Looking Back, Looking Forward

As we approach the end of another year, it’s a fitting time to reflect on a few highlights from 2012. It was a remarkable year for our community, as the Mount celebrated a number of key accomplishments and anniversaries.

Looking Back

In February, to great fanfare, we announced the largest donation in the history of the Mount. Margie McCain’s generous gift of $2.25 million for the new Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research was welcomed by an enthusiastic and supportive Mount community. Her gift will ensure a legacy of high-quality classroom, research and learning space for future generations of Mount students and faculty.

This year also marked an important milestone as we celebrated our first graduates from the Bachelor of Science (Science Communication) program. This ground-breaking program combines the rigours of science and the study of communication practice, positioning our graduates to explain the complexities of science and technology to our communities and to the media.

Program Anniversaries

The year 2012 also marked the 35th anniversary of the Mount’s highly-regarded Bachelor of Public Relations program. All across the globe, Mount PR grads are making a difference in industry, non-profit, and the public sectors by bringing their stories to life.

Distance Learning and Continuing Education (DLCE) recognized their 30th anniversary this past year. The occasion was marked by bringing together staff, students, and faculty who have been part of the Mount’s successful outreach to distance education students over the past three decades.

It was also the 20th anniversary for two important cornerstones of the Mount community. The Nova Scotia Centre on Aging celebrated its 20th anniversary with a high-profile national conference called “Our Future Is Aging”. The Centre for Women in Business also marked 20 years dedicated to supporting local and regional women business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Looking Forward

The year 2013 promises to be no less exciting. We’re marking 140 years of history and an impressive legacy of commitment to the advancement of women, to social justice, and to supporting and nurturing accessible learning for all members of our community. We recently launched our Facebook Timeline to mark some of the key moments in our collective history. I’m hopeful that our recent work with Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq communities, the hiring of our first Aboriginal student advisor, and the opening of the Mount Aboriginal Friendship Centre will help ensure that we serves the needs of an under-presented Nova Scotian community on our campus.

Early in the new year, we’re also planning to celebrate the sod-turning for the McCain Centre, an accomplishment in which we can all take pride. I’d like to recognize the tremendous work of our campaign volunteers and everyone who has supported the vision for this project. At last we’ll have the chance to see the next stage of our journey as an institution unfold. As of this month, we’re very close to our fundraising goal, having raised over $11.3 million toward the $12 million needed to wrap the campaign.

I know you’ll have your own goals, accomplishments, and milestones to celebrate as we head into the new year. It’s a pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of faculty, staff, and students. I wish everyone a great holiday season, and all the best for a productive and rewarding 2013.

Until next time,

Ramona

PS. Check out the Mount’s holiday video

Education as a catalyst for change

Reflections from Fall Convocation

Convocation offers the opportunity for reflection, a chance to think deeply about the role education plays in our lives and in our communities. In a world marked by political conflict and growing social and economic inequality, education is a powerful tool that offers us the chance to use our skills and knowledge to improve our shared world. Last month, as we celebrated this fall’s 340 graduates and their many accomplishments, I was reminded again of the power we have as individuals to be catalysts for positive change, through actions large and small.

Our convocation student award winners, including our fifteen Senate medallists, have demonstrated through their academic and personal success an aptitude for leading by example. Their hard work, perseverance, and tenacity have served them well during their time here at the Mount, and as these students and the rest of this year’s graduating class continue their journey as Mount alumnae, I look forward to many more stories of leadership, determination, and examples of the Mount spirit of engagement with the world in action.



Shown here is Dr. Joan Glode, addressing guests during

 the Chancellor's Dinner.



