STU Alumni & Friends
Summer 2022
Cathy Pictou, BSW’20
INSIDE Dr. Manju Varma Champions Diversity and Inclusion New Mural Celebrates People of STU
Follow Your Dreams Cathy Pictou Reflects on her Journey
THE DATE
SAVE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22
Reception 6 pm | Dinner 7 pm Delta Fredericton Black Tie Optional
PRESENTING SPONSOR: Gulliver Advisory Group
HONOURING THE CAROLYN LAYDEN-STEVENSON DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS
NORMAN BOSSE BA’76, BEd’77
TICKETS
HON. NICOLE ANGERS BA’96
$150 each or $1,000 for a table of 8 $50 for students or alumni who graduated since 2012
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St. Thomas University | Connections
HARRY FORESTELL BA’84
RESERVE NOW
506.452.0645 eoleksuk@stu.ca www.stu.ca/gala
Contents
We welcome your comments Phone: 506.452.0521 Email: alumni@stu.ca Website: www.stu.ca Facebook: St. Thomas University Alumni Twitter: @StThomasAlumni LinkedIn: St. Thomas University (CA)
4 Alumni Association 6 Giving News 8 Cover Story 9 Profiles 13 Campus Watch 23 New & Noteworthy
Connections is a publication of the
Publisher Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, St. Thomas University Editor Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08 Acknowledgements Ashlen Albright, BA’09 Wanda Bearresto, BA’87 Angela Bosse, BA’18 Jeffrey Carleton Dionne Izzard Kathleen Johnson, BA’13 Eric Lewis Jodi Misheal Emily Oleksuk, BA’20 Photos Keith Minchin Design, Layout, Printing Karen Smith Design KarenSmithDesign66@gmail.com Rocket Rocket.ink
Alumni Association Board of Directors 2021-2022 Jane Abernethy, BT’73, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Don Bossé, BA’82, BEd’83 (Fredericton, NB) Steven Butler, BA’14 (Saint John, NB) Dr. Dawne Clarke, BA’95 (Fredericton, NB) Mary Beth Gorey, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Alaina Mejia, BA’21 (Corner Brook, NL) Suzanne Lalla-Murphy, BA’88 (Fredericton, NB) Dennis Livingstone, BA’73 (Riverview, NB) Sabrina Sotiriu, BA’10 (Ottawa, ON) Margaret (Margie) Tracy, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Nora Valentino, BA’87 (Fredericton, NB) Melissa Wah, BA’10 (Fredericton, NB) Brianna Workman, BA’19 (Ottawa ON)
F E AT U R E S
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 13,000 St. Thomas University alumni and friends worldwide.
Thanks
Note of President and ViceChancellor, Dawn Russell
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he pomp and ceremony, energy, and optimism of graduation was on full display as we celebrated Spring Convocation 2022. Four years of study, meeting life-long friends, and discovering a passion for learning, culminated with the granting of degrees to more than 300 graduates. The presence of family and supporters for the first time in two years added to the excitement at this traditional rite of passage. Many members of the classes of 2021 and 2020 also returned to ‘walk the stage.’ These alumni came from across Canada, as well as South America, Africa, and Asia, and we were honoured to have their participation. The celebratory mood at Spring Convocation carried over from the successful second semester as we began the return to inperson teaching and traditional campus life; we attended academic events, cheered on the Tommies at sporting events, enjoyed the performances of our musicians and actors, and saw students connect with each other. For the graduates of 2022, the last few years have been anything but normal. However, they adapted, persevered, and succeeded. This issue of Connections highlights the successes of alumni in stories that will inspire them with the opportunities that lay ahead. Like the 15,000 STU graduates who have gone before, members of the class of 2022 will find their way to an exciting and fulfilling future. My thanks to the faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of STU who help make that possible.
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If You Have a Dream, Follow It Cathy Pictou
reflects on her journey to becoming a social worker in her community.
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Matchmaking for Professionals Guillaume
Miszczak launched the recruitment agency, MT Talent Solutions.
From Criminology
to Software
…and Oysters
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Luke Megarity is the President of iTacit and launched the Boss Gibson Oyster Company.
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Championing
Diversity and
Inclusion
Dr. Manju Varma works to foster a more anti-racist society.
On the Cover: Cathy Pictou
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Summer 2022
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Alumni Association 2022 Harvest Pit Stop
Thursday, September 15, 2022 6:00pm – 8:00pm Crowne Plaza, St. Croix Room 659 Queen St., Fredericton, NB
Tommies Soccer Alumni Weekend Friday, September 30, 2022 – Sunday. October 2, 2022
Save The Date
STUAA AGM
Saturday, October 1, 2022 10:00am Atlantic Pre-register by Wednesday, September 28, 2022 by email at alumni@stu.ca or by calling Wanda at 506.452.0521.
Alumni Women’s Volleyball Weekend November 11-12, 2022
Alumni Women’s Hockey Weekend January 28-29, 2023
Alumni Men’s and Women’s Basketball Weekend March 3-5, 2023
Alumni Men’s and Women’s Rugby More details to come
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Keep an eye on STU.ca/alumni and social media for events in your area and on campus
For additional information on these events, please contact the Alumni Relations Office by email wbearresto@stu.ca or phone 506.452.0521.
Message from T-Ring Winners the STUAA K President Dennis Livingstone
ryssonia Wedderburn (BA’22) and Elizabeth Doherty (BA’22) are this year’s recipients of T-Rings from the Alumni Association.
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ne of my great joys of being “retired” is that I now can spend more time reading. Peter Mansbridge’s recent book, Off the Record, was an informative and inspirational book. Part III of his book is simply “Canada.” A question Mansbridge is often asked at his speaking engagements deals with the question, “What is a Canadian? How are we different from our neighbour to the south?” The answer is Canada cares. In the same way, I can say that St. Thomas University cares. In our student days, our professors cared and nurtured our academic development. Our critical thinking skills were enriched. Armed with this solid background we were able to strive forward. Hard work and our perseverance coupled with our STU experience fostered that caring attitude. As we move on our life’s journey, let us stop and reflect on all the positives in our lives. Let us encourage the best in others. How can we make the world a better place?
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“As an international student, the support that STU professors, administrators and students have provided me has helped me to feel welcome and at home in a place that is not necessarily my home. For me, a T-Ring is a symbol of community. It is a physical representation of not only my hard work, but the hard work of many that has been poured into me. It is a symbol of the place that has now become my home and people that I now call my family. I will wear this T-Ring with pride as I am honoured to be a STU alumna.” – Kryssonia Wedderburn
“I first enrolled full-time at STU in September 2002. Over the next number of years, I was forced to reduce my course load, to allow me to balance my studies with full-time employment. Subsequently, due to health concerns, I was forced to drop out of my program and was not able to return to STU until September of 2019, after a ten-year hiatus. While I have excelled in my studies, and with the end of my studies finally in sight, it was disheartening to me to be in a position of not being able to obtain a T-Ring, due to financial barriers that were largely beyond my control. The generosity of the STU Alumni Association has changed that and while it has taken me nearly twenty years to see my degree through to completion, I will be able to proudly sport my T-Ring for many years to come.” – Elizabeth Doherty
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St. Thomas University | Connections
Father Tom Daley
Scholarship T
he recipient of the Father Tom Daley Scholarship in 2022 was Gabriel Marquez. “I want to express my gratitude to the STU alumni community for selecting me for the Rev. Thomas J. Daley Memorial Scholarship. Receiving this prize made me appreciate the academic efforts I have made throughout my undergraduate career and the personal growth I have gained at St. Thomas.” – Gabriel Marquez
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Lost Alumni Contest
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tephanie Ford (BA’18, BSW’20) and Erica Sourtzis (BA’05) were the lucky winners of our Lost Alumni Contest. Stephanie already had her diplomas framed, so she wanted to give her frame to the 2022 Grad Class President Tory Desroche, who was thrilled to receive the frame from Stephanie!
