy, BT’73, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Don Bossé, BA’82, BEd’83 (Fredericton, NB) Trevor Breen, BA’03, BSW’04 (Saint John, NB) Dr. Dawne Clarke, BA’95 (Fredericton, NB) Dennis Livingstone, BA’73 (Riverview, NB) Nora Valentino, BA’87 (Fredericton, NB) Dolores Whalen, BT’70 (Fredericton, NB)
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F E AT U R E S
Welcome from St. Thomas University
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The Sleep Kit
Eve Baird, BA’16,
studies sleep
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Finding the Words
A Mi’kmaq
language app helps
President, Dawn Russell
ith each article in this magazine we demonstrate the “connections” among faculty, students, and alumni, and between STU and the wider world. There is now another link to add to that growing chain of connections. It is between STU and its supporters. Our Campaign for St. Thomas University will be led by an impressive mix of alumni and friends: the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney, the Hon. Frank McKenna, John Bragg, the Hon. Graydon Nicholas, Ann Evans, the Arthur Irving Family, Peter Forestell, Vaughn Sturgeon, Bill Whalen, and Chuck Firlotte. Some members of this group are alumni; others are inspired by our mission. They are united by a shared confidence in the value of the distinctive education we provide our students. They are committed, as we are, to excellence in liberal arts education and to helping us raise funds so that we can do even more for our students. For evidence of our current success, look no further than these pages. Our campus life makes STU one of the most vibrant universities in Atlantic Canada. The personal growth of our students from first-year to graduation is amazing to behold. Their openness to new ideas, practice of critical thinking, capacity for hard work, and dedication to community are characteristics of successful young scholars. We are not surprised to see them excel as alumni. You will soon be hearing more about our Campaign for St. Thomas. In the meantime, enjoy the stories which we have put together for you.
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disturbances in people living with dementia.
Oscar Baker III, BA’16, reconnect.
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Mentally Ready to
Serve and Protect
Sgt. Bobbi
Simmons-Beauchamp, BA’91, helps first responders cope with mental health issues.
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Opinion
Vanessa Paesani,
BEd’10, is
amplifying the voices of inspiring women in Atlantic Canada.
On the Cover: Eve Baird, BA’16. Photo by James West Photography.
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Alumni Association Register online at stu.ca/alumniweekend Early Registration Draws: Register by September 5 for your Chance to Win! Register by September 5th to have your name entered into a draw for two tickets to a Harvest Jazz & Blues event on Saturday, September 15th, 2018 at 8:00pm in the Moose Light Blues Tent, featuring Steve Earle and the Dukes.
Frank McBrearty, Chair of the STU Alumni Association
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n behalf of the 14,000 STU alumni, I want to take a moment to formally welcome the class of 2018 to the alumni community. Although a lot has changed at STU since I was a student, there is more which has remained the same. St. Thomas is still a unique and supportive university community, where members of faculty and staff know your name; it is still the place for personal growth and for learning of all kinds, inside and outside of the classroom. Most of all, it is still the place which many of us remember as our home away from home. I hope that you remember your time at St. Thomas fondly, that you remember your alma mater as you move forward, and that you take the time to come ‘home’ whenever you can.
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Your early registration also qualifies you for the draw on September 14th, for one of two Accommodations Packages (one overnight stay in a deluxe room, one king or 2 queen beds, and complimentary breakfast for two) at the Fredericton Inn, 1315 Regent St. in Fredericton, NB.
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A Glance at Some of Our Events Friday, October 19th, 2018 Maritime Kitchen Party Time: Social: 7pm – 9pm | Live Irish music featuring McCarthy & Burgess: 9pm - Midnight Location: The Great Hall, George Martin Hall Cost: Complimentary
Please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 506.452.0521 or alumni@stu.ca for information on your class activity.
Alumni Dinner and Dance with the Thomists
Harrington Hall Reunion and Social
Time: Cocktails: 6:30pm – 7pm | Dinner: 7pm – 8:30pm | Dance: 9pm – midnight Location: The Great Hall, George Martin Hall Cost: $50 / person. Cash Bar. Seating is limited for this event; book tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Time: 12:30pm – 2:30pm Location: Harrington Hall Cost: Complimentary
Sunday, October 21st, 2018
Special STUAA Meeting
President’s Reunion Breakfast Buffet
Saturday, October 20th, 2018
STU alumni are welcome to meet board members and hear the latest alumni updates from the STUAA Board of Directors. Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm Location: Off-Campus Lounge, Sir James Dunn Hall Cost: Complimentary
Special Reunion Year Events This is a special reunion year for the members of the classes of 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013.
Time: Coffee, Tea, and Muffins: 9:30am – 10am | Breakfast Buffet: 10am – 12pm Location: The Great Hall, George Martin Hall Cost: $15 for guests. Complimentary for members of the following reunion groups: Classes of 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013, and Basketball Alumni (Men and Women’s teams.)
Alumni Mass Time: 7pm Location: St. Thomas Chapel, Holy Cross House
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Alumni Association Did You Know?
We sell diploma frames, at Convocation and year-round, so alumni can hang their diplomas with pride in their homes or offices.
We purchased T-Rings for students chosen on the basis of their application to the alumni association. This year, graduating students Liam Dorey and Stephanie Ford were selected as the lucky winners.
We hosted Alumni Weekend in Fredericton, and alumni receptions in cities across the country to re-connect former classmates, with the University and with each other. We presented graduates with STU luggage tags at Convocation to welcome them into the STU alumni family, and so that they might take a small reminder of us with them as they left St. Thomas.
Did you know that your STU Alumni Association is busy all year round? Here is a glance at just some of the things we did this year.
We passed out ice cream cones and popsicles (and best wishes!) for students on their last day of class to wish them luck with their exams.
We selected Amy Baldwin as the recipient of the Father Tom Daley Scholarship. Candidates were assessed on academic standing, extracurricular involvement at STU, and demonstrated leadership qualities.
We sponsored and attended events like the Grad Dinner, Welcome Week, the T-Ceremony, and the Academic Awards Reception.
Get Involved! Want to get involved with your STU Alumni Association? Email alumni@stu.ca for more information. Summer 2018
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STU Alumni Events Recap Toronto Alumni Reception December 4, 2017 Toronto area alumni gathered at Forth Avenue Kitchen & Bar on December 4 for a STU alumni reception. Special thanks to Sean McNulty, owner/operator of Forth Avenue, and son of Mary McCann, BA’77, for hosting this event for STU alumni and friends.
3 3 From left: Mary McCann, BA’77; President Dawn Russell, BA’77.
4 From left: 1 1 Front row, from left: Bill Dunn, BA’71; William Pittman, BA’47; Mary McCann, BA’77; Wanda Bearresto, BA’87; Cindy Williams, BA’06, BEd’07; Kathleen Bisgaard, BA’89, BEd’90; Alanah Duffy, BA’12; Ashley Bursey, BA’08. Second row, from left: Sherry Christie-Duguid, BA’89; Susan Moore, BA’89, BEd’90; Robert Fisher, BA’80; Alphee Spurles, BA’89, BEd’98; President Dawn Russell, BA’77. Third row, from left: Jessica Uyede, BA’00; Jennifer Whelly, BA’09; Laura Nelson-Hamilton, BA’08. Fourth row, from left: Ron Planche, BA’68; Don Murphy, BA’85, BEd’87; Mark Livingstone, BA’12; Billy Johnson, BA’12; John Murphy, BA’81.