This fall’s convocation ceremonies also marked the opportunity to recognize the leadership and lifelong service of two very remarkable women, both of whom were awarded honorary doctorates. Dr. Joan Glode is a proud and respected member of the Mi’kmaq First Nation community of Acadia. Dr. Glode has dedicated her life’s work to advocating and working for Aboriginal families and children as executive director of Mik’maw Family and Children’s Services of Nova Scotia, as well as through her work with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and the Micmac Native Friendship Centre. As she received her honorary doctorate from the Mount and addressed this fall’s graduates, she shared the powerful life stories of several Mi’kmaq teens she has worked with during her career, and spoke of the need for every individual to have a clear sense of belonging and identity. Her passion, vision and ability to bear witness to these stories serve as a powerful reminder of the difference compassionate leadership can make.



Shown above (L-R): Sarah Veinot, Board of Governors (Chair);
Dr. Margaret Casey, CM, MD, LLD, DHumL; myself, and
S. Donna Geernaert, University Chancellor.



Dr. Margaret Casey also received an honorary doctorate in last month’s ceremonies. Dr. Casey’s primary focus of work as a doctor has taken place at the North End Community Health Centre, an inner-city resource that provided her with the opportunity to gain an understanding of the impact of social determinants of health and social justice. Dr. Casey’s skills and abilities might have taken her anywhere, but she chose to dedicate her career to supporting and empowering those in need. As a lifelong advocate for social justice, Dr. Casey urged graduates not to stand on the sidelines of life, but to consider their individual responsibility to use the tools they have acquired to make positive change in the world. “Whatever you can give matters,” she said. “Each of us has a role. Opportunity for change exists in each career path.”

The path to success is indeed a very personal journey, one that is not always measured in awards or external recognition. Sometimes success is a quiet, private affair, recognized by overcoming tremendous odds and obstacles that may be difficult for others to comprehend or fully appreciate. During this year’s convocation, I was moved by many such stories of individual success.



Dr. Elizabeth Church, Vice-President (Academic); Dayle
Eshelby, Valedictorian (morning ceremony); and myself.



Dayle Eshelby, one of this fall’s valedictorians, is testament to such determination of spirit. As a teenager, Dayle was involved in a motorcycle accident that left her with catastrophic brain-stem trauma. Over the years, Dayle worked as a research technician and a variety of jobs while balancing life as a young mother and active community member in the town of Lockeport. She returned to the Mount part-time as a mature student and continued to be actively involved in community organizations. Recently, she was elected to municipal council and she has now started her own company. In addition to graduating as class valedictorian, Dayle was also awarded the President’s Prize and the Kappa Gamma Pi award.

At the Mount, we believe that each of us has a responsibility to lead by example. I’m inspired by the stories of students like Dayle and by the selfless examples of leadership-in-action demonstrated by the work of Dr. Glode and Dr. Casey. These individuals are forces for good, and their work inspires us all to continue to be part of the change we wish to see in the world.

Until next time,

Ramona

Mikmaw and Maliseet Youth get a taste of campus life at the Mount

Mount Saint Vincent University was delighted to host, in cooperation with the APC and the AHHRI,  a two-day conference for Aboriginal youth on October 12-13. John Sylliboy, who spearheaded planning for the conference, shares an account of the event in this month’s President’s blog.

Until next time,

Ramona

______________________________________________________________________________

 

Students are source of knowledge sharing

Let’s not forget why we are educators…it’s tapping into those emotions that provoke pride and motivation in making connections with students through learning.

 

John R. Sylliboy, AHHRI Coordinator, Mark de Jonge, Olympic

medalist and keynote speaker, and Alan Polchies Jr, St. Mary’s

First Nation Councillor/Facilitator



The Mount hosted more than 80 youth in grades 9-12 from ten Atlantic First Nations communities. They spent two days on campus with professors, guidance counselors, career specialists and volunteers to share career opportunities offered in post-secondary education. Smiles expressed satisfaction between Mount faculty and aboriginal youth in their mutual development of trust and sharing of knowledge. The theme of the conference Mawitaql Kjijtaqnn is the “gathering of knowledge” in Mi’kmaq, which was planned to coincide with Mount’s celebration of Mi’kmaq History Month in Nova Scotia.