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Summer 2022
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Giving News
Great Hall Mural Depicts the People Who Make STU
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St. Thomas University | Connections
The mural is made possible by the STU Alumni Association. The idea was raised with Bill by then-President of the Alumni Association Margaret Tracy, BA’75. The Association had pledged a gift to the University’s campaign and were considering ideas for campus beautification. He thought the timing was perfect, and he offered to donate his time and expertise as a gift to his alma mater. “When I visited the newly-renovated Great Hall, I saw a blank space on the back wall which I viewed as a canvas waiting to be filled.” The mural concept is a triptych, a work of art divided into three sections. Each section is a variation on a theme. They celebrate students engaged in activities which highlight arts, culture, and sports in the flanking panels, and academics, diversity, and ideals in the larger centre panel. Student Laura Forrester, BA’22 was
instrumental in laying the groundwork for the finished mural. She was recommended as someone who could assist on the project. After delays brought on by the pandemic, Laura worked with Bill over 12 months to bring his vision to life. “The murals are a reflection of growth, development, community. In the end, it always comes back to our school, to coming home again. I was delighted to be able to give this mural as my gift to the University. For all that St. Thomas gave to me, this was my chance to offer repayment in the best way I know how,” said Bill.
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“Since i St. Tho ts inception, m instille as has d the edu students wi th confid cation and en their p ce to make la world ces in the — this them, it is th is about e who m ake the people place.”
Photo by: Keith Minchin
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ince 1968, Bill Johnson has worked in the visual arts “in one way or another,” and a new mural in the Great Hall has taken him back to where he began. As editor of The Aquinian, he was prepared for his first job as writer and illustrator for The Daily Gleaner. His work took him to Toronto as a framer and art conservator, and he later travelled Europe. Bill would subsequently work as a courtroom artist for CTV, book cover designer for Nimbus Publishing, assistant editor of the Atlantic Advocate, freelance artist and designer, and creative director with Atlantic Superstore. He has been a full-time artist since 1995 and has exhibited in Toronto, Oakville, Fredericton, Saint John, and Halifax. His works are owned by collectors across North America.
Photo courtesy of Alyssia’s father: Richard Paul
Photo by: Keith Minchin
Alyssia Paul Memorial Bursary
Historic Stained-Glass Panels in the Chapel A
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Photo by: Keith Minchin
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addened by the tragic death of Alyssia Paul, who died crossing the Trans Canada Highway on September 7, 2018, alumni John and Diana Cowland felt obligated to do something to honour this young woman’s life. Having personal ties to Kingsclear First Nation, John and Diana wanted to honour her in a way that would directly impact her community. John described Alyssia’s death as “a tragic loss of an unfulfilled life” compelling them to establish an endowed bursary in her name that would support students from Kingsclear First Nation.
master stained-glass artist and conservator, Ned Bowes, BA’73, has been working with stainedglass for four decades. One of the most respected restoration experts in the country, Bowes is regularly called upon for his expertise and has earned many national and international awards, including the title “Maitre de Vitraux” from the American Stained-Glass Institute. Ned received the Carolyn Layden-Stevenson Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019. Last year, Ned gifted his alma mater with a magnificent chandelier which now hangs in the Great Hall. His cleaning, repairing, and restoring of the 7,000 crystals took more than 100 hours. (See Connections Autumn 2021) In the fall of 2021, Ned approached STU to ask if we would accept the gift of 12 stained-glass panels which had been removed from a church in Saint John. The work of Nathaniel T. Lyon, these windows are 120 years old. An Irish immigrant, Lyon was involved in the design and building of the windows in the Peace Tower in Ottawa, which are considered among the best examples of work of this era. Ned spent six months restoring the panels, which are now installed in custom-built frames in the windows of the University Chapel. Attendees of the 2022 Baccalaureate Mass were among the first to attend a service following the installation of these beautiful and lovinglyrestored windows.
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Summer 2022
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Cover Story
by Angela Bosse, BA’18
If You Have a Dream, Follow It
Cathy Pictou Reflects on her Journey to Becoming a Social Worker in her Community
Submitted photo
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n October 2015, at 52 years young, Cathy Pictou, a first-year Mi’kmaq student from Eel River Bar First Nation, stood in the middle of the St. Thomas University campus, arms raised, asking her Creator why she was there. “I cannot do this work. I don’t understand the material or the academic language. The other students are all in their twenties. How can I keep up or compete?” Pictou said she remembers thinking that day. “Just at that moment, a huge bald eagle flew over me and glided over campus. The voice that spoke to me said, ‘Cathy you are not here for the younger students, you are here for yourself. Just think of all the hard work you had to do to get to STU. You can do this,’” she said. Flash forward seven years, and Pictou, now a graduate of the Mi’kmaq Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work (MMBSW), has been working in her community as a full-time Social Worker with Eel River Bar First Nation’s Child and Family Services for two years. “Never let anyone tell you that you’re too old to live your dream. As long as you have courage, determination, and support, you’ve got this.” Pictou started her first office job at age 40, working for the addictions program in her community. During that time, she learned to help community members struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, doing research, attending workshops and consulting with other
St. Thomas University | Connections
addictions workers. She provided supportive energy and an ear to listen to others’ problems – but did not have the authority to help them further. “These people felt safe with me; they knew my worth. I understood where they were coming from with their inner pain,” she said. It was at this point Pictou said she realized there was more for her to do. After taking a psychology and social work course, Pictou decided to get her social work degree. A quick Google search brought her to the Mi’kmaq Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work program at St. Thomas University. Pictou applied to STU for her Bachelor of Arts as the first person in her family to go to university. She said the Wabanaki Student Centre at STU, as well as Elder-inResidence Miigam’agan, other Indigenous students, and the community of St. Mary’s became her support system. Pictou then moved on to the MMBSW program at STU. The three-year program is designed to allow students to continue to live and work in their communities, commuting to Fredericton for a week of intensive learning each month, and then having the rest of the time to complete assignments at home, be with their families, and work. When she started her path in social work, Pictou wasn’t sure exactly what kind of work she’d end up doing. She said she’s grateful to be where she is today. Pictou works with guardianship, preparing new foster parents for their role and doing home assessments. She said she enjoys how collaborative and supportive her team is, and that she gets to learn something new each day. While Pictou said her story shows age is not a factor in pursuing any dream, her advice for others is to act sooner rather than later. She said her next goal is to eventually get her master’s degree. “If you have a dream, follow it, and find that courage to step forward. Face your fears, they are not as bad as we think. Know your worth and live your life.”