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2 From left: Ashley Bursey, BA’08; Leah Holder, BA’06; Jessica Uyede, BA’00; Jennifer Whelly, BA’09; Laura NelsonHamilton, BA’08.
St. Thomas University | Connections
President Dawn Russell, BA’77; William Pittman, BA’47.
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Ottawa Alumni Reception March 20, 2018 The Honourable David Adams Richards, LLD’90, Senate of Canada, hosted a reception for alumni and friends of St. Thomas University on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 20.
5 From left: Agnes Siscoe, BA’48; Maureen Hainsworth; Shelley Rolland-Poruks, BA’01; Catherine Brosha, BA’04; Stephen Brosha, BA’06; Karen Burpee, BA’01. 6 From left: Brian Kelly, BA’83, BEd’84; Michele Kelly, BA’84, BEd’85; Scott MacKay; Jennifer Duschenes, BA’74; Mark Livingstone, BA’12. 7 From left: Nathan Benson, BA’99; The Hon. David Adams Richards, LLD’90;
8 Natalie Essiembre, BA’99. 8 From left: The Hon. David Adams Richard, LLD’90; Dawn Russell, BA’77; Mary McIllwraith; Tom McIllwraith, BA’68, BEd’73.
Mary McIllwraith, whose husband Tom, sisters Anne Doyle and Joan Doyle, and brother Harry Doyle all graduated from STU, attended the Ottawa alumni reception to present President Russell with a cheque for $10,000 to endow the Alice Doyle Bursary in honour of their mother, who started taking courses at STU following her retirement. The Alice Doyle Bursary is an annual award for a mature student attending St. Thomas.
Holiday Reception in Fredericton December 6, 2017 Members of the St. Thomas University Alumni Association and fellow STU alumni celebrated the holidays at an alumni reception on December 6 at Corked Wine Bar in Fredericton.
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Asher, BA’72, BSW’86; Anne Doyle, BA’69; Hope Richardson, BA’77, BEd’78, Bill Richardson, BA’69, BEd’71; Stephen Ward, BA’73. 11 From left: Aaron Fecteau, BA’09; Andrew Lockhart, BA’10; Corben McLean, BA’10.
9 From left: Paul Hawkins, BA’75; Scott Smith, Norm Seely, BA’83; Valerie Delong, BSW’86. 10 From left: Charlotte Casey, BA’76, BEd’77; Marsha McGarvie, BSW’87; Jane
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Cover Story Photos by: James West Photography
The Sleep Kit Eve Baird Studies Sleep Disturbances in People Living with Dementia
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ve Baird, BA’16, hopes her new study will help individuals with dementia sleep more soundly. The Recreational Therapist at the York Care Centre is launching a study in Fredericton this summer to measure how establishing a bedtime routine focused on one-on-one interactions and alternative sleep therapies can improve sleep in individuals living with dementia. Although studies estimate that between 25% and 50% of people with dementia suffer from sleep disturbances, Baird found little research offering solutions other than more traditional ones like diet, exercise, melatonin, or sleep medications. In her research, she discovered a study that linked social interactions throughout the day to better sleep. This gave
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her the idea for The Sleep Kit. The Sleep Kit is a small box of alternative sleep therapies and items caregivers can use to spend quality time with individuals living with dementia during the bedtime routine. It includes items such as playing cards, a book, a CD of relaxing music, a colouring book and markers, a hair brush, essential oils and lotions. “The Sleep Kit is a tool for caregivers, and it contains different items that promote the idea of spending one-on-one time with your loved one before bed and providing them with meaningful engagement. Each item was handpicked and appeals to the five senses. I also wanted to make it something that could be modified for different stages of the dementia journey. It is also an opportunity for
the caregiver to take some time for themselves at the end of a stressful day.� Baird first got the idea for The Sleep Kit during a project for a class with STU professor Dr. Janet Durkee-Lloyd, who encouraged her to pursue the idea. She eventually pitched The Sleep Kit to the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation and received $50,000 to conduct a study. The New Brunswick Health Research Foundation matched those funds, bringing her total funding to $100,000. Baird will be conducting two studies: one for community members living with dementia who still live in their own homes, and one for the residents of the Birch Grove unit at the York Care Centre. There will be a control group, so half of the participants will receive The Sleep Kit while
Cover Story
Claire Hargrove, BA’13 Eve Baird, BA’16 the other half won’t. Everyone will be given a Fitbit to track their sleep, allowing Baird to digitally collect the data. Caregivers will also write notes in a sleep diary and respond to questionnaires, so Baird can collect qualitative data. “I am hoping that their sleep improves, but I am also hoping that the caregivers see it as something that is helpful to them,” she says. Baird recruited fellow STU alumna Claire Hargrove, BA’13, to act as her research assistant, and help her with the community portion of the study. Hargrove is an Adult Day Program Coordinator at the York Care Centre. “Dementia can severely disrupt normal sleep patterns, and this has a negative impact on overall health,” Hargrove says. “Eve’s creation of The Sleep Kit offers a therapeutic tool to a group of people that have very few products which are specifically designed for their circumstances. While the world has seen tremendous technological advancement in recent years, contemporary society often feels as if it has been stripped of simplicity and basic human connection.” Because of this, she says, The Sleep Kit was designed to enhance basic principles such
as one-on-one interaction with the intent of improving sleep habits which would benefit the individual living with dementia as well as their caregiver. “Working with individuals living with dementia, one finds it impossible to ignore the lack of tools available to enhance their quality of life,” Hargrove adds. “This drives me to change this and I feel my experience working in a frontline situation will bring a depth of knowledge and experience to the team. With Eve’s leadership, determination, and deep understanding of the impact of dementia, I am confident that we will make The Sleep Kit an invaluable resource for individuals and their caregivers along the dementia journey and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the team.” Changing the Narrative on Aging and Dementia Baird discovered her passion for working with older adults during her time as a student in the Gerontology Department at St. Thomas University. She fell in love with narrative care after interviewing the painter Molly Bobak and writing her life story for a class project. She had a close relationship with her own grandparents and appreciated any time she could spend speaking with older adults about their lives. Unfortunately, she says, many people fear the aging process. She hopes society can learn to embrace it instead.
by Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08
“Aging is a natural process that should be embraced, not something that we need to dread or avoid,” she says. “Companies are always promoting “anti-aging” products. But the narrative must change, and we need to accept that we are all aging, and instead of avoiding it, we need to think of how we can make it better for people — especially for individuals who are living with dementia. There is such a stigma around dementia. People don’t know a lot about it. People are terrified of it, which I understand. Of course, I am not trying to downplay the disease, but I do still believe there is plenty of room for these individuals to enjoy life.” Hargrove agrees that society needs to learn more about dementia. She is thankful for what she has been able to learn from those living with the disease. “I consider myself so privileged to work with these individuals and their caregivers and families. They’ve become some of my greatest teachers, and their spirit of camaraderie truly enhances my perspectives on life.”