Aboriginal youth displayed a keen interest in sharing who they are as: youth, Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, junior/high school students, individuals with dreams and aspirations. The Mount faculty welcomed their enthusiastic nature by taking on the challenge to motivate the young learners onto a path of post-secondary learning.

The university prepared a day of active learning by sharing various options for career paths through hands on approaches with workshops in science, nutrition, education and lifelong learning. Topics were diverse and youth oriented, while the professors were eager to capture the liveliest of attention spans and interests. One professor mentioned, “Students need to see post-secondary education as a means for higher learning that is both lively and full of hope; that professors are not just a bunch of talking heads”

On the last day of the conference, health career students and graduates shared their stories and experiences in university. They are mentors in areas of youth leadership, action and motivation. They all touched on the importance of Aboriginal health care providers working in First Nations communities. One grade 12 student bravely volunteered to be part of the panel to share why she would like to pursue nursing. This was an unexpected bonus for the audience and organizers. She announced that she would go into nursing next fall. She sent a message on twitter and facebook to express her delight and satisfaction after the event.

Universities and AHHRI in Atlantic Canada

The Mount and Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC) partnered to host the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative (AHHRI) Regional Knowledge Translation Forum on October 12-13^th. They planned for months on protocols, cultural events, and curricula development for the workshops and presentations. The original plan was to host the students on campus during summer months when the residences weren’t occupied. After consultation with the First Nations education leaders, October was recommended because of the month long celebrations.



Wayne Morris, Wagmatcook School Principal is engaged

 with Mount Recruitment team.



The Forum was a platform to share AHHRI presentations on projects in partnership with Atlantic universities and colleges. First Nations representatives, faculties and post-secondary Aboriginal advisors attended presentations from Dalhousie, StFX, University of New Brunswick, University of PEI, Memorial University and College of North Atlantic. These institutions were funded through APC’s AHHRI program to develop pilot projects in their respective health programs.

Universities developed projects to include recruitment in nursing, Aboriginal health sciences, and bridging programs to support students in health programs. Best practices and successful programming were shared among peers that work in various capacities with Aboriginal post-secondary content, curriculum developers and faculty, or institutions interested in developing similar supports.

Cultural competency is one of the most important components for successful development of programs, especially in curriculum development. Universities are taking baby steps to include aboriginal perspectives, hiring of Aboriginal faculty and providing Aboriginal advisors as sustainable student supports. It is hoped that post-secondary institutions will continue sustaining programs long after the AHHRI sunsets in March 2015.

The Forum and Mount Saint Vincent University

In the opening remarks by Chief Deborah Robinson, Acadia First Nation, APC Co-Chair stated, “There is a need to improve the access, recruitment, retention and success in post-secondary education for our Aboriginal students.” Chief Robinson continued, “Aboriginal communities across Atlantic Canada need to be poised to take advantage of and support economic opportunities and the well-being of community members and post-secondary education has a key role in this effort.”



Perfect fall day for a Career Fair hosted by the Mount
with Atlantic First Nations youth.



The Mount has been en route in strengthening supports for the current 60 plus self-identified Aboriginal students within the institution. In the last two years, the Mount has taken considerable steps to outreach with the Mi’kmaw community. President Ramona Lumpkin invited Mi’kmaw educators and leaders to form an Advisory Committee for consultation following the advice of Elders. Mount’s efforts to build relations with the aboriginal community is part of the President’s vision to continue supporting capacity development within the institution and ensure quality education to all the diverse cultures represented in the student population.

AHHRI continues to build on the success of AHHRI programs and to strengthen the First Nations health care work force. Sharing knowledge and creating platforms for student awareness and participation will assist Aboriginal students, education directors and counselors. In fact, projects in the health programs provide a wealth of knowledge and experience – moldable for other faculties’ sciences and technological fields.