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Profiles
by Eric Lewis
STU Alum Says Recruitment Firm
is Matchmaking for Professionals Submitted photo
T
hree years into his teaching career, Guillaume Miszczak missed the competitive edge he enjoyed during his hockey days with the St. Thomas University Tommies. A three-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport Academic AllCanadian, Miszczak graduated from STU with a Bachelor of Arts (2010) and Education (2011) and began teaching around the region, at Fredericton High School, Leo Hayes High School, and Nashwaaksis Middle School. “But the more I was teaching, the more I realized it was not satisfying my competitive edge,” he says. A friend convinced Miszczak to move to Toronto for an entry-level job at a corporate recruiting firm. Through sales and recruitment, Miszczak found his competitive spark again and quickly moved up the ranks, taking on a portfolio of national clients including Fortune 500 companies. After five years, the natural next step in his career came in early 2021 when Miszczak and his colleague Stacy Towers decided to leave the firm and launch MT Talent Solutions, a recruitment agency “with a focus on a consultative and holistic approach” with candidates and clients across Canada. “It’s matchmaking for professionals,” Miszczak says. The business partners launched MT Talent Solutions in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when hiring was not a priority for many corporations. Whether working for his previous employer or launching a new business, Miszczak knew rebuilding was in his future. “I felt that if I had to do that, I’d rather do it on my own,” he says with a laugh. “Worst case scenario, I fail and I can go work somewhere else. We both had a high level of confidence in our abilities even though the market was not the best. We felt our knowledge on industry trends and insights on hiring practices would prevail.” Through a strong network built over time on platforms like LinkedIn and with many client referrals, the new business was able to grow quickly, hitting over $1 million in revenue and hiring 10 people in its first eight months. Miszczak was named Canada’s #1 Agency Recruiter for 2021 by Top Recruiter Awards, an organization that recognizes and elevates the best recruiters in over 30 industries and 50+ cities across
North America. “We’re very compassionate people,” Miszczak says about his company’s approach. “We have integrity and empathy with people we hire. We are always looking for people who are curious in nature and are passionate about helping people secure their dream career. “In the current job market, it’s necessary to learn more about you, the job seeker, and find the best way possible to place you in a position that would work best for your skill set. We’re also focusing on the soft skills that you have that might be transferable to different companies. When a company hires us to recruit for them, we do a lot of research to find out about the company and the people within the team and then we find the people that match.” MT Talent Solutions has plans to grow to 25 employees this year with a long-term plan of launching branches around the country. Miszczak looks back fondly on his STU days, both in the classroom and on the ice. He credits his professors for teaching him life skills, critical thinking, and relationship building and his hockey teammates for team-building skills.
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Summer 2022
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by Eric Lewis
From Criminology to Software…and Oysters W
Photo by: Keith Minchin
When Luke Megarity began university at St. Thomas in 2006, he envisioned a career ahead as a police officer. Today, he is the president and chief operating officer of a successful technology company in Fredericton with a “hobby project” selling oysters around the world. It wasn’t the journey he anticipated, but Megarity today beams with pride talking about his roles at iTacit and the Boss Gibson Oyster Company. “Days are challenging and long, but it’s all worth it when you really enjoy doing what you do,” the Fredericton native says. While studying Criminology at STU, Megarity landed a job as campus brand ambassador with PMA Canada. He quickly
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St. Thomas University | Connections
developed a passion for business and, upon graduation, was offered a full-time job with the company. Over the next few years, Megarity worked in sales and business development for a variety of organizations in manufacturing and technology, traveling to more than 30 countries in the process. Wherever he traveled, he proudly stated that he was from the east coast of Canada. “Most people around the world don’t know where New Brunswick is… but if you tell someone you’re from the east coast of Canada, their eyes light up,” he says. “They say, ‘you guys have amazing seafood.’” Those frequent comments about New Brunswick seafood combined with a love for food and food culture sparked an idea that, in summer 2017, Megarity and fellow Criminology graduate Andrew Hadley turned into the Boss Gibson Oyster Company. They sourced oysters farmed in northern New Brunswick and developed wooden packaging produced by small sawmills across the province. By the end of the year, Boss Gibson began selling oysters around the world. “You can market an oyster like you can market a nice wine or a nice whisky,” Megarity says. The business nearly closed its doors when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 as restaurants across North America shut down virtually overnight. “Oysters are a type of food that a lot of people don’t eat at home,” Megarity says, noting
that Boss Gibson went from shipping thousands of oysters a week to zero. The business partners maintained good relationships with clients throughout the pandemic and when restaurants began to reopen to full capacity again, Boss Gibson was “back with a vengeance.” The company’s products are now available throughout Canada and the United States and were recently introduced in Singapore. “We started Boss Gibson with a $2,000 investment, and we’re very proud of where that $2,000 has taken it,” Megarity says. “We’re just having an absolute ball. We get to travel, we get to meet people, and we get to talk about New Brunswick.” Selling oysters is a passion for Megarity, but it remains his “hobby project.” By day, he is the president and chief operating officer of iTacit, the Fredericton software development company. Megarity was hired in 2018 to turn the struggling company around. At 30 years old, Megarity was iTacit’s youngest employee and its new president. “I’ve rebuilt, restructured, and reorganized the company,” he said. “We rebuilt some of the technology. We took it from a difficult spot to a great spot in about 3.5 years. We’re not just in health care anymore; we’re in logistics, banking, insurance, retail and pretty much everything else.” iTacit’s front-line employee platform and learning management system was recently named a Top Ten Mobile LMS and Compliance Training LMS by eLearning Industry for 2022. While he ultimately didn’t pursue a career in policing, Megarity says the liberal arts education he received at St. Thomas taught him “to think outside the box,” how to research, and how to build relationships – all essential for his entrepreneurial success. “STU is where I created some of the best relationships I have,” he says.
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Profiles
by Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08
Championing Diversity and Inclusion
Dr. Manju Varma Works to Foster an Anti-Racist Society
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r. Manju Varma spent decades championing diversity and inclusion to foster an anti-racist society. Despite growing up in New Brunswick as one of the only visible minority children in her school, it wasn’t until she was a teacher that she realized the importance of diversity and inclusion in the classroom. “I taught at the school at Elsipogtog and realized the provincial curriculum was at odds with these children’s experiences. The curriculum ignored their struggles, whether it was around poverty or high suicide rates.” She became interested in how culture and curriculum intersect. “When you’re part of the dominant white population, it’s a privilege to be able to have your culture and your curriculum mesh. For a lot of people, and in retrospect for me, I realized it wasn’t the case.” She followed this interest to the University of Toronto where she completed her PhD in Education, focusing on diversity and antiracism. She returned to New Brunswick to work for
the Department of Canadian Heritage in the Government of Canada. “The research I was reading was about Toronto or Vancouver, places where there is huge visible diversity. I was thinking ‘that isn’t my experience at all.’ So my work – even now – has been on anti-racism in ‘predominantly white areas’ such as New Brunswick.” She taught in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick for eight years before returning to government. She worked for the Department of Canadian Heritage, Corrections, and most recently, for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, where she is the lead for the Office of Inclusion, Equity and Anti-Racism. The Province of New Brunswick appointed Varma its Commissioner on Systemic Racism in 2021 with the mandate to report on the nature and impact of systemic racism in the province and make recommendations for improvement. It is the first role of its kind in Canada. She has undertaken public consultations and will be releasing a report in September that will
Dr. Manju Varma, BA’90, BEd’92
have recommendations to address issues like barriers to opportunity; equitable access to programs and services; and systemic racism in health care, education, social development, housing, employment, and criminal justice. Varma is hopeful that more discussion around systemic racism will show the importance of diversity and inclusion in society. “From an economic perspective, we need to attract immigrants. We need to think of ways to diversify our talents and to be innovative and think in different ways. From a social justice perspective, we need an equitable society where people can work to their potential. From a public safety perspective, every time there’s someone advantaged, there’s someone disadvantaged. If we don’t help, if we don’t work on those issues, then that can become problematic with violence, with growth of drug use and gangs,” she said. “Think about what it is that you feel is the most important part of society, and I guarantee you there is a critical role for diversity and inclusion to play in that.”