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Summer 2018
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Profiles
by Oscar Baker III, BA’16
Finding the Words
A Mi’kmaq Language App Helps Oscar Reconnect
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’m at my mother’s wake. My heart still feels shattered; I’m a shell of myself with no time to mourn. I’m trying to make sure all the guests are taken care of and that the elders don’t slip on the icy driveway and steps. My sogi Vina (aunt) says a bunch of words. I stare at her blankly. I know in my heart those words should mean something. They are my mother tongue, but even reading her lips gives no hint. My mouth is agape hoping someone would relieve me from drowning in the embarrassment of not knowing Mi’kmaq, maybe at least one English clue. Instead I’m left guessing. I remember at least understanding the language as a small child. Maybe because my mother and migijto Dora spoke it at home. Now it’s as foreign to me as Mandarin. I think my seven-year-old niece knows more than me. I’m determined to learn, and there’s an app for that. I’ve always been tempted to learn Spanish. I took
Latin in high school because I figured if I knew the roots of Romantic languages I could learn more languages. Ten years later I only know one. But now I have a renewed commitment to focus and discipline, so I searched for a Spanish language app, and a voice inside me asked, “Why not your own language?” So now I’ve been working with L’nui’suti, a Mi’kmaq language app, to learn my language. It was developed by Yolanda Denny, Gerald Gloade, Faye Googoo, J.R. Isadore, Jane Meader and Blaire Goulde of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, which advocates educational and language rights for Mi’kmaw people. Goulde said the team felt compelled to create the app because the language is threatened. “Languages are suffering and declining in our nations. Part of the blame is technology — so we want to use technology to revitalize language through private users who download our apps,” said Goulde in an email. The Catalogue of Endangered Languages Project lists the Mi’kmaq language as threatened. It lists 8,145 Mi’kmaq speakers out of 20,000
Mi’kmaw people. The data was collected by the University of Hawaii and the First Peoples Cultural Council, with the help of other universities, and it maintains a comprehensive list of threatened or endangered languages throughout the world. Most linguists say the best way to learn a language is to totally immerse oneself. That’s not an option for me. The best I can do is dedicate an hour a day to read the language and speak it to myself. I failed at a lot, but I feel in my heart that by trying this, I’m already succeeding. I’ve always heard language is a part of us Mi’kmaw people. I never felt that way. Maybe because I never understood it. There were times when hearing my mother saying she loved me in our language felt more sincere. I think as I head down the road of understanding, maybe I’ll grow a little closer to myself. Nmultis.
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Oscar Baker III, BA’16, is an award-winning multimedia reporter from Elsipogtog First Nation and St. Augustine, Fla. “Finding the Words” originally appeared on wickedideas.ca.
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by Khairunnisa (Inda) Intiar, BA’13
The Canada C3 Expedition
Khairunnisa (Inda) Intiar, BA’13
Leg 3 of the expedition. For 10 days, I joined journalists, musicians, scientists, activists, youth leaders, educators, chefs, artists, and fellow residents of Canada to sail from Baie Comeau to Charlottetown. Along the way, we celebrated Aboriginal Day with the Innu community in Pessamit. It was the first time I heard the Innu language spoken. We learned how to make dream catchers and Bannock bread (using hot sand) with the Innu community in Ekuanitshit. We also visited the Mingan Archipelago, including the unique Anticosti Island, where there are more deer than people! We experienced French-Canadian culture in Petite-Vallee and Havre St. Pierre, we learned about the seal-hunting tradition and the impact of climate change
Photo by: Jo-Ann Wilkins / SOI Foundation
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remember standing on board an icebreaker, watching the sunset sky turn orange and purple, and then dark blue where it meets the water of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. I was with fellow participants of the Canada C3 expedition. And I’ve never felt more at home. Growing up in various countries, I’ve been looking for a place to fit in. Canada has been home since I came to STU as an international student in 2009. It has allowed me to create a self from all the identities and cultural influences that intersect within. But I wanted to know Canada better. Last summer, I had the opportunity to do that. I was among roughly 300 people chosen to take part in the Canada C3 expedition organized by the Students on Ice Foundation to commemorate Canada 150. Around 5,000 people from across the country applied to live on an icebreaker for one of the 15 legs of the journey as it sailed around Canada’s three coasts for 150 days. The journey started in Toronto on June 1 and ended in Victoria on October 28. It focused on four themes: Reconciliation, Diversity and Inclusion, the Environment, and Youth Engagement. I was on the Polar Prince for
Finding Home Aboard an Icebreaker on the Magdalen Islands, and we celebrated Multiculturalism Day at Petit Rocher, NB. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited us when the ship was docked in Charlottetown. On the ship, we reflected on the things we learned from our activities. We’d have discussion during breakfast or in the Legacy Room, a room filled with gifts from Indigenous Chiefs the C3 team met along the way, or in the Knot, a living room where we often played music together. We learned about Indigenous history through a role-play activity called the Blanket Exercise. This was powerful and emotional, as many of us didn’t understand the extent of oppression the Indigenous peoples of Canada experienced, nor that injustices continue even today. I understood through discussions with my
Indigenous friends on board why many didn’t see Canada 150 as a celebration. I also celebrated Eid, a feast that marks the end of the Islamic holy month, with my friends on the ship. We shared a meal and held hands to express gratitude for our togetherness and bond we shared, despite all the differences that could keep us apart. Today, I continue to learn and ask questions, particularly when it comes to the treatment and the cultures of Indigenous peoples. I continue to advocate for diversity and inclusion, now with a broader understanding that multiculturalism must include the diverse cultures, languages and voices of the first peoples of the land. I learned that there’s a Canada I aspire to help build — one that is diverse, inclusive, engaged and caring for the environment.
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Khairunnisa (Inda) Intiar, BA’13, is an Indonesian national who graduated from St. Thomas with a major in journalism and an honours in international relations. She is now the Moncton reporter for businessfocused digital media company Huddle Today, which is based out of Saint John. She has written about her Canada C3 experience on her Medium page. Summer 2018
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Profiles
by Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08
Mentally Ready to Serve and Protect
Sgt. Bobbi Simmons-Beauchamp Helps First Responders Cope with Mental Health Issues
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gt. Bobbi Simmons-Beauchamp, BA’91, says first responders need to take care of their mental health so they can best take care of others. That’s why she and her former staff sergeant brought the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Road to Mental Readiness Program to the Fredericton Police Force. Originally developed by the Department of National Defence, the Road to Mental Readiness program supports the mental health and wellbeing of first responders. “We’re trying to make the conversation around mental illness part of our normal conversation,” she says. “We’re trying to reduce the stigma around it, because that stigma is a major barrier to care. If people are afraid to talk about it or admit how they’re feeling, they are less likely to get care.” The program is course-based and uses best practices from sport psychology and neuroscience. Simmons-Beauchamp says the program helps officers build resiliency. It has been used by the Canadian Armed Forces, US Navy Seals, and many first responders. “We teach skills like goal setting, visualization, positive self-talk, and tactical breathing,” she says. “Breathing is a natural calming mechanism in our body so once we’ve calmed our body, our minds naturally follow. We teach these skills to our members and we ask them to not only think about the skills, but also to practice them and to build them, so they become automatic. When they are in those high stress situations, they are able to access these tools that will help them better manage the situations.” Although first responders may be more at risk of developing PostTraumatic Stress Disorder, Simmons-Beauchamp says PTSD is not the most prevalent mental health illness in policing. “We have this trauma and stress that we face at work but sometimes people forget that we’re people too. We also have the stress in our personal lives: what’s going on in our family, finances, kids, everything… that gets added on to the stress from work. So what we see is that there is more prevalence in things like depression and anxiety in policing than PTSD.”