160 people walked away from the Forum feeling pretty optimistic that post-secondary education is laying solid foundations to meet Aboriginal educational needs for health programs in Atlantic Canada.  This is the first Atlantic conference on Aboriginal post-secondary education of this magnitude. It brought students, educators and administrators together under one roof. APC continues to celebrate successes in developing strategies to increase the numbers of Aboriginals in health careers. This partnership with the Mount is one of the successes.

Mount Saint Vincent University provided in kind supports for logistics, faculty resources, staff and volunteers to make the Forum a huge success. This commitment and partnership building with APC is in itself a best practice. It shows how post-secondary institutions can develop initiatives using their own resources, while being inclusive in the process. The Mount respected recommendations made by Elders and Mi’kmaw educators. Its efforts are genuine in its approach to First Nation consultation, inclusive decision making and active partnership building, which will only provide positive outcomes to improve education for its Aboriginal population.

The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat has partnered with First Nations Inuit Health Branch – Health Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government to develop and promote AHHRI objectives through partnership building and funding with universities/colleges, First Nations and Inuit communities and Aboriginal organizations.

Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat is an advocate for speaking with one voice on behalf of First Nations communities. Through research and analysis, APCFNC develop and table policy alternatives for matters affecting First Nations communities in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Maine, USA. Its mandate is to “research, analyze and develop alternatives to federal policies that affect Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Innu and Passamaquoddy First Nations in the Atlantic region.”

For further information, please contact:

John R. Sylliboy, AHHRI Coordinator

Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat

Telephone: 902-435-8021

John.Sylliboy@apcfnc.ca

The imagination comes to life with books

This Sunday, September 23, the Halifax Waterfront will transform into a 'literary theme park' at The Word on the Street festival. Today I am delighted to welcome the Mount's University Librarian, Tanja Harrison, as she shares her own personal story about how books have impacted her life - and certainly her career. The Mount will have a presence at the festival, so I encourage you to come out and visit us.

Until next time,
Ramona

_____________________________________________________________________________

The imagination comes to life with books



Tanja Harrison



I’ve always loved September. The warm summer sun makes way for the crisp, cool days of autumn and the excitement of a new school year ripples across campus. I arrived at the Mount as University Librarian on the first day of June, and while the summer is a great time to start a new job and settle in, there is nothing like the energy of a university at the beginning of the fall term. I am so pleased to be spending my first one at the Mount.  

When I applied to the Mount, the ‘our stories’ campaign had just been launched. I believe in the importance of sharing stories and their ability to connect members of a community. It made me think about my own story and the route that brought me here. I realized that 30 years ago, I watched my mother walk across the stage to get her BA and BEd from the Mount. As a military wife, it took her years to complete her degrees, but throughout the postings and the tours, she made it through. The Mount supported her and I’ve always remembered that. Mom’s class of ’86 was the last year that E. Margaret Fulton was President. Now working with the Mount Library staff in the EMF Centre, everything seems familiar, and it fits. 

When I was young, my brother and I would spend hours in the old Dartmouth Public Library`s children’s section, sitting on the floor surrounded by books. I remember the wonderful feeling the first time the librarian said, ”You can take those home with you, if you like”.

Long, hot summers were spent in my father’s blueberry fields in Cumberland County. We didn’t have television. When the lights went down, my flashlight and imagination came alive with books. A mystery fan, I diligently worked my way through a collection of Nancy Drews or Agatha Christies. During my father`s tour to Syria in the early ‘80s, we spent a summer in Damascus. My carry-on knapsack was stuffed with as many books as it could fit, and many a Judy Blume book travelled with me on our adventures. 

Through the rest of my school years, the reading continued. One summer, I was lucky to land a job at the new Alderney Gate Public Library. Browsing the reference section one day, I stumbled across the university calendars and the Library and Information Studies program at Dalhousie. My immediate thought was, “A graduate degree to study and work in libraries? Where do I sign up!”



My daughter Gracie, age six, shown
with a favourite nighttime read.