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Summer 2022
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Profiles
by Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08
Evacuated Overseas
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Submitted photo
r. Bernard Mooney remembers the exact moment his life changed. He was walking from the St. Thomas College campus towards downtown Chatham when he heard church bells ring. “It was my birthday – May 8th
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– and I remember thinking ‘How do they know it’s my birthday?’ I thought, ‘What on earth is going on?’ When I got back to the college, it was the end of the war in Europe. It was May 8, 1945. That is etched upon my mind.” The bells meant Bernard could go home to his family in England. He was one of the millions of children who were evacuated from England during World War 2. As part of Operation Pied Piper, approximately 3.5 million British citizens – most of them children – were evacuated from urban centres that risked being bombed to rural areas in Britain, as well as overseas to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. Bernard and his younger brother Ged were sent to live with the McLellan family on Cameron Street in Moncton, NB. There, he
St. Thomas University | Connections
learned to skate and play hockey on the family’s outdoor rink. Two years into his stay in Moncton, the family had another baby and they no longer had space for Bernard to stay, so he moved to Chatham where he lived in the St. Thomas dormitories despite only being in Grade 8 and attending the local school. He attended St. Thomas College the following two years. Because he had learned to skate and play hockey in Moncton, he wanted to continue in Chatham. “St. Thomas College had a hockey team. But I was too young to play with them, so I got permission from the priest in charge to start a junior team. We managed to get permission to go with our team to play a team in town. It got us out of study periods, so I was the very popular captain of the junior team!” A budding chemist, young Bernard had the priest’s approval to spend his money on chemicals
From STU Archives
Dr. Bernard Mooney Reflects on his Time at St. Thomas during World War 2
and supplies to make homemade fireworks. “I had all this in my locker in the basement. When I think about it now, it shouldn’t have been allowed. But I was extremely careful. I used to just blow up jars and make fireworks,” he recalls. “There was a chemistry lab for the older students in the same building and I remember standing outside there thinking, ‘Oh I wish I could go in there’.” His love for chemistry continued once he returned home to England. He eventually got his doctorate and became an Electroanalytical Chemist. Later in life, he became a therapist who specializes in hypnotherapy and was a founding member of the British Association for the Person-Centred Approach. Though he returned to England after the war, his connection to Canada remained strong. For many years, he kept in touch with some of the boys he met at St. Thomas and with members of the McLellan family.
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Campus Watch STU Celebrates 2022 Spring Convocation
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avid Eno wants his fellow graduates to embrace their passion so they can live a fulfilled life. In his valedictory address, Eno spoke about the importance of doing what you love to the more than 300 graduates who received certificates and degrees in social work, applied arts, and arts at the 2022 Spring Convocation. There were also 70 alumni from the classes of 2020 and 2021 in attendance to celebrate their graduation. “Now, as you go off into the world, you must ask yourself, ‘what is important to me, and what is worth protecting, what am I passionate about?’ The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams, so dream loudly and boldly. By relentlessly pursuing your passion you can touch the lives of countless people, leaving behind a real impact,” said Eno, who is from Lagos, Nigeria. During the ceremony, honorary degrees were bestowed upon Maggie Paul and Dr. Mary McCarthy-Brandt. Maggie Paul is a Passamaquoddy elder, teacher, and song carrier who
is known for her beautiful singing voice, her work preserving traditional songs, and using music to inspire and guide Indigenous youth. Dr. Mary McCarthy-Brandt is a Fredericton-based writer, educator, and historian dedicated to preserving the histories of Black New Brunswickers. Over the past decade, she has emerged as a prominent public University Medal for Arts commentator and has Emma Walker promoted greater from Hampton, NB. Bachelor of Arts – awareness of the Majors in Psychology and Criminology historical and current The University Medal for Academic contributions of Black Excellence in Arts New Brunswickers. is awarded to the
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Social Work Class of 2022 Celebrated at Convocation
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Virtual Convocation was held in February to celebrate the School of Social Work’s graduating class of 2022. Graduating students Dana Richardson and Lauren Ripley served as co-valedictorians. They reminded the 45 graduates to use the qualities and skills they developed at STU as they head into the field of social work. “We have learned throughout this program the many important values and principles of social work. This includes advocating, outsourcing, personal reflection, and group work,” Richardson said. “One of the main learnings that will continue to impact our future careers is
community. Social work is not only an individual profession but a cohesive one as well; we cannot advance in this career without the help and support of each other.” The Hon. Graydon Nicholas, Chancellor and Endowed Chair in Native Studies, was the guest speaker and spoke to the graduates about being leaders in society. Both the University Medal for Academic Excellence in the Bachelor of Social Work and the Fay Nagler Levine Memorial Prize went to Lauren Ripley of Sydney, NS.
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graduating student with the highest overall standing in the Bachelor of Arts program. The medal, the highest Arts award given by St. Thomas University, is made possible by an endowment created by President Emeritus Dr. Daniel O’Brien and his family.
Governor General’s Academic Medal
Tabatha Blaney-Gale from Fredericton, NB. Bachelor of Arts – Honours in Psychology The Governor General’s Medal, established in 1873, is one of the most prestigious awards that can be received by a student in a Canadian educational institution. It is presented to the student with the highest academic standing in the graduating class.
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Summer 2022
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Liberal Arts in Action – Internships
Student Research and Ideas Fair
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TU’s internship program allows students to put their knowledge to work while they are still studying. Student placements offer personalized opportunities with organizations that focus on advocacy and social responsibility, economic development, business, journalism, policy, marketing, and environmental sustainability. In 2021-22, students were placed in 144 paid and for-credit internships.
“A highlight for me has been finding out the mental health supports that exist in the community – places and services I didn’t know about.” – Shirley Andow interned with the Capital Region Mental Health and Addictions Association
“I absolutely love and appreciate the time I get to spend with residents at York Care Centre. I’m grateful to be working in a position that surrounds me with so many interesting individuals I can learn from.” – Robyn MacCara interned at the York Care Centre
“Every kid who grows up loving history and then going on to study history should consider archival work. It’s a rewarding experience to work in a field directly pertaining to what you’re studying. If you get a head start on that before you graduate, you do yourself a favour.” – Dexter Lathangue interned with the NB Provincial Archives
hirty-eight students presented their research or creative writing in the 18th Annual Student Research & Ideas Fair by giving a 15-minute paper presentation, a poster presentation, or presenting their work in a video or podcast. This annual event provides an opportunity for students to present the results of a substantive body of independent research, and to learn what is involved in academic conference participation.
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Julia Evans Selected for NB Legislative Internship Program
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ulia Evans was excited to gain hands-on experience in New Brunswick’s political and public policy landscape. The third-year Political Science and Human Rights student was selected as a participant in the New Brunswick Legislative Internship Program. “This is a such a meaningful opportunity,” Evans said. “Working as a Legislative Intern, I can take my theoretical knowledge of politics and apply this foundation to real and pressing public policy issues facing New Brunswick today.” The NBLIP was launched in 2019 to give students an immersive experience that would add a practical element to their in-class learning. Under the supervision of the Office of the Legislative Assembly, interns conduct research
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and provide other assistance to members of the Legislative Assembly, legislative committees, and to officers of the Assembly. “To be immersed in the daily working of these institutions is to appreciate how they operate in the particular events and problems of contemporary life,” said Dr. Tom Bateman, director of the NBLIP and political science professor at St. Thomas University. “A legislative intern is exposed to the crosspressures bearing on governments and MLAs, and how new ideas and challenges interact with established laws, norms, and administrative structures – it’s a bracing and intriguing practical introduction to the world of democratic government.”