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Bobbi Simmons-Beauchamp, BA’91 Simmons-Beauchamp, who has spent 21 years working as a police officer, is now also a Master Trainer with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. She has taught others to teach the program. She has worked in Edmonton with the CN Police, with Edmonton Fire, and with other first responder organizations in Alberta. She worked with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and has worked with all of the police forces in NB to teach others how to deliver this in their own organizations. The Fredericton Police Force was part of the research phase for implementing this program in a police environment in 2015 and they will periodically do refresher courses to get re-certified. She says delivering this program is one of the best things an organization can do for its employees. “It’s great that the Fredericton Police Force recognizes that it needs to take care of its people so we can take care of others,” she says. “The nature of our work is not going to change. The ways that we do it, our approaches to it, our ideologies around it, that may change. But at the heart of it, we are here to serve and protect people. And in doing that, we see people at their worst, we go to terrible situations, we see trauma, we see a lot of great things too, but the reality is that we are faced with that stuff. That’s what we’re here for.”
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by Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08
Different Tongues
Patrick A. McCarthy has Written a Book on Raising Bilingual Children
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hen Patrick A. McCarthy, BA’88, BEd’91, and his wife Laurie-Ann were expecting their first child, he began to worry about how he could teach his child his culture and language. McCarthy was raised in an English-speaking family in New Brunswick; his wife is a francophone from Quebec. Although both are bilingual, they live in Quebec City where English is seldom heard or spoken. McCarthy is an English Second Language teacher with an interest in sociolinguistics, so he knew better than most that teaching a child English in Quebec would be challenging — especially when he understood the province’s unique sociocultural and historical relationship with language. “We have two cultures in our life together, and a baby was arriving. You would expect that linguistically speaking, our child would do as her parents, speak two languages, but it was not that easy,” he explained. “I was truly perplexed on how I should communicate with my daughter.” He began researching how to learn a second language in a family context and quickly saw how multilingual families are omnipresent in many nations around the world. “I started to learn how to successfully raise fluently bilingual individuals. I learned the tricks to overcome obstacles of teaching children languages that a lot of parents experience and give up. I was determined to be different.” Nine months later, his daughter Rosalie was born and as the doctor laid her in his wife’s arms, his mother tongue spilled out of him naturally. “I was standing behind them both, and I finally bit the bullet, I said (in English), “Hi, how are you?” and magically my daughter
turned her head completely back and looked me straight in the eye with a loving curiosity. I finally knew in my heart that I had made the right decision.” Since that day, two other children have entered his life: Julia and Kamille. All three speak English with their father and French with their mother. McCarthy’s passion for linguistics and language learning spreads farther than the walls of his home. He completed his Master’s in Linguistics from Laval University and teaches English as a Second Language at the CÉGEP and university level. His master’s thesis focused on teaching children two languages. Hoping to inspire other parents who are raising bilingual children, he recently released a version of his thesis as a book, Different Tongues: Why Children Code Switch; (why children change languages when they speak). “My thesis allowed me to apply strategies for learning languages at certain ages in the growing years and I was able to witness that they worked on my own children. My children only communicated with me in English because I was the only person in their world for the first five years to speak English to them.”
McCarthy’s interest in second language learning began when he was still in high school and he wanted to learn French. The next few years were spent learning as much French as he could, through immersion programs in Quebec, taking a minor in French at STU, and spending a year living in France. When he was still a student at STU, McCarthy got a job as a monitor in the English Language Program on campus. That’s when he fell in love with the idea of teaching English as a second language. “This decision to start teaching at STU in the summer turned into a career choice for me. I literally fell into teaching.”
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Different Tongues is available on amazon.ca as an e-book and in paperback.
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“The goal of this project is to
Opinion
by Vanessa Paesani, BEd’10
amplify the voices of the countless inspiring women in Atlantic Canada”
I Vanessa Paesani, BEd’10 Vanessa Paesani, BEd’10, launched the website Amplify East earlier this year. Her commitment is to amplify the voices and accomplishments of women in Atlantic Canada. You can read inspiring profiles or nominate a woman today at amplifyeast.com
being a e l i h “W the n i n a wom onal i profess s been ha world ng, it’s ti frustra n the e also be arding ew most r rience.” e life exp
believe we can change culture by giving people tools to talk about it — to be intentional about what values are being amplified through our words and behaviours. Culture’s one of those things that’s hard to put your finger on, though people can feel its impacts — at its simplest, it’s how people interact with one another, reflecting the values of that particular group. One of the most frustrating experiences of my life has been being a woman in the professional world — and hearing other women’s experiences in the working world. Some of it is absolutely shocking. In reflecting on my core values over the last little while, I realized my deepest core value is justice. When I look back on all of my decisions, I see that they’ve all
been filtered through that lens and I’m working to fully embrace it now that I see it. That realization, along with my experience, has led me to creating Amplify East. The goal of this project is to amplify the voices of the countless inspiring women in Atlantic Canada — to showcase to women and men how many there are and what they’re up to. It’s not a supply problem — it’s a mindset problem. We start to shift our mindsets by first being aware of them — and the values underlying them — and then talking and acting differently. Amplify’s 2018 goal is to profile 100 women and we’ve featured 30 already — all through a nomination process. 100 women is barely the tip of the iceberg. We’ll also have a podcast series coming out this year — more details to come! While being a woman in the professional world has been frustrating, it’s also been the most rewarding experience of my life — to find female role models, peers and mentors to build each other up and make a lot of change together. My hope is that’s there’s no excuse at any regional conference in 2018 or beyond for not having a diversity of perspectives on
a panel (and not just gender diversity). That we move faster towards 50% of elected seats at all level of government being held by women. That we have 50% of board positions being held by women. One project like this isn’t enough to change all of that. But we all have a role to play, and I hope that this project will be one contributing factor in a cultural sea change that really got its legs last year. To be clear, I have nothing against men. A lot of my mentors and influential role models have been men and I’m incredibly grateful for them. Part of this cultural change has to come from men — from unpacking notions of gender identity, to recognizing privilege, and to dismantling the ‘old boys club’. I’m not sure how much of that we’ll be able to take on with Amplify. There’s loads of room to affect positive change and part of my hope is that men also engage with this project — by telling us about the inspiring women they know and sharing their stories with others in their networks. I don’t quite know how it will all play out, but I’m excited to keep this going.
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Read more at amplifyeast.com.
