NEWS EXCHANGE
Send News Exchange items to Glenda Bond, Alumni Affairs Office St. Francis Xavier University, PO Box 5000, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5 Phone: (902) 867-2186 • Fax: (902) 867-3659 • Email: alumni@stfx.ca
Parker Gregory
’60s
Nick Boutilier ’07 and Michelle White, Athletic Fund Development Officer, StFX
Shanelle Clowe ’14 and Christopher Hillier ’12 got engaged in December 2020 at Signal Hill National Historic Site
Janet Smith ’85 with her mother Florence (O’Connor) Smith ’50 who just turned 91 years old!
Amy Graham ’21 and Bailey Wasdal ’21 at Lake Louise 40
James Casey ’60 has been appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his leading business acumen in Canadian manufacturing, and for his active involvement in the energy, agriculture and health sectors. He was one of 61 new appointments announced in December 2020. The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours. Mr. Casey, a Charlottetown, PEI resident, is the former president and CEO of Padinox Inc., which makes Paderno pots and pans. He is credited with turning the company into a thriving Island business employing about 200 people. He has also served on the board for Maritime Electric and chaired a campaign that raised $23 million for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Since 2009, he has been chairman of the board of Atlantic Beef Products.
’70s
Congratulations to Ed McHugh ’79 on recently receiving this volunteer recognition award from HRM! In the past he has also been recognized by both Bedford and the Province of Nova Scotia for his volunteer contributions through the years. His generosity, sense of caring and energy have no limits. He has also done so many other helpful and kind acts along the way that are just part of his nature. Well done Ed!
James (Jim) Casey ’60
StFX ALUMNINEWS l SUMMER 2021
A virtual Golden Grad celebration will take place during our virtual Homecoming weekend for the Class of 1971. Please ensure to update your contact information at alumni@stfx.ca|
’80s
Stan MacDonald ’84 was one of two Nova Scotia lawyers inducted in March 2021 into the American College of Trial Lawyers. The college is comprised of distinguished trial lawyers in the United States and Canada. It’s recognized as the leading trial lawyers’ organization in both countries. Membership is offered only by invitation and limited to trial lawyers regarded as among the best in their state or province. MacDonald leads a law firm in Halifax, NS and has over 30 years in trial law. He’s a past president of the Nova Scotia Criminal Lawyers Association. He graduated with a business degree from StFX and from Dalhousie Law School. He is an associate professor at Dalhousie Law School, teaching a clinical course in criminal law, and is an instructor for the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s Bar Admission Course. When Katrina Wheaton ’89 moved to Toronto, ON to take a new position she didn’t know a soul in the city. Lo and behold one day in the elevator of her apartment building on walked an X-Ring worn by John McIver ’88. Although they
didn’t know each other well during their time together at ‘X,’ they knew many of the same people and have become great friends. The ‘X’ spirit is a bond unlike any other.
’00s
Paul Boyko ’05 co-owns an indie game development company based in the Niagara region of southern Ontario, which recently released a game designed to help combat the spread of COVID-19. He says the game Cat Colony Crisis was with support from LabX, a division of the National Academy of Science, and in consultation with members of the CDC. The game was released on PC, MAC, Linux, Google Play and Apple App store on February 9, 2021. Paul says “one reason the project was so interesting and important to me was due to the positive attitudes that I developed at StFX towards community and trying to be part of a global solution to the problems that we all face as humans on this earth.”
’10s
Ella Besserer ’16 graduated from the StFX honours program, Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, and worked for three years in a tertiary care hospital in Ottawa, ON. She is now attending the University of Toronto Physician Assistant Elite program.
Photo from right to left: Joe Gillis ’63, Johanna Gates ’21, Marianne (Gillis) Gates ’88, Gillianne (Gates) Blanchard ’18, Nicholas Blanchard ’19
Cameron Sehl ’18, Max Jennings ’19, Devin McArthur ’19, and Dr. Sameer Berry are pleased to share the news that Symbi Medical, a digital health company they started in 2018 that provides patient engagement solutions across multiple medical specialties, has been acquired by Blue Charm Adherence Inc., a healthcare company specializing in medication adherence. “We are incredibly excited to be joining Blue Charm Adherence in their mission to help patients access life-changing medications and better manage their health,” said Sehl, CEO of Symbi Medical. “Becoming part of Blue Charm accelerates our progression towards a leadership position in the digital health space and allows us to have an even greater impact on patient care.” Lauren MacFadyen ’18 ’20, who was a varsity curler and an Academic All-Canadian at StFX, represented PEI in the 2021 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championships that took place in Calgary in March. Lauren’s partner is her brother Alex. They teamed up to win the PEI provincial title and advance to the national mixed doubles finals.