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Orange Shirt Day
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TU commemorated Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday, September 29 as campus was closed on September 30 to observe the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day is a national movement for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together in the spirit of hope and reconciliation to honour former residential school students whose families and communities have been impacted by the policies and actions of the Government of Canada and churches that operated the schools.
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Sydona Chandon’s Photography in Art Exhibit
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ourth-year student, artist, and entrepreneur Sydona Chandon from Jamaica had four photographs featured in The Gallery on Queen’s new exhibition, DiasporART: Self Actualization. The inaugural exhibit, which was hosted in partnership with the New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance, featured the work of eight artists and celebrates Black identity in New Brunswick.
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Campus Watch Students Present Research at Conference
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hree students in the Spanish and Latin American Studies program discovered that their research could help them connect with scholars all over the world. Andrea Escober and Marcel Chamorro and recent graduate Lara Whalen presented their research at conferences – an experience they said was transformative. Andrea Escober presented her research paper at the International Congress on Foreign Languages, Communication, and Culture. “América Latina: cultura y Resistencia” (Latin America: culture and resistance) was on Latin American authors Eduardo Galeano, Rubén Dario and Roberto Cossa and their use of figurative forms of language to paint a panorama of Latin America’s hardships encountering dictatorships. Marcel Chamorro presented “El tremendismo en La Colmena de Camilo José Cela en el medio de la censura Franquista.” (The tremendisam in Camilo José Cela’s The Beehive during Franco’s censorship) to the Canadian Association of Hispanists. He also presented research on Camilo José de Cela at the Annual Symposium of Hispanists of the Atlantic Provinces. Recent graduate Lara Whalen also attended the Canadian Association of Hispanists conference, where she was awarded the Best Undergraduate Research Paper for her essay “La ausencia de nada en Nada por Carmen Laforet.” (“Nothing Missed in Carmen Laforet’s Nada”). She presented the awardwinning paper at the Annual Symposium of Hispanists of the Atlantic Provinces.
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Campus Watch
Moot Court Success Stetson Law School Environment Moot Court
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mily Green and Ashley Thornton won the North American Regional Round of the Stetson Law School Environment Moot Court. They both won speaker awards placing first during the final round (Ashley Thornton) and first during preliminary rounds (Emily Green) and they won best written legal memorials. They qualified for the international competition but lost in the quarterfinals to last year’s winners from the Law Society of Ireland School of Law. Emily Green placed third overall oralist at the event.
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Price Media
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TU Moot also competed at Oxford University’s Price Media Law Moot Court Competition. They were in the North American Round hosted by the University of Chicago. STU finished in the top 8. Patrice Cammarano, Maggie Jardine, Adelaide King, and Kassandra Trainor represented STU.
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Manfred Lachs Space Moot
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TU Moot had a quarterfinal finish at the Manfred Lachs Space Moot Competition, where Ethan Nylen and Oliver Larson represented STU.
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World Human Rights Moot Osgoode Cup
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aytra Waibel and Emma Ruiz were quarterfinalists for STU at the Osgoode Cup. STU had five teams in that tournament. Elisha Gunaratnam and Muchaneta Nyambuya also made the playoffs for STU (top 16 teams out of 72 total teams).
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fter being successful in the preliminary rounds in May, Laura Rea and Graci Young have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court. The event will be held in person in July in Geneva at the United Nations.
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Students Contributing to Projects on Federalism and Human Rights Law
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TU students studying human rights are part of a national research project examining local human rights issues in the context of international law. The project is led by Alex Neve, LLD’17, former Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, and Adjunct Professor of International Human Rights Law at the University of Ottawa and Dalhousie. He is supervising research teams as they examine the outcomes of United Nations-level human rights reviews to identify locally relevant issues. The students will also examine what mechanisms are in place at the provincial/ territorial level to ensure compliance. The local component is co-ordinated by STU’s Atlantic Human Rights Centre and is comprised of student research teams of Brianna Bourgeois and Elisha Gunaratnam who are studying New Brunswick, and Paytra Waibel and Graci Young who are studying PEI. The work involves research on provincial government and UN documents, interviews with government officials, lawyers, and civil and Indigenous groups, access to information requests, and a review of media reports and other sources. Except for STU, all other student research teams are from law schools across the country.
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MMBSW Program Social Action Fair
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tudents in STU’s Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work Program held a Social Action Fair in Sackville, NB in December. Students presented on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people; suicide prevention; breaking down stereotypes against Indigenous peoples; Indigenous wellness for university students; and harm reduction.
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he Black Students’ Association worked with the university to introduce the Kente Stole to Convocation to commemorate the differences and obstacles Black students overcome to graduate. The Kente Stole honours the legacy of Black ancestors and is a testament to each graduate’s strength and excellence. Adapted from African tradition in Ghana, this woven cloth, which was once only worn by royalty, is a scarf-like garment worn over the shoulder that represents an accomplishment, graduation, or other rite of passage.
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James Culligan Appointed Vice-President (Finance and Administration)
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ames Culligan has been appointed Vice-President (Finance and Administration). Culligan is a Chartered Professional Accountant. He joined STU following a successful career at Service New Brunswick where he held progressively responsible senior positions in accounting, budgeting, and administration. For six years, he was Executive Director of Finance and Administration overseeing a large operating and capital budget, as well as having responsibility for financial forecasting and reporting. He also has private sector experience having worked for Irving Transportation Services before joining SNB. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting) from UNB and holds designations from the Certified General Accountants of Canada.
Creative Writing Prizes 2022 Robert Clayton Casto Prize for Poetry
Salima Tourkmani-MacDonald for three poems: “Sundown Town,” “Tallahatchie Bridge,” and “You Don’t Talk Black.”
The David Adams Richards Prize for Prose Sorcha Beirne, for the short story “Gutting Fish.”
David Velensky Prize in Any Genre Prize split between two winners: Tiger Levi, for three poems: “Centerville, Columbia Falls, Maine,” “Daily Routine,” and “The Changing Seasons.” and Lindsay Ogg for “I Deserve This: Pro or Con”
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Florence Awde is 2022 Recipient of Tom McCann Memorial Trophy
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Pablo Costa wins Prix du Consulat général de France à Moncton et Halifax
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hird-year French and History Honours student Pablo Costa has won the 2022 Prix du Consulat général de France à Moncton et Halifax. This prize is awarded by the Consul General to a student who has demonstrated academic excellence in the study of French language and culture in the Atlantic provinces. “Being recognized for my writing and academic achievements is not only a huge honour, but also an encouragement. Sometimes it can be hard to believe in yourself when you are writing in your second language or trying something new in a creative way,” Costa said. “My experience at STU has taken my French to a whole other level. I was able to take classes that focused on writing and reading comprehension, so I have been able to significantly improve in those aspects of the language.”