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Giving News
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aised by a single mother and the oldest of four children, Samantha Arthurs has always had a strong work ethic, coupled with a love of learning. She deeply understood that education was the key to her future success, but she did not have the means to pay for it. A letter from St. Thomas changed her life. A letter of acceptance and of financial support, provided an opportunity to break out of poverty, to be a role model for others. More than anything, that letter encouraged her confidence to rise to any challenge. Now about to begin her third year, Samantha credits St. Thomas with giving her the chance to change her life. “Now that I am here at St. Thomas my passion and purpose is starting to take shape, but none of that would have been possible without the support of donors who recognize that the path to success requires more than good grades,” she said. After her father left, her family struggled financially, and they couldn’t rise above the
poverty line. “With no financial support from my father, finding money for university was going to be an obstacle. It wasn’t enough that I earned the right to attend university by maintaining good grades and working hard — that only gets you an acceptance letter— what I really needed was financial support.” Receiving a donor-funded bursary changed everything for Samantha. “It made the impossible possible,” she said. “The moment I stepped foot on the St. Thomas campus, I was warmly welcomed by faculty, staff and students, some of whom have become life-long friends. Now, I could not imagine being any place else.” Samantha is one student, of many, who demonstrates for all of us that funds donated to St. Thomas make a real difference in the lives of students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend university. Alumni donors made a difference in Samantha’s life, and you can make a difference in a student’s life today. “St. Thomas strives to ensure access to
education is available for students who have proven their academic abilities, because socioeconomic status should not be a barrier to learning,” said Dawn Russell, President and Vice-Chancellor. “Although we do all we can to help deserving students, the reality is that our ability to help is largely made possible through the support of generous donors. Samantha’s commitment to her studies, to her fellow students, and to her family, means we all benefit from her success.” Once students arrive at St. Thomas, faculty and staff come together to offer students a learning experience that will shape and inform their future. Funding provided by donors enhances and expands a student’s university experience through world-renowned lecturers, experiential learning opportunities, travel study programs, and so much more, ensuring a unique learning experience they cannot find elsewhere. Your support makes a university education possible for young people like Samantha, and enriches the experiences you offer them.
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Letter
A from St. Thomas Changed Samantha Arthur’s
Life
here m a I t tha “Now omas my h at St. T and purpose n passio ng to take i is start ut none of b n shape, uld have bee o that w without the le possib of donors.” t suppor
Summer 2018
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Campus Watch
“At St. Thomas University, you have had the best.” – STU Celebrates Spring Convocation
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t was during his time as a student at St. Thomas College that the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney learned about tenacity. Mulroney, who was Canada’s 18th prime minister, told the class of 2018 that whenever he faced challenges and obstacles throughout his life, he would remember his time at St. Thomas. “I learned at St. Thomas that failure was not an option,” he said. “Life is a mix of challenges from which no one emerges unscathed. Defeat is not something to fear, but surrender is something to reject. Never has it ever occurred to me to quit at any time in my life.” Mulroney and his wife Mila Mulroney received honorary doctorates at Spring Convocation, where he spoke to the 300 graduates who received degrees in
applied arts, arts and social work. “When I left college, as you are about to do, to head to the big city to conquer the world, or so we hoped, I had no money, no connections and no influence. But I had two things: a college degree and the values that had been implanted into us by superb faculty and university leaders. And as I look at you today, I can tell that at St. Thomas University, you have had the best,” he said. “The torch truly has been passed. You have been blessed with a degree from this great university
and you are our new generation of leaders.” “Brian Mulroney has a noteworthy record of economic, environmental, and international accomplishments,
while Mrs. Mulroney played an important role during her husband’s time in office and has been a prominent and effective leader of charitable causes for over three decades,” said Dawn Russell, St. Thomas University’s president and vice-chancellor.
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Valedictorian University Medals Andrea Lopez, who is from El Salvador, delivered the valedictory address to her fellow graduates.
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Governor General’s Medal: Hannah Zamora, Fonthill, ON – Bachelor of Arts (Honours in English Language and Literature and Honours in Great Books) University Medal for Arts: Kayla Preston, New Maryland, NB – Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Sociology) University Medal for Social Work: Larissa Rose, Souris, PE – Bachelor of Social Work
Faculty Awards Left to right: Dr. Grant Williams (John McKendy Memorial Teaching Award); Dr. Bonnie Huskins (Award for Excellence in Part-Time Teaching); Dr. Patrick Malcolmson (University Service Award); and Dr. Carey Watt (University Scholarship Award)
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St. Thomas University | Connections
A Record Year for
STU Moot Court
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or the first time in the program’s history, six STU teams qualified for the American Moot Court National Championships — the maximum number of teams any university can send is eight — while a seventh STU team traveled to the championships in Dallas, Texas, as an alternate. Two STU teams — Emma Walsh and Brianna Workman and Dominique Goguen and Jarrod Ryan — earned bids into the
second day of competition. Walsh and Workman placed ninth while Goguen and Ryan finished 17th out of 80 teams. The ninth place finish is the highest placement ever achieved by a STU team. “It’s better than I could have hoped for,” Walsh said. “My expectation was to make it to the second day of competition; it wasn’t necessarily to get an automatic bid to the top 32. That surpassed our goals.” STU’s Moot Court program is the only one
STUdents at Harvard National Model United Nations
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tudents in the St. Thomas University Model United Nations class gained valuable experience in public speaking and negotiation at the Harvard National Model United Nations. Representing the country of Iran (from left, below), Rachelle Patrick, Philippe Ferland, Rachel Slipp, Emilie Hanlon, and Jarrod Ryan joined more than 3,000 delegates from around the world to participate in committees to work toward resolutions of global issues. The students are challenged by having to
think quickly on their feet, speak in front of a large number of delegates, many of whom are from Ivy League schools in the United States, and become leaders within their own committees,” said Stephanie McAnany, faculty advisor for the Model UN class. Founded in 1955, the Harvard National Model United Nations is the largest, oldest, and most prestigious conference of its kind. STU has sent a team to the competition for over two decades.
of its kind in Canada. Each year, students enroll in the moot court program to compete in the American Collegiate Moot Court Association’s annual tournaments. Moot Court is a simulation of the American Supreme Court where teams (students in groups of two) make legal arguments using court precedents in front of a panel of judges. Students compete against other schools, all from the United States.
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Supporting a “Feisty Moot Court Program”
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Frank and Julie McKenna made a personal contribution of $300,000 in the name of Mr. McKenna’s former assistant Ruth McCrea to endow the St. Thomas University moot court team. “This Moot Court program represented everything that I admired about Ruth McCrea. It is almost inconceivable that students from a small undergraduate liberal arts university without a law school could compete against the best and brightest students around the world and win. I can’t think of a better way of honouring my feisty assistant than by supporting this feisty Moot Court team.”
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Summer 2018
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Campus Watch A Scholar and Community Leader: Jimy Beltran awarded Tom McCann Memorial Trophy
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imy Beltran has joined an impressive roster of St. Thomas graduates as the 2018 recipient of the Tom McCann Memorial Trophy. The trophy is presented annually at the Graduates’ Dinner and is awarded to a member of the graduating class who best portrays the spirit of St. Thomas through contributions to university and student affairs, and who possess strong leadership, character, and personality traits. An international student from Caracas, Venezuela, Beltran has been a member of the Dean’s List each year. He completed the Harvard Business School’s Core HBX Program, was one of only two STU students accepted into the Pond-Deshpande Ambassador Program, and was named a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Scholar in the two years he competed with the men’s volleyball team.
Beltran served as the Students’ Union VicePresident – Student Life and has volunteered with Campus Ministry, STU Cares, Relay for Life, International Students’ Association, the Food Bank, and the John Peters Humphrey Model United Nations. He founded the STU Chapter of Global Brigades — he led 17 students on a service-learning trip to Panama last year — and Venezuela 180 which operates a website that amplifies the work of Venezuelan journalists who are trying to change the narrative in their country. The organization also provides food and medicine to local orphanages, hospitals, and senior homes. “I think my desire to give back and help others is ultimately rooted in my Catholic faith,” Beltran said. “Helping others is an extension of my belief and therefore who I am. It’s a priority I carry with me every day.”