Libraries and reading had a profound influence on my childhood, and I feel privileged to have found a career working in the area of education and literacy. I now live with my own family just minutes away from where the old Dartmouth Public Library once stood. My daughter has had books in her hands from her very beginning. 

In our house, there is nothing that turns the television off faster than the promise of a tale by Sheree Fitch, Marie-Lousie Gay or any number of classics in our growing collection. I am filled with pride as I now watch my daughter learn to read on her own, a truly memorable experience. 



Education and literacy have the power to change lives and communities. One of my favourite local literacy events of the season is happening this weekend. On September 23, the Halifax waterfront will come alive with readings, workshops, and booksellers for the annual literacy extravaganza, the Word on the Street. The festival is a treat for the whole family, and is dedicated to improving reading skills and celebrating literacy. This year, the Mount will also be taking part, and will be joined by the poetic talents of our own Lorri Neilsen Glenn.  

Upcoming Events

• For a special treat this year, join the countdown to the unveiling of the first One Book One Province project, where communities around Nova Scotia will be challenged to read the same book and share the same story. Attend the official Libraries Nova Scotia launch on September 21 or check the website for more details. 
• The Mount Library hosts readings throughout the year, and next we will welcome Jeanie Cockell and Joan McArthur-Blair on October 3 from 5:00 - 7:30p.m. to launch their book Appreciative Inquiry in Higher Education: A Transformative Force. 
• If you love to read, stop by the Mount Library for our annual book sale during the week of October 28. All books will be $1.00. 
• Celebrating Writing Week will be happening at the Mount during the week of November 12-16, and we will once again be partnering with the Writer' Federation of Nova Scotia. 

For updates, visit our site, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Join the fun, read, and share your stories!
 

Tanja Harrison
University Librarian

A welcome message from the Mount's presidents



Zach Gallant, president of the Mount's Students' Union, with
Dr. Ramona Lumpkin at Spring Convocation (May 2012).



Today I have the pleasure of welcoming our students, faculty and staff to the beginning of our academic year.  Despite the beauty of our summer campus in bloom and the extraordinary view of the Bedford Basin year-round, the true spirit of the Mount re-ignites each fall when new students join us to embark on a journey to fulfill their academic dreams.

Over the coming weeks and months, I look forward to meeting students, learning about your future plans, and understanding how the Mount can further support you in your studies, your community and campus engagement and your athletic and social activities. Being involved is an important aspect of your student experience. At the Mount, there are countless opportunities for students to get involved outside the classroom that will make a lasting difference in your personal lives and in the broader community.

At the Mount, the Students’ Union plays a large role in student-led initiatives, and today’s guest blogger is Zach Gallant, your Students’ Union president for the 2012-2013 year. Zach speaks to the importance of being engaged, and I fully support his message. Stay in touch, share your stories with us, and be part of something big.

Regards,

Ramona

Follow me on Twitter @MSVUpresident

_________________________________ 

Getting involved is key to making the most of your Mount experience

I am always excited to start the fall term as it means new and returning students are arriving to campus. The Mount is a close-knit community filled with people who are willing to offer guidance to those who seek to be part of it. By being an engaged member of the Mount community, new and returning students can take full advantage of the support system I’ve experienced personally.

For those who are not familiar with the Mount’s student body, we’re quite a diverse group! With a maximum of 400 spaces for on-campus residence living, the majority of our students live off-campus, and some even at a distance.

Like many, I lived off-campus for my first year, but was committed to getting involved. My first experience was with the Students’ Union Haunted House after hearing about the event from a student who visited one of my classes to recruit volunteers. The connections I made as a result of this opportunity led me to a position at the Rosaria information desk, and then again in the following year as a Residence Assistant in Assisi Hall.

I owe many Mount experiences to the people I’ve met along the way. I was made aware of opportunities, and was encouraged to go after them. At the Mount, people really do cheer you on, and want you to succeed. This is why I was inspired to give back in a new capacity, by being this year’s Students’ Union President. Working alongside other Executive team members, our goal is to help students make the most of their experience by increasing the level of student engagement.