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student athlete known for excellence in academics, athletics, and community service has received the top student award at St. Thomas University. Florence “Flo” Awde, from Mount Albert, Ontario has been named the Tom McCann Memorial Trophy recipient for 2022. The award is presented annually to a senior student who possesses strong leadership, character, and personality traits, and best portrays the spirit of the university through their contributions. “Flo achieved the highest standards in the classroom, on the ice, and in the community. Her intelligence, talent, and character were expanded and inspired through a liberal arts education – this truly embodies the spirit of the Tom McCann Award. From all of us, Florence, congratulations and thank you for your generosity towards STU and your classmates,” said Dawn Russell, President and Vice-Chancellor. “Earning this award means the world to me as St. Thomas embodies the values I have come to cherish and will take forward with me in my future education and life endeavours,” Awde said.
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TU Santas is an annual program for STU students with children (16 and under) who are in financial need during the holidays. Through the support of faculty, staff, and student donations, the program provides these students with financial assistance and gifts to bring a little extra joy to their holiday celebrations. This year’s STU Santas fundraising campaign raised $5,110 to support 48 children.
Dr. Vivien Zelazny, BA’06, Campus Minister and organizer of the campaign, said it’s rewarding to be part of an enthusiastic community of Santa’s helpers. “These students are balancing school, work, parenting, and other challenges, and can use a helping hand. STU Santas has become known as a heartwarming way for our STU community to step up and demonstrate its typical kindness and generosity.”
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STU Santas Program Helps Students with Children
Campus Watch
Lectures at STU
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r. John Borrows, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law, spoke about the “Resurgence of Indigenous Law in Canada” for the virtual Lodhi Memorial Lecture in Human Rights. The theme of this year’s Annual Endowed Chair in Criminology & Criminal Justice Symposium was “Interrogating Hate: From Minassian to the Military” and included talks by STU’s Endowed Chair in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Dr. Allyson Lunny (Law & Society, York University) and her guests Dr. David Hofmann (Sociology, UNB) and Arunita Das (PhD candidate in Socio-Legal Studies, York University).
Theatre at a Glance The Plain Site Theatre Festival The Plain Site Theatre Festival, founded and curated by Alex Rioux (BA’17), featured readings of the 2022 submission winners, mainstage productions of last year’s readings, and an online workshop with Jena Mclean. The festival, now in its third year, is dedicated to fostering new works from emerging queer artists.
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Black Box: Sweat
The Black Box Theatre presented a staged reading of Sweat, Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize winning play on the decline of industrial America. Directed by fourth-year student Nathanael Telman, this play beckons you into the small town of Reading, Pennsylvania, where humanity in all its beauty and chaos awaits.
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Cabaret
STU Musical Theatre returned to the Black Box with their production of Cabaret – the program’s first live, in-person performance since before the pandemic. Cabaret opened in 1966 and swept the world with its cautionary tale of complacency in the face of escalating levels of violence, racism, and intolerance. The story is set in a Berlin nightclub almost 100 years ago and asks the question: What would you do? And now, in this modern age, is history destined to repeat itself?
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UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment Dr. David Boyd spoke about “The Transformative Potential of the Right to a Healthy Environment,” for the 2021 Vigod Memorial Lecture in Human Rights.
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Campus Watch
Athletics 2021-2022 Tommies Major Award Winners Female Athlete of the Year Vanessa Soffee (Women’s Basketball) Vanessa Soffee, a veteran guard for the women’s basketball team, was named Female Athlete of the Year. She was also her team’s Top Defensive Player and MVP, and was named a first team ACAA all-conference player and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian.
Male Athlete of the Year Brett Springer (Men’s Soccer) Brett Springer, a seasoned striker for the men’s soccer team, was named the Male Athlete of the Year. He was also the men’s soccer MVP on top of being named an ACAA first team all-conference player, ACAA Player of the Year, and a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian. At the CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championships, Springer was named a tournament all-star.
Cathy Wadden Commitment Award Madison Owens (Women’s Basketball) Women’s basketball’s Madison Owens, a five-time CCAA National Scholar, was the recipient of the Cathy Wadden Commitment Award. On top of her academic achievement, she was an ACAA all-conference player and was awarded the Rod Shoveller Memorial Award, presented to an ACAA basketball player who has contributed to sport and society through excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and sportsmanship.
John Frederick Walls Memorial Award Christian Christie (Men’s Volleyball) Men’s volleyball’s Christian Christie, a two-time CCAA National scholar, was named the John Frederick Walls Memorial Award winner. He is a twotime STU Male Athlete of the Year and a former ACAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year who spends his free time giving back to the community through coaching and refereeing.
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Men’s Soccer The Tommies Men’s Soccer claimed the ACAA Championship with an undefeated season.
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Men’s Volleyball The Tommies Men’s Volleyball won their second straight Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association championship.
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Faculty News
he premiere of Fine Arts Professor Dr. Martín Kutnowski’s composition, Awakenings, was part of Symphony New Brunswick’s “Virtuoso Series,” and was performed by woodwind quintet Ventus Machina along with Kutnowski on piano.
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Prof. Léo-James Lévesque Recognized for his Advancement of French Second Language Education
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ducation professor Léo-James Lévesque has received an Honorary Lifetime Member Award from the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers for his advancement of second language education. The award recognizes individuals from fields such as teaching, administration, research, or public service, whose work has contributed significantly to language teaching and learning.
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Honorary Doctorate
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rofessor Emerita Andrea Bear Nicholas, BEd’67, was recognized by l’Université de Moncton with an Honorary Doctorate for her exceptional contributions to the fields of language and linguistics.
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Dr. Gary Irwin-Kenyon Named Professor Emeritus
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r. Gary Irwin-Kenyon was named professor emeritus. He began his career at STU in 1987 when he was founding Chair of the Department of Gerontology and responsible for establishing two degree programs and a certificate program. He also established a Visiting Chair in Gerontology that brought internationally recognized scholars to STU to deliver the Creamer Lecture. He initiated the Fredericton 80+ Study of aging and helped establish the Third Age Centre, a not-for-profit organization that advocates on behalf of older adults. Dr. Irwin-Kenyon is a highly productive and respected scholar. He has authored more than 55 scholarly publications and was corecipient of the Theoretical Developments in Social Gerontology Award by the Gerontological Society of America. He was an editorial board member or reviewer for numerous journals, and guest editor of the Canadian Journal on Aging, Ageing and Society, and Journal of Aging Studies.
Honouring Faculty Members
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t. Thomas University honoured four faculty members for their professional achievements.
Dr. Sarah Vannier, (Psychology) received the John McKendy Memorial Teaching Award. Prof. Gaila Friars (Social Work) received the Award for Excellence in Part-Time Teaching. Dr. Dawn Morgan (English) received the University Service Award. Dr. Clive Baldwin (Social Work) received the University Scholarship Award.
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Campus Watch
Research at a Glance
Campus Book Releases
Dr. Albert Banerjee received a Mitacs Accelerate Grant of $30,000 for “Evaluating and learning from a mindbody medicine course: An interview-based study” and a Mitacs Accelerate Grant of $15,000 for “Learning from the experience of participants in a mind-body therapy program: A qualitative study.”
Dr. Dawn Morgan (English Language and Literature) – Unsettled: A Reckoning on the Great Plains (University of Regina Press). Julian Walker (Journalism and Communications) – Wires Crossed: Memoir of a Citizen and Reporter in the Irving Press (Friesen Press). Prof. William Forrestall and Fine Arts students – Let It Be Clear: The Art of Anne Dunn (Xeno-Optic).