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STU Cares: Day of Action
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tudents took an in-depth look at homelessness and food security in Fredericton during the STU Cares Day of Action — a one-day event that connected them with local organizations working on homelessness in the city, including the Fredericton Community Action Group on Homelessness, the Community Kitchen, and Liberty Lane.
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The Long Night Against Procrastination
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he end of the semester and exam time can be stressful for our students. That’s why we host the annual Long Night Against Procrastination, an event to help students make progress on their academic work. This event includes: • Therapy dogs • Quiet work rooms • Writing help • Midnight snack • Research help • De-stress craft corner
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St. Thomas University | Connections
15th Annual Student Research and Ideas Fair
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tudents presented on diverse topics related to their fields of study at the 15th Annual Student Research and Ideas Fair in March. Student-presenters dove into a wide range of interesting topics related to themes like “Law, Order, Gender, and Sexuality,” “Media Representation and Consumption,” “Rethinking Canadian Public Policy and Political Culture,” and much more.
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STU Students Nationally Recognized for Dedication to Shinerama Campaign for Cystic
Fibrosis Research and Care
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hanks in large part to the work of recent campaign leaders Emily DesRoches and Victoria Da Silva, STU has been recognized as one of Shinerama Canada’s most improved campaigns. A much-anticipated Welcome Week event, Shine Day takes place days after first-year students arrive on campus. New and returning students hit the streets of Fredericton to flip burgers, sing, and wash cars in effort to raise awareness and money for Shinerama, Canada’s largest postsecondary fundraiser in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults, and there is no cure. It mainly affects the digestive system and lungs.
DesRoches led STU’s campaign in 2016, before passing the baton to Da Silva in 2017. Both have been involved since their own Welcome Week. This year, STU’s campaign raised more funds for the cause than ever before, surpassing the team’s goal of $8,000 to reach $9,514.58. “We spent a lot of time informing the students, so they are knowledgeable when they’re asked about cystic fibrosis,” Da Silva said. “We also talk to Welcome Week leaders about it and share stories of the people we met at the national conference who live with cystic fibrosis. It makes it more personal. You could tell a lot of people were really touched and it helped students understand the importance of the campaign.”
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Presenting on a Global Scale
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olitical Science students Charlotte Schwarz and Kathleen Rankin travelled to Japan to present their research at a studentcentered international seminar on the Arctic in Asia. Rankin presented her paper “Resolutions through Research: Negotiating Canadian-Danish Sovereignty Claims to the North” which analyzed the dispute over the ownership of Hans Island. Schwarz presented her paper “Canada’s Arctic policy and its relations with Russia: Must ideology be set aside for the sake of cooperation?”
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STUnningly Successful Criminology students at St. Thomas collected gently used clothing to assist women who are incarcerated at a provincial correctional centre. “STUnningly Successful: A Reintegration Initiative” provides incarcerated women with clothing as they move facilities, attend court procedures, and when they are reintegrating into the community at the end of their sentence.
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Summer 2018
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Campus Watch
Elijah Matheson Receives Red Cross Power of Humanity Award
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t. Thomas University student Elijah Matheson was the recipient of a 2017 Red Cross Power of Humanity Award for their work as an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. Being recognized by the Red Cross is something Matheson values not only on a personal level, but because of what it says about humanitarianism on a larger scale. “The Red Cross recognizes there are different ways to help humanity and to be a humanitarian,” they said. “It’s great that a big organization known for their humanitarian
work recognizes that queer rights activism is as important as other humanitarianism. I think that’s meaningful.” Matheson is a founding member and co-chair of STU’s Queer and Allied People’s Society; however, their advocacy work began at Sir James Dunn High School in Saint Andrews, NB, where they held the position of president of the Gay Straight Alliance. During that time, Matheson helped form a New Brunswick-wide network for LGBTQIA+ youth and worked to send a New Brunswick delegation to the first national GSA summit in Toronto. They also contributed to Egale Canada’s LGBTQ inclusion handbook for Canadian teachers and helped facilitate student contributions to the province’s Department of Education’s Policy E9 on
LGBTQIA+ inclusive environments. As co-chair of Q and A at STU, Matheson tries to spread as much positivity and empowerment as possible — focusing on pride, bringing people together who accept and understand each other, celebrating one another, and interacting with allies. They said it’s sometimes easy to focus too much on the heaviness of discrimination and injustice, but being LGBTQIA+ is about more than that. “Events that highlight injustices are so important, but I think it’s also important to have upbeat events. We have weekly support meetings where people can talk about what’s going on in their lives and also about what’s going on in the world, and we have events like our coffee houses where we just celebrate the community.”
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Being Black in Canada: A Panel Discussion to Recognize Black History Month
April Paul Completes Large-scale Mural on Fredericton’s Northside
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his event, organized by student Husoni Raymond, provided perspective on stereotypes, privilege, systemic oppression, responding to racism, responsible allyship, and more. The panel included Pascale Diverlus, Haitian-born journalist and one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter Toronto; Alexa Joy Potashnik, founder of Black Space Winnipeg and a CBC Future 40 Under 40; Mary Louise McCarthy, former president of the NB Black History Society; and William Leek, fourth-year student at St. Thomas University.
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St. Thomas University | Connections
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ine Arts student April Paul was commissioned by St. Mary’s First Nation Community Planning to create a large-scale mural on Fredericton’s northside. The mural, which is located on the outside of the overpass on Two Nations Crossing, uses bright purples and greens that stand out
against a black background. The wildlife depicted in the work — a butterfly, turtle, and moose — are all significant to Paul’s First Nation community. Art by Paul can be seen in numerous places throughout St. Mary’s, including the Band Office and the Entertainment Centre.
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Athletics
Cathy Wadden Commitment Award
Christian Christie, a first-year outside hitter with the men’s volleyball team, from Langley, BC, was named the Male Athlete of the Year. Christie had a remarkable debut with the Green and Gold, earning the men’s volleyball Rookie of the Year, the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association’s Rookie of the Year award as well as a selection to the all-conference team. He finished the regular season with 126 kills, 60 digs, 12 blocks, and six service aces. His strong play was crucial in claiming the 2017-2018 ACAA title — he boasted 24 kills and 12 digs in the championship match against the Holland College Hurricanes.
STU Female Athlete of the Year Deidra Jones, a fifth-year left side hitter with the women’s volleyball team, from Coxheath, NS, was named Female Athlete of the Year. She earned an ACAA first team all-conference award and was second in the ACAA in service aces with 54, third in kills with 160, third in points with 224, and fourth in digs with 187. Her leadership was key for the young Tommies team that claimed a silver medal after a strong playoff run on home court. Jones was a force throughout that weekend, amassing 36 kills and 35 digs in three games.