But what does it mean to ‘be engaged’ as a student? In short, it means something different to everyone, but the idea is about interaction. And whether you’re on campus or at a distance, you can still be part of the community by getting involved in a number of ways:

• Get to know your Students’ Union Executive by attending discussions and organized town halls
• Attend events! Watch for postings, posters and promos around campus!
• Join a student-led society or group
• Volunteer and develop your co-curricular record
• Send us your questions, feedback or input by email or online, or come visit us in person at the Students’ Union offices in the Rosaria Student Centre
• Follow the Mount, the Students’ Union and many others on social media, and stay up to date by visiting the Mount’s and Union’s websites
• Read the monthly Students’ Union newsletter, sent directly to your Mount email

Whatever it is you’re considering for the year ahead, look to those around you for inspiration. Be part of something that inspires you to make a difference, to strive for excellence and to succeed beyond your own expectations. 

As a valued member of the Mount student body, your voice matters to us, and throughout the year you can count on the Students’ Union Executive not only to listen to your concerns and ideas, but to take action. On behalf of the Students’ Union Executive, I hope both new and returning students enjoy their year and take pride in being part of the Mount community. I know I have.

Zach Gallant

President@MountStudents.ca

Aspiring to be Ambassadors of Change

The following guest blog was written by Brandon MacDougall, a grade 11 student from Cole Harbour High. Brandon visited the Mount in early July as part of a winning team from this year’s Accelerating Empathy conference, an event powered by The Empathy Factory that brought together high school students from across Nova Scotia to discuss and respond to several key issues facing youth today. As part of their prize package, members of his team, Scotia Circle, met with Mount faculty and student leaders to discuss and strategize ways to tackle bullying in our schools.

We were proud to sponsor this year’s Accelerating Empathy conference, and delighted to welcome Brandon and his team member Sandrico Provo to the Mount to discuss the many ways Nova Scotia’s youth are taking the lead in making a real difference in the world.

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

Aspiring to be Ambassadors of Change

Brandon MacDougall



Bullying, depression and anxiety are not things you can simply solve. Yet I think as a human being, I have a responsibility to do everything in my power to make my community a more harmonious place to be. I didn’t have to go to The Empathy Factory conference three days after having my wisdom teeth out. I didn’t have to write a pitch on how to solve bullying for the 40-minute bus drive there. I guess what I am saying is that nobody sat me down and said I had to care about bullying or any social issue, I just do because it matters.

The Empathy Factory organized a conference called Accelerating Empathy. This is an amazing opportunity for youth to formulate ideas and find some internal empathy to share externally. There were four social issues we could choose to address in our pitch. I chose bullying.

My pitch was done using a form of poetry, and was voted as one of the top two in the subject of bullying. I then recruited a team for a bigger pitch the next day that would be judged by some experts in the various fields of social issues. We performed another poetic pitch, and were chosen to be the top idea for solving bullying. The idea was sort of simple - we would start creative expression groups at schools and hold yearly spoken word and rap competitions themed on things related to anti-bullying.

(Photo L-R: Sandrico Provo, Dr. Ramona Lumpkin,

and myself - Brandon MacDougall, at a recent

visit at Mount Saint Vincent University.

The most important thing I discovered since that day is that if you keep moving forward, regardless of the opportunities you might have missed before, eventually you will find one in a moment that will make the difference you needed. This happened at Mount Saint Vincent University.

We met with a number of wonderful individuals during the day, including the Mount's President, Ramona Lumpkin, student representatives, and three informative and supportive Professors.

We had talks about how school systems can tend to contribute to the issue, how blame can be often be misplaced and how it is so important and much more effective for youth to lead prevention initiatives.

What the Mount really showed me was that there are people who care deeply about these issues. Most significantly though, every single person I met really listened to what I was saying and thus was able to provide me with greater insights and ideas to help move things forward.