Dr. Cécilia Francis (with coapplicants Dr. Julien Defraeye and Dr. Christian Mbarga from STU, along with Dr. Robert Viau, Dr. Chantal Richard, and and Dr. Patrick Bergeron of UNB), received a SSHRC Connection Grant of $24,967 for, « Voix subalternes et créa(c)tives. Explorer l’inventivité de la marge francophone. »
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Shortlisted for Nonfiction Award Dr. Michael Boudreau and Dr. Bonnie Huskins’ book Just the Usual Work: The Social Worlds of Ida Martin, Working-Class Diarist was shortlisted for the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick Nonfiction Award at the New Brunswick Book Awards.
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Research Chair in Global and Transnational Studies Renewed Dr. Matthew Hayes’ Canada Research Chair in Global and Transnational Studies has been renewed. In his first term as CRC, Hayes completed work on the migration of North Americans to Ecuador. In addition to writing Gringolandia (University of Minnesota Press), he also published several articles in international journals and was invited to contribute book chapters to collected editions. His work has begun to pivot towards urban studies and the financialization of real estate. His current work looks at the intersection of cultures of aging in high-income countries and their impacts on lower-income urban spaces.
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Dr. Kristi Allain (along with a team of co-applicants, including Dr. Matthew Hayes and Dr. Tracy Glynn of STU), received a Community Based Tenant Initiative Fund of $49,905 for “NB Coalition for Tenants Rights/Saint John Human Development Council.” Dr. Tyler Bancroft received a New Brunswick Health Research Foundation Research Grant of $14,700 for “Countering HealthRelated Misinformation.” Dr. Catherine Gidney received a SSHRC Insight Development Grant of $38,333 for “Mindfulness in North America: An Intellectual and Cultural History, 1950 to 2020.” Dr. Robin Whittaker received a SSHRC Connection Grant of $25,000 for “Performing Emergence: RePlay, ReCollect, ReExist.”
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New & Noteworthy
News from classmates and friends around the world
Alumni Book Launches Nathan DeLong (BA’17) published Woodstock: New Brunswick’s Oldest Town Through the Years. From a prominent Indigenous village to a railway hub, and from a riot to a park on an island, Woodstock has a rich history. While many aspects of New Brunswick’s oldest incorporated town are well known, others are rarely discussed, and previous publications capturing these stories have long gone out of print. Nathan DeLong’s book takes a detailed, comprehensive look at days gone by and how the town’s past has shaped its present. Luke Francis Beirne (BA’18) published the novel Foxhunt. Set in 1949, the book follows Milne Lowell, a Canadian writer, who moves to London from Montreal to edit a magazine dedicated to cultural freedom. His colleagues include Marguerite Allard, a French-Canadian anarchist, Eric Felmore, an American novelist, and Carson Ward, a British poet. Initially, the group is enthusiastic about the championship of freedom; however, uncertainty grows as unsettling encounters begin to unfold and the peripheral violence of the Cold War closes in. Foxhunt is an atmospheric exploration of passivity, loyalty, and literature in times of political upheaval. Firmly entrenched in the literary milieu of the era, it carries the reader through shell-shocked streets with suspense and intrigue.
Bob Kroll (BEd’72) published The Punishing Journey of Arthur Delaney. Based on the true events of one broken man’s epic post-Civil war journey, but with a uniquely Canadian perspective, this book is a heartbreaking story about a father’s greatest regret and his path to redemption, yet it’s tender and healing at the same time. Devastated after his wife’s death and stricken at raising his two children alone, Arthur Delaney places his children in a Halifax orphanage and runs off to join the Union Army in the American Civil War. After the trauma of battle and three years in a disease-ridden prisoner-ofwar camp, Arthur returns home to discover that his children have been sold as farm workers and house servants throughout the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario, but their exact whereabouts are unknown. Arthur then undergoes a 20-year punishing journey in an attempt to reunite his family. Dale and Margaret-Anne Ashfield (BT’72) publisheds MacDonalds Corner, NB: The Making of a History “The People.” The book looks at the origin of the people who live at MacDonalds Corner in New Brunswick, told through the Queen’s County Heritage location in Gagetown.
Dusty Green (BA’12) and Meredith Batt have released their book, Len and Cub, A Queer History, published by Goose Lane Editions. The book shares Leonard “Len” Keith’s photos of his life and tells the story of his relationship with Joseph “Cub” Coates. Their story is one of the oldest photographic records of a same-sex couple in the Maritimes. The photos are also part of an art exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery until the end of July. Margaret Wall (BA’89) is publishing The Trainthe-Trainer Guidebook: Planning and Leading Instruction at Work. Aimed at newcomers to the business of training – including instructional designers, subject matter experts, and leaders of all sorts – Marg’s inspired book is essential reading for anyone interested in optimizing their training capabilities. Based on tried and tested principles of adult learning and supported by invaluable real-world examples, this guidebook provides practical, expert-backed instruction on how to best meet the task of workplace education.
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New & Noteworthy 1970s
After graduating from STU, Robert Gerard Albert (BA’70) worked in New Brunswick as a Probation Officer for three years. He then received his master’s degree in Criminology at the University of Ottawa. He finished a 30-year career in Corrections on PEI and received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for exemplary service.
1990s
Michele Cronin (BA’91) received the Government of New Brunswick’s Minister’s Award of Excellence in Championing Gender Equality – VIVE in the category of Government Champion. Michele, a long time City of Fredericton employee, was recognized for her decades of work in advancing gender equality, inspiring change and for her continued dedication to promote gender equality in New Brunswick. Patrick McCarthy (BA’91) is a Senior Project Management Professional for Bell Canada with over 25 years of experience managing and performing application development, systems integration and infrastructure focused projects for large corporations throughout Canada and the US. After finishing his BA in Sociology at STU, he completed a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from the University of New Brunswick. He has lived and traveled in Australia, South East Asia and throughout the US before settling in Halifax. He is a Nationally Certified Baseball Coach and currently works for Baseball Canada as a Coaching Facilitator under NCCP (or National Coaching Certification Program) to work within Baseball Canada to train qualified coaches. He continues to be actively involved in both the Nova Scotia Baseball and Hockey scene for a number of years coaching and mentoring young kids.
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Brian Murray (BA’96, BEd’97) is a Managing Partner with Reach, a company that works with Boarding Schools around the world to help them manage student wellness, safety, and risk. Brian has brought to Reach his extensive experience in the US and Canada as a teacher and Director at boarding and day schools. With a master’s degree in Educational Technology, he has combined his passion for education and technology to help create cutting-edge software tools for greater efficiencies in our schools. Since 2014, Brian has spent his days at Reach driving new projects and keeping up with the forever-changing landscape of school culture. He currently lives in Windsor, NS with his wife Jayne and their two dogs.
2000s
Amanda Zaplachinski (BA’01) has been an RCMP officer for 18 years and is currently posted to Tactical Training Section in Alberta. She now teaches police tactics/firearms/intervention options to fellow officers. She is married and has two boys and two dogs. Melanie Martell (BA’04, BSW’05) is the Regional Manager of Victim Services for Cape Breton Island and Guysborough. Wyn Fournier (BA’04) is a Clinical Social Worker who owns Healing Emotions and Relationship Therapy, a mental health therapy business in Ottawa. Brian Munn (BA’07) has been appointed the Regional Director for the Public Prosecution Service of New Brunswick in Fredericton. Julia Parent (BA’09) made partner at Stewart McKelvey. She is married with two children.