John Frederick Walls Memorial Award Jonah Burridge, from Fort St. John, BC, was recognized with the John Frederick Walls Memorial Award. A member of the men’s volleyball and golf teams, the double Tommie earned the
Soccer Louisa Hughes John Hunter Nikita McCartney Victoria Muise Kaleigh Roberts Kyle Yearwood Rugby Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s National Scholar award for 20162017 and earned the distinction again this season while juggling the demands of the Bachelor of Education program. His dedication to the Tommies was evident on the court this season — after spending four years as libero, Burridge was moved to setter where he led a young volleyball squad to an ACAA title.
Conference Champions Our women’s soccer team brought home the ACAA championship banner this year. Our men’s volleyball team came in first to claim the program’s fifth ACAA championship in seven years!
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Abbie LeBlanc Shannon Morris Meghan Pollard Olivia Ricketts Jessica Sauter Basketball
Tommies conference best
STU Male Athlete of the Year
Taylor Cook, a fourth-year netminder with the women’s hockey team, from Brantford, ON, was the recipient of the Cathy Wadden Commitment Award. She made a considerable impact in the classroom and the community this year as a USPORTS Academic All-Canadian and Vice-President of the STU Student Athlete Council. In her position with STUSAC, she organized multiple activities, including a food drive that collected 2,000 items for the STU Food Bank and the Fredericton Food Bank at Greener Village. Cook was also involved in collecting hygiene products for incarcerated women and youth in the province, and worked with local athletes in high schools as well as the Brendon Oreto Hockey School.
Seventeen Tommies Among Conference Best for 2017-2018
Jessica Patenaude Hockey Olivia Reid Alex Woods Volleyball Christian Christie Deidra Jones Megan Mills
Four Tommies earn CCAA Academic All-Canadian awards Christian Christie Victoria Muise Jessica Patenaude Kaleigh Roberts
Summer 2018
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Theatre
What’s Next? cast and crew
at a Glance
Theatre St. Thomas produced the three winners of its playwriting festival, What’s Next?: And Above All, I Love this City, and Thieves of Paradise.
And Above All by Thomas MacDougall Directed by Samuel Crowell It is 8:38 am in a small Nevada town and all seems peaceful, but the shadow of communism is lurking in America. Nuclear war threatens! But remain calm. Richie’s Convenience serves as a designated safe zone.
The St. Thomas Early English Drama Society presented the Greek comedy, Lysistrata, a play about women who withhold sex from their husbands and lovers with hopes of forcing the men to negotiate peace and end the Cold War.
Photo by: Seamus Lee Hayes Artwork
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Thieves of Paradise
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead In this witty existential tragicomedy, presented by Theatre St. Thomas, the spotlight is turned on the minor characters of Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Follow Hamlet’s childhood friends turned conspirators as they weave their way through the plot of Hamlet, unaware of their scripted lives and their inability to deviate from them. Photo by: Kyle Albright
Lysistrata
Photo by: André Reinders
by Louis Anthony Bryan Directed by Esther Soucoup When a young online celebrity goes missing, private investigator Ambrose Holiday seeks a partnership with Sonny Elmore at the Bright Young Things café. The first chapter in a serial detective story, I Love This City shows the origins of a beautiful friendship. Photo by: André Reinders
Photo by: André Reinders
I Love this City
by Michael Pallotto Directed by Laura-Beth Bird Based on a true story, Thieves of Paradise animates the historical theft of St. Nicolas’ relics from a Turkish church in 1087. But when things turn violent and a powerful storm threatens their journey home, the faith of the thieves is tested.
Urinetown STU Musical Theatre presented Urinetown. What is Urinetown about, you ask? Think about all the everyday things we take for granted that we need to live, like food, heat, and water. We can’t control these needs, yet we all still have to pay for them. Now, think of a world where you can’t even use the bathroom without having to pull out your wallet! Can you imagine the things that it would drive some people to do? Greed! Rebellion! Spontaneous singing!
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Photo by: Kyle Albright
Campus Watch
Faculty Highlights
New Brunswick Innovation Foundation Funding Dr. Clive Baldwin and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Narrative have earned $50,000 from the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation to develop a program on narrative care. The research team, consisting of Dr. Baldwin, Canada Research Chair in Narrative Studies, Dr. Bill Randall (Gerontology), Dr. Gul Caliskan (Sociology), Dolores Furlong (UNB Nursing), Dr. Marcea Ingersoll (School of Education), and Dr. Matte Robinson (English), is working to develop a program that will bring proven benefits of narrative care — or life-story work — to health care providers.
Campaign for St. Thomas
Leadership Team
The New Brunswick Literature Curriculum in English Dr. Tony Tremblay’s new project, the New Brunswick Literature Curriculum in English, is a free web resource for teachers, students, and others interested in learning more about New Brunswick literature. Designed for use in New Brunswick high schools, the curriculum features 44 authors and poets who were from, lived in, or wrote about the province, such as modernist poet Elizabeth Brewster and Miramichi author Ray Fraser. It includes selected readings, biographical information, and strategies for teachers who wish to use the material in their classrooms. www.stu.ca/nblce
New Deans Last summer, Dr. Susan Machum (BA’87) was appointed dean of social sciences. She came to STU in 2000 to teach sociology and was Canada Research Chair in Rural Social Justice from 2006 to 2016. Following a national search, Dr. André Loiselle has been appointed dean of humanities. Loiselle was a professor in the School for Studies in Art and Culture at Carleton University where he has taught courses on horror cinema, film theory, and Canadian cinema. He has extensive administrative experience serving at Carleton University.
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s we prepare to launch the most significant campaign for funds in the history of St. Thomas University, we are fortunate to be joined by an outstanding group of volunteers who have offered their leadership and commitment to help. These are people with seemingly little connection to STU, at least not by virtue of their graduation from the university, but if we look a little more deeply, it is not hard to find the commonality which brings them together — they care deeply about the Atlantic Provinces and its people. With their understanding that education is both a great leveler and a ‘leg up,’ they are able to put their collective energies behind furthering opportunities for post-secondary education.
Our leaders and supporters see in St. Thomas a university which is worthy of their investment, because they believe in the vision and leadership of our President and Board of Governors, the outstanding students we graduate, and the achievements of our alumni. This is a university which has earned their respect. If we believe in the adage that ‘we are known by the company we keep,’ then we are in good company indeed. St. Thomas is thrilled to have the support of the Right Honorable Brian Mulroney, the Honorable Frank McKenna, John Bragg, the Honorable Graydon Nicholas, Ann Evans, the Arthur Irving family, Peter Forestell, Vaughn Sturgeon, Bill Whalen, and Chuck Firlotte.
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Summer 2018
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New & Noteworthy 1970s
Robert McNeil, BA’73, BEd’74, received the Museum Heritage of New Brunswick Award from the Museums of New Brunswick Association at their annual meeting in Edmundston in October 2017 for his work on local history over a number of years. He also received the Martha J. Harvey Award from the York Sunbury Historical Society in December 2017 for projects he has done with the Fredericton Region Museum and the Fredericton North Heritage Association. Bob lives in Fredericton with his wife Marianne. They raised their family of six here and now have eight grandchildren.
2000s
Marlene Floyd, BA’00, was named to the 40 Under 40 list by The Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa Business Journal. This list recognizes accomplished and rising business leaders under the age of 40 in the National Capital Region.