To be honest, when arriving at the Mount, I was still unsure if my ideas would ever be able to surmount some of the problems youth face or if I could even find a way to bring it to life. When leaving the Mount, there was no longer an “is this possible?” in my head, only a “when”.

Great ideas will flourish when mobilized by people of great care and empathy. I strongly believe this will one day be proof of that. Look out for “Scotia Circle” in the future, “Where nobody can be cornered.”

Be Part of Something Big - Honour a Remarkable Woman in your Life

The Mount’s commitment to the advancement and empowerment of women is well-documented and is one of the cornerstones of the university’s identity. Founded by the Sisters of Charity at a time when opportunities for women were limited, the Mount has truly been at the forefront of more than 150 years of achievement by women.

Each of us has been touched by the women in our lives. Think of the sacrifice, dedication, and selfless compassion of our mothers. Or of the support, love, and good humour of our closest friends. Or the inspiration and life lessons shared by our teachers and mentors. The women in our lives, and their remarkable stories, have helped shape each of us into the person we’ve become.

Today I want to share with you a personal story about a woman who has had a major impact on my life. My own mother has always been a great inspiration to me. She grew up in hard circumstances, a daughter of a share-cropping family in south Alabama.  She laboured in the fields under conditions hardly imaginable to me, and although she was a bright girl, hungry for knowledge, she was unable to attend high school.  But she read avidly all her life, and when her children had graduated from university she completed her high-school equivalency diploma and went on to enrol in university courses herself.  She set an example for my sister, brother and me and instilled in us a love of education that has stayed with us all our lives.

Artist Rendering of the Women's Wall of Honour

As we prepare to launch the virtual Women’s Wall of Honour, I eagerly anticipate learning about the many women who will be celebrated and remembered, including the story of Noreen Valenta, who was an engineering student many years ago in a class otherwise made up entirely of men. 

The virtual wall (www.womenswallofhonour.ca) is the first step in the real-life Women’s Wall of Honour, to be housed permanently in a garden-like setting outside our new Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research.  Unique in Canada, this inspiring project will showcase stories and photos of women from all walks of life.   

I suspect you will also know the story of a remarkable woman who has left her mark on your life. Whether she’s your mother, grandmother, a partner, a friend or a mentor, I hope you will consider the opportunity to honour her by buying a brick in the Women’s Wall of Honour, and sharing her story online. The virtual Women’s Wall of Honour will be live in just a few short days. In the meantime, I encourage you to read more about Noreen’s story and to learn more about honouring the woman in your life by visiting the Wall’s Facebook page or by following @HonouringWomen on Twitter.

Until next time,

Ramona

Celebrating International Women’s Day a Mount Tradition

Last week, the Mount community celebrated International Women’s Day with a major conference dedicated to discussing the challenges, experiences and accomplishments of girls and young women. Called GIRLS 2012, this landmark conference was a showcase project of the Mount’s Institute for Women, Gender, and Social Justice. Nearly 300 girls, young women, and those concerned about girls’ issues and social justice for girls in Canada and around the world took part in two full days of workshops, seminars, films, readings, and discussion.

I was greatly inspired and moved by the wide range of topics covered in the more than 30 sessions. Issues critical to the lives of girls and young women –body image, sexual assault awareness, safe schools for LBGTQI youth, activism, social media as a tool for girls, women in politics and women’s participation in sport and science – all of these topics were discussed and passionately debated. A remarkable organizing committee, dozens of volunteers, speakers, and of course conference participants all deserve our sincere thanks for continuing the legacy of the Sisters of Charity in advancing the lives of girls and women worldwide.

While International Women’s Day is an important time to reflect on the advances we have made, and the work still to be done, women’s achievements need to be celebrated year round, and at the Mount, we believe every day is women’s day.

We were one of the first higher education institutions in Canada to specialize in the education of women, and our commitment to advancing women is explicitly highlighted in the University’s mission statement. Our four Canada Research Chairs, all women, and faculty across campus are engaged in critical work to better understand and account for the experiences of women, and to improve the lives of girls and women globally.

