A standing room only crowd turned out Jan. 17 to hear Wanda Robson, an inspirational Nova Scotian, deliver the guest lecture during StFX’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, held at Dennis Hall.

Mrs. Robson, 84, author of the book, Sister to Courage: Stories from the World of Viola Desmond Canada’s Rosa Parks, delivered a poignant, touching keynote that illuminated life as a Black Nova Scotian stretching back to the 1930s and 1940s. She also gave particular insights into the life of Viola Desmond. Mrs. Robson is the sister of Viola Desmond, civil rights icon and pioneer African-Nova Scotia businesswoman.

Wanda Robson

Mrs. Robson was at StFX as part of its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, which honours the life and contributions of America’s greatest champion of racial justice and equality, the leader who not only dreamed of a society of equality for all, but who also led a movement that achieved historic reforms to help make it a reality.

“What I’m trying to tell you is this woman was an amazing, amazing woman who worked hard, who was ethical, who had an amazing mind,” said Mrs. Robson as she recounted how her sister excelled at school and worked tremendously hard to set up a thriving business.

On Nov. 8, 1946, Mrs. Desmond, a successful beautician and businesswoman, was travelling from her home in Halifax to Sydney on a business trip when her car developed a mechanical problem near New Glasgow. The garage mechanic advised her he would have to order a part and the car would be repaired the next day. During her wait, she decided to catch a movie at the Roseland Theatre. She purchased a ticket; not realizing the theatre was segregated, and sat near the front so that at 4’11, she would be able to see.

“Just when she felt the warmth of the theatre, an usher tapped her on the shoulder,” Mrs. Robson said. Mrs. Desmond was asked to move upstairs. She went to the ticket agent and asked for a downstairs ticket. “We don’t sell downstairs tickets to you people,” came the reply. She returned to her seat. The usher again asked her to move. No, she replied. Eventually the manager and then the police were called. She was arrested and they took her arm by arm out of the theatre. Mrs. Robson said her sister, weighing less than 100 pounds, decided not to go gentle into the night. “They had to pry her fingers from the door.”

Mrs. Robson pondered about what she would do in the same situation.

“I would have been angry, but went out with my head down. My sister and I are made of different stuff.”

Mrs. Desmond spent the night in jail and the next morning was convicted of defrauding the government of one cent, the difference between the cost of an upstairs and downstairs ticket. No mention was made of race. Just last year, on April 15, 2010, the province of Nova Scotia granted an official apology and free pardon to the late Mrs. Desmond. A free pardon is based on innocence and recognizes that a conviction is in error. It is an extraordinary remedy and considered only in the rarest of circumstances.

It’s important to celebrate and remember and work towards equality, StFX Human Rights and Equity Officer Marie Brunelle said in opening remarks. “We have to be aware that there are 20,000 Black Nova Scotians, who even in 2011 still experience some sorts of racial discrimination.”

As Mrs. Robson noted, “Because racism is ugly, it hurts. It does hurt.” 

StFX’s Angus L. Macdonald Library will have a book display on Black Nova Scotians during the month of February.

Marielle Lesperance’s hard work has paid off.

The 2010 honours physics student, who did her undergrad thesis working two years on a project with supervisor, earth sciences professor Dr. Hugo Beltrami, has had her paper published in one of the highest profile journals in the environmental sciences field, the American Geophysical Union.

“You cannot get better than this,” Dr. Beltrami says on being first author on the paper, entitled  Propagation of linear surface air temperature trends into the terrestrial subsurface.

“I was very excited to learn that my paper was accepted to the Journal of Geophysical Research,” says Ms. Lesperance of Ottawa, ON, who is now working as a research assistant in Memorial University’s physical oceanography department.

“I am extremely fortunate and grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Beltrami, for having provided me with this opportunity, as it is not common for an undergraduate student to be able to publish as a first author in a top scientific journal. By doing so, I have learned so much about the process of writing, submitting and having an article reviewed for publishing.”

Ms. Lesperance says this, along with her attendance at the American Geophysical Union conference as a student last December in San Francisco has given her much more confidence in her abilities to communicate research effectively, and has been invaluable as a preparation for graduate studies, which she plans to pursue next year.

Dr. Beltrami says one of the great things that StFX does is engage students in research. In particular in this instance, he says it was a nice collaboration between departments, since Ms. Lesperance graduated with a physics degree, but spent two years hired as his research student.

Professors are willing to put in time and to mentor students along the way, he says. Ms. Lesperence wrote various versions of the paper, he says, until it was right. “By putting in all the effort, we’re creating a star track for the student. We get her started. She knows how to write already. This is something we do at StFX and it’s not done elsewhere.”

Ms. Lesperance’s project addressed an important issue relating to heat storage in the subsurface and the use of borehole climatology methods to infer past ground surface temperature changes.

More specifically, it involved an investigation into the propagation of surface air temperature trends in the subsurface.