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News from classmates and friends around the world
In 2016, Tianna Butler, BA’02, returned home to Newfoundland after several years of working as a teacher in Fort McMurray. She has been working in community organizations, and is the current Band Support Officer for No’kmaq Village (Flat Bay Band). She has also recently been elected as Vice-Chief of Indian Head First Nation and is continuing with her motivational speaking work. Jennifer Whelan-Gorham, BA’04, owner of Savi Jewelry in Fredericton, showcased her jewelry line in Hollywood leading up to the Golden Globes. She was contacted by Valerie Guerrero from The Artisan Group located in Hollywood, California, who found her work on Etsy.com. Guerrero asked her to send 90 pairs of pearl earrings to be presented as gifts to nominees and presenters of the 2018 Golden Globe Awards at an invitation-only celebrity gift lounge in Beverly Hills. All attending celebrities, media and other VIPs received her jewelry in their gift bags.
St. Thomas University | Connections
Ashley Bursey, BA’08, married Mitchell Bernard on August 26, 2017 in Ashley’s hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland. They met while both working for the UNB student newspaper, The Brunswickan. The couple now lives in Toronto, where Ashley is Manager of Communications with the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman.
Kate Butler, BA’06, launched She Said Feck Records, a record label and management company based in Fredericton, NB.
In Memoriam 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:
2010s
Jenna-Mae Soucoup, BA’15, and Zachary Tingley, BA’15, were married on August 5, 2017. Jenna-Mae is teaching grade 1 French immersion in Nova Scotia and Zach graduated with his master’s degree in history from the University of New Brunswick in October and is working on a book with his research. Seen in the photo with Zach’s parents, John Tingley, BA’88 and Paulette (Boulos) Tingley, BA’88.
Marion Elizabeth Matchett, BA’88
Phyllis Georgie MacMillan, BT’71, BA’73 March 4, 2018
Dustin Richard Kenneth McCormack, non-degree March 2, 2018
Rhoda Grace Colford, former staff member February 21, 2018
Dr. Laura McKendy, BA’10, successfully defended her PhD in Sociology on January 8 at Carleton University. Laura’s dissertation was titled, “The Pains of Jail Imprisonment: Experiences at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre.”
in memoriam
April 9, 2018
Philip Drost, BA’15, was honoured by Sports NB with the award for “Outstanding Media Coverage.”
Nathan DeLong, BA’17, is working on a book on the history of Woodstock, NB. If anyone has stories, memories, or old photos of the area that they would like to share, send them to anathandelong@gmail.com.
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RTDNA Canada Awards for the East Region
Breaking News Radio – CBC Radio Labrador
Congratulations to STU alumni Angela Gilbert (BA’08), Karissa Donkin (BA’12), Viola Pruss (BA’12), and Shane Fowler (BA’12) on winning RTDNA Canada Awards for the East Region.
Morning Team (CBC NL) Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, which includes alumni Bailey White (BA’10) and Matt McCann (STU ’06-’09) for “Mud Lake evacuation”
Enterprise Reporting: Print – Karissa Donkin (BA’12) and Shane Fowler (BA’12) for “The lost children” (CBC NB)
February 8, 2018
Msgr. Joseph Woods, BA’43 November 29, 2017
Kathryn June (Gallagher) Saunders, BA’93, BEd’94 November 23, 2017
Journalismat Awards a Glance Atlantic Journalism Awards
Allard “Mike” August McCarthy, BA’56
Stacy Shirley Lynn (Monteith) Coles, BA’12 November 17, 2017
Candace Michelle Morrison, BA’84 October 30, 2017
Marc Carey Cauthers, BEd’95 April 30, 2017
Sports Reporting: Any Medium – Maria Jose Burgos (BA’17) for “Transgender athletes thwarted in pursuit of university sports” (CBC NB)
Jim MacNeill New Journalist Award – Maria Jose Burgos (BA’17) – show of work
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Summer 2018
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STU ALUMNI AWARDS
STU’s Alumni Recognition Program acknowledges and celebrates outstanding achievements and contributions of our alumni.
Call for Nominations Alumni Association Award for Service
The St. Thomas University Alumni Association Award for Service recognizes the exemplary engagement of St. Thomas alumni in helping to advance the aims and objectives of the Alumni Association and the overall reputation of the University. This outstanding record of service has been both dynamic and instrumental in strengthening the Alumni Association and thereby contributing to the betterment of our alma mater.
Deadline for nominations is August 31, 2018. The award will be bestowed at Alumni Weekend (October 19-21) Visit STU.ca/alumniawards for more information about the award guidelines and to download the nomination package.
Attention Teachers: Return to Teach in New Brunswick
The New Brunswick Anglophone School Districts are seeking qualified candidates for French Second Language teaching positions for the 2018-2019 school year, Grades 1-12. For more information, please visit: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/education/k12/content/promos/FSLTeachingPositions.html
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Organic
Be Part of the Future 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. 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.
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St. Thomas University is partnering with SALTSCAPES – Canada’s East Coast Magazine. You get 6 glorious issues of SALTSCAPES plus an annual Food & Travel Guide plus 2 specialty publications – Living Healthy in Atlantic Canada, and Good Taste. The St. Thomas University Alumni Association gets a subscription rebate for every subscription purchased.
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Simply: • Go to Subscriber Services at SALTSCAPES.com • Click on Order A Subscription to support my Alumni • Use Alumni Code: ALUMSTU Or call the friendly SALTSCAPES Customer Care Team at 1-877-885-6344; or email subscriptions@saltscapes.com ***
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 to you, depending on your financial situation.
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Don’t forget to mention your Alumni Code ALMSTU to get 28% off the cover price ($27.95 plus tax), including a FREE cookbook, AND to provide your Alumni Association with a subscription rebate.
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.
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A Planned Gift that Benefits our Students Joyce E. and Alan B. McLean generously supported many charitable causes during their lifetimes, ensuring that a number of organizations would benefit from their donations for years to come, with significant bequests to healthcare, social service organizations, community foundations, and education. Although neither Joyce nor Alan McLean were graduates of St. Thomas, their strong support of education, and in particular, the need for enhanced student aid, was evident in their bequest to the University. This gift will directly and immediately impact students at St. Thomas by way of enhanced bursary offerings supported by donations to the STU Fund.
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To mak a gift e
that will s visit ww upport students , w.stu.c a/givin g or ca 506-45 ll 2-0645
Supporting the STU Fund makes an impact for students today. Your gift helps to make possible such things as: Scholarships and Bursaries Travel Study Programs Experiential Learning Opportunities Mentorship, Tutoring & Writing Workshops
Thank You.
“Few things in my life have been as rewarding as founding the first Canadian Global Brigades Human Rights Chapter here at STU. After leading a team of 17 students who supported pro bono lawyers and delivered educational workshops to dozens of people in rural Panama, I realize STU gives you all the tools and knowledge to make a real impact in the world.”
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– Jimy Beltran, BA’18, is a founding member of STU Global Brigades. The group’s trip to Panama was supported by the STU Fund.
“Because of moot court, I know law is my calling. It has allowed me to develop a deep respect and passion for law, and to have made it to the national competition in my first year of competing shows me I have what it takes. It is entirely motivating to have a plan for my future because of this experience.” – Emma Walsh, BA’19, competed with STU’s Moot Court team at the American Moot Court Association Nationals.
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 645 of Adva at 506-452-0 s Relation mni@stu.ca. or alu