Dr. Franz-Odendaal hosts a group from
Techsploration at Girls 2012

Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal, Atlantic NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and Associate Professor (Biology) at the Mount, and one of the speakers at GIRLS 2012, works with young women around Atlantic Canada to encourage their participation in science and engineering. This is one notable example of how our investment in and support of girls contributes to the development of strong women – mothers, partners, workers and leaders – who in turn enhance our communities.


At the Mount, we are taking our commitment to women further with plans for our new Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research. To our knowledge, this is the first university building in Canada designed to honour the contributions and experiences of women across the country. When completed, the McCain Centre will house some of the Mount’s signature programs.  We will also feature the life stories of 12 inspiring women who have made key contributions to the arts, sciences, their professions, and public life.

But we’re taking it even further still. Through Project TWENTY12, we aim to celebrate the extraordinary lives of ordinary women from all walks of life. Mothers, teachers, daughters, grandmothers, mentors, leaders, and women who have touched the lives of their families, communities, friends, and colleagues. The Women’s Wall of Honour, unique in Canada, will be a remarkable opportunity to acknowledge and pay lasting tribute to 2012 women through an outdoor garden and a living memorial.  We invite all members of our community to learn more about this special opportunity by visiting the Project TWENTY12 website.

Until next time,

Ramona

The 'Secret' is out

Since joining the Mount in 2010, I’ve had the chance to gather with staff, faculty, students, alumnae and friends for countless events ranging from our annual holiday luncheon to convocation ceremonies, fundraising events and day-to-day lunches in the cafeteria. Whatever the occasion, a positive energy and element of storytelling is always present when the Mount community comes together.

But on February 9, I was part of an event that was, in my experience, unlike any other at the Mount. A positive energy filled the air, balanced by suspense as guests awaited an announcement that would change the future of our University.

In May of last year, the Mount launched a bold fundraising initiative, Project TWENTY12, which I referred to in my first blog post. The initiative was established to raise funds to build the first classroom building on our campus to be opened since 1971, a building that would not only provide much-needed teaching and research space, but one that would be dedicated to honouring the achievements of women – the first and only such building on a Canadian university campus.

Our mission has resonated with many people in Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada, and across the country.  One woman in particular was moved by the campaign, a woman who has been steadfast in her support of organizations that promote women’s rights, social equality, early childhood education and the arts.
This woman is the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain.

Mrs. McCain is so supportive of Project TWENTY12 that she has committed $2.25 million, the largest donation in the history of the Mount. As a result, our new building will be named the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research.

Mrs. McCain first joined the Mount family in 2005 as the recipient of an Honorary Degree. As the first female Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, and the first woman to serve as Chancellor of her alma mater Mount Allison University, Mrs. McCain is someone whose career path and personal philosophy mirror what this building hopes to achieve.

Celebrating Mrs. McCain’s gift to the Mount was a special moment in our University’s history, but perhaps more important, a look forward at what she called an ‘enviable future.’ The donation has brought our fundraising total to more than $7 million of a $12 million goal. Her generosity is transformative for this campaign and for the quality of teaching and learning at the Mount.

The announcement of Mrs. McCain’s gift was met with many rounds of cheers and applause throughout a room filled with hundreds of supporters. Later in the evening, at a small dinner for Mrs. McCain’s family and friends, Mount student Alissa Ali expressed the students’ thanks in a rap poem she wrote especially for the occasion. Alissa honoured Mrs. McCain in a creative way that reflects our community’s positive energy and reputation for the “personal touch.”   I don’t believe a historical milestone would be celebrated in this way anywhere else but at the Mount.

Margaret McCain will continue to be a very special member of our University family. I urge you to take a few moments to visit the Project TWENTY12 website and learn more about how you can honour a special woman in your life.

Until next time,

Ramona