Alisha Brown-Fagan (BA’09) is the Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives with the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives for the Government of Nova Scotia. After completing her undergraduate degree at St. Thomas University, Alisha graduated from the Indigenous Black and Mi’kmaq Initiative at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. She was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 2013, and prior to her current role, worked as a staff lawyer with the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission practicing in the areas of family and child protection law. Alisha is a member and Past Vice-President for the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. She also serves on the Racial Equity Committee and Nominating Committee for the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, is a board member with the John Howard Society of Nova Scotia and in addition to Dalhousie’s Alumni Association Board, she sits on the university’s senate honorary degree committee.
2010s
After graduating from STU, Matthew Robertson (BA’10), played professional basketball for three years and then coached professional basketball for six years, winning a Canadian championship in 2019. He has been working in medical sales for the last six years. Christina Cail (BA’10), graduated from the London School of Economics with a master’s degree in Human Rights in 2011. Since 2013, she has lived in Ottawa, working as a political staffer at the Senate. She is currently Director of Parliamentary Affairs to Senator Peter Boehm, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Mikhail Bullard (BA’10) is Minister Counselor/ Alternate Representative at the Permanent Mission of The Bahamas to the Organization of America States.
After finishing her education degree at STU, Amanda Zhang (BA’11, BEd’12) moved to Beijing to teach at the Canadian International School. She met her husband there and they now have two children, Mabel and Clarke. She says, “living overseas is an adventure, and we’ve also had the opportunity to travel to the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea, Cambodia, Malta, and to various provinces in China!” Julia Bremner (BA’12) completed a Master of Social Work at Carleton University. She is currently working for the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care supporting the continuing care sector’s operations along with policy and planning. She also started a nonprofit this year called Girls Link, which is a workshop series for girls ages 9-12 that focuses on topics like body image and media literacy. She says, “We ran Girls Link for many years in Halifax under the supervision of another non-profit and it was widely successful. We are thrilled that it is becoming an independent organization!” After completing law school at York University in 2015, Craig Mazerolle (BA’12) was appointed by the Ontario government in 2017 to be a member with the Licence Appeal Tribunal and the Ontario Parole Board. He has been in these adjudicative roles since. He also volunteers with a local historical society focused on the legal community. He is married to his husband of six years, and, at the start of the pandemic, they adopted a rescue dog named Jake. Thomas Wardell (BA’13) obtained a Master of Social Work and is working as a private therapist specializing in gender, trauma, and working with children. He also does a lot of trainings and public talks about gender and sexuality.
After completing his master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Guelph, Keith R. Van-Every (BA’15) was hired to work for First Canadian Health, an Indigenousowned and run insurance company based in Winnipeg. Keith works in the Toronto office in Payroll and Administration and is loving life in downtown Toronto. After graduating from STU, Abby Herrington (BA’16) obtained her law degree at the University of Toronto. She then clerked at one of the busiest trial courts in the country - the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. She has since returned to her hometown of Saint John, NB to practice law at Lawson Creamer. Hannah Gray (BA’16) opened InfinOT Occupational Therapy on Darling’s Island near Saint John last fall. She provides occupational therapy care to children and youth who face challenges related to emotional regulation and social skills; attention, focusing, and memory; sensory processing; and functional skills like toileting or dressing. She also supports parents in providing care to their children. For more information on Hannah Gray and InfinOT Occupational Therapy, please visit https://infinot.ca Erika Gideon Marchand (BA’16) is a Mi’gmaw Language & Culture Revitalization Coordinator/Proposal Writer in Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation.
Since graduating from STU, Andrew Solano (BA’17) has forged a career in the tech industry. He began working in Client Success for Cvent, the market leader in Event Management Software and eventually moved into Product Management. He now works for Introhive as a Product Manager, a fast growing scale-up who just received 100 million dollars in Round C funding. Jimy Beltran (BA’18) has won Canada’s Volunteer Emerging Leader Award for the Atlantic Region. The award recognizes individuals for their leadership and strong engagement in their communities. Samantha Squires (BA’18) completed her Master of Arts (Economic Policy) degree at McMaster University. She is now an Economics & Policy Associate with a Big 4 Firm in Toronto, helping private and public sector clients on projects evaluating the economic impacts of infrastructure investments, strategy, and policy changes. “I miss STU with all my heart and am so grateful for everything I gained and learned in the four amazing years I spent there. Fredericton will always be a home to me. Go Tommies!” After graduating from STU, Rebecca Kingston (BA’19), received her Master of Arts in Bilingualism Studies at the University of Ottawa. After an internship with the Council of the Federation Secretariat, she is now working in Intergovernmental Affairs for Canada’s Premiers.
Waleed Khokhar (BA’17) has just opened BarBurrito in the Village Centre strip mall on Regent Street in Fredericton. It was the first NB location for the fast-growing fast food chain.
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New & Noteworthy Oriana Cordido De Sola (BA’19) has been named one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Innovators.
In Memoriam We extend condolences to the family and friends of the following alumni and friends who passed away recently:
Ian Connelly, BA’56 August 27, 2018
Brian Mackin, BA’72, BEd’74 December 25, 2020
Patrick Glancy, BA’65 May 30, 2021
2020s
Melissa Peña (BA’22) and Martin Carvajal (BA’21) started a healthy dessert shop in Fredericton during the pandemic. The duo is from Ecuador and opened MelQui.ca, a no-sugar-added bakery, specializing in gluten-free, keto, and lactosefree products. Shyla Augustine (BA’20, BEd’21) has won a Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Award for her “Outstanding Effort in Indigenous Literacy.’ Last year, Shyla published her children’s book, The Mi’kmaq Alphabet Book, to inspire others to learn the Mi’kmaq language.
Robert Boudreau, BA’69
June 19, 2021
Alfred Paul-Elias, BA’72, BEd’73 September 11, 2021
Hon. Pierre F. Dube, BA’83 September 11, 2021
Dr. Mike Foley, BA’60 October 21, 2021
Rev. Vincent Donovan, BA’51 November 6, 2021
John Joseph Robert Gorman, BA’66, BEd’70 November 11, 2021
Lee Maracle, LLD’09 November 11, 2021
Kathleen Murray, BA’66, BEd’67
December 6, 2021
Ivan Savage, BA’50 December 26, 2021
Frederick Brennan, BA’73, BEd’75 January 21, 2022
William Hay, BA’69 BEd’71 January 28, 2022
Leo Woods, BA’50 February 3, 2022
Jack Boyle, BA’56 February 21, 2022
Dr. Maurice Boulay, BA’59 February 23, 2022
Dr. Pamela Harquail, BA’75, BT’75
February 28, 2022
John Townsend, Q.C., BA’74 February 28, 2022
Brian F. McCarthy, BA’64 March 11, 2022
Donald Kenneth Logan, BA’78 March 15, 2022
Thomas “Tim” Shaw, BA’64
April 16, 2022
Mary Cronin, STU ’16-’18 April 29, 2022
David Polchies, STU ‘94-’98 April 29, 2022
Rev. H. Monte Peters May 3, 2022
John MacDermid, BA’21 May 21, 2022
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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.
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. 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.
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.
planned giving
There are several ways to plan for the future:
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!
To mak e a gift
that will support students visit ww , w.stu.c a/givin call 506 g -452-21 40 or em giving@ ail stu.ca
STU Fund impacts today’s students
Be Part of the Future
Summer 2022
27
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