“Previous studies have tested the long-term coupling between air and terrestrial subsurface temperatures,” she says, “working under the assumption that linear trends in surface air temperature should be equal to those measured at depth within the subsurface. However, using a one-dimensional purely conductive model of the subsurface with synthetic, observational and GKSS ECHO-G General Circulation Model output data as the input, we were able to invalidate this assumption by showing that trends would theoretically exhibit a damping at depth, however on time scales for which observational data is available, temperature trends at depth are highly sensitive to annual variations in surface temperature. Equality of the trends at both the surface and subsurface, although it is possible to observe, is therefore not guaranteed.”

FINAL: CIS women’s rugby championship
StFX captures second Monilex trophy

Courtesy Trent University sports information

The St. Francis Xavier X-Women captured the second CIS women’s rugby title in school history on Sunday afternoon Nov. 7 with a thrilling 17-12 overtime win over the Concordia Stingers in the gold-medal final of the championship hosted by Trent University.

It marked the first title match decided in extra time in the 13-year existence of the CIS tournament.

The X-Women, 13-time Atlantic conference champions in as many AUS seasons, had claimed their first Monilex trophy as national champs in 2006 in London, Ont., thanks to a 10-5 gold-medal victory over Guelph. StFX returned to the CIS final each of the past two years, only to fall to Lethbridge on both occasions, 20-3 in 2009 and 29-15 in 2008.

While the second-place finish is disappointing for Concordia, it is the best-ever result for the Quebec titlist Stingers in their fifth appearance at the event.

StFX head coach Mike Cavanagh credited a quick start by his players for giving his team the edge in the game.

“They kept control of the ball and kept up their intensity throughout. Hats off to Concordia for a great game. They never gave up.”

“What a terrible way to lose. We had points to take and didn’t, and paid the price,” commented reigning CIS coach of the year Graeme McGravie of Concordia, obviously deeply disappointed.

The championship final fulfilled every bit of its promise to provide spectators with a thrilling climax to a fine week of rugby.

Amanda Thornborough of Brandon, Man., opened the scoring for StFX with a try converted by AUS rookie of the year Magali Harvey of Quebec City.

Concordia was finally able to put points on the board late in the first half when Sarah Scanlon of St. Bruno, Que., touched down from a driving maul off a 5 meter line-out. The try was not converted however and the Stingers went into the halftime break down 7-5.

Back from the intermission, Concordia quickly took its first and only lead of the afternoon on a play similar to Scanlon’s score. Lisa Hoffman of Montreal touched down this time and Quebec MVP Jackie Tittley of Kirkland, Que., converted to make it 12-7 Stingers.

The X-Women kept pressing and the momentum seemed to shift their way as the half wore on.

Asya Bartley of Ottawa finally powered in to tie the match at 12 all after her teammates had applied intense pressure on the Concordia defence with disciplined multiple phase control of the ball and territory.

In the 10-minute overtime period, the X-Women continued their dominance and only repeated desperate defensive play kept Concordia hopes alive.

Just as time was expiring in the first extra frame, Olivia DeMerchant of Woodstock, N.B., charged through for the championship-winning try.

The Centre for Biofouling Research is now online...

The Making the Career Connection (MCC) committee is pleased to announce Bruce Snow as keynote speaker of the 3rd Annual MCC dinner to be held September 29, 2010 on the StFX campus.

“It is an honour to be asked to address this audience and it is great to give back to the StFX community” Snow says.

Snow, who is currently starting up Snow Recruit, will shed light, inspiration and helpful advice for employers and career seekers about his experiences with issues and opportunities in today’s labour market. For the past 13 years, he has been dedicated to the success of Atlantic Canadian organizations by recruiting key members of their leadership teams and other high impact professionals.

He has acted as consultant and advisor to clients facing complex challenges with their recruitment processes, and excels at developing innovative solutions to recruitment challenges in all four Atlantic Provinces. Beyond his experience in recruitment, he draws on perspective gained in sales and management where he held roles with some of the country’s largest private companies.

In addition, he is actively involved as the vice president of the Human Resources Association of Nova Scotia and is chair of the board’s Information Technology Committee. He is involved with the Human Resources Association of New Brunswick (HRANB) and Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA). Bruce is also leading the Recruitment and Selection Committee for the 2011 Canada Games, which is responsible for recruiting approximately 5,000 volunteers in more than 60 different roles.

 “Mr. Snow’s experience and expertise ties in all that the event aims to achieve, which is; helping people make meaningful career connections.” says Jane MacDonald, manager of StFX’s Co-operative Education and Student Career Centre.

The Making the Career Connection includes a faculty-industry brunch networking session, student career fair, and networking reception and dinner. This event is a collaboration between the Co-operative Education Program, Enterprise Development Centre (XEDC) and the Student Career Centre.

Kristin Roe, the StFX masters of adult education student who became the first Nova Scotian to successfully swim across the English Channel, will be welcomed back to Halifax by family, friends and supporters on the Halifax waterfront boardwalk, beside the Halifax Ferry Terminal on Friday, August, 6 2010 from 6:30-9:30 a.m.

During this event, the public will have the opportunity to meet Kristin and hear more about her story. There will be a celebratory cake from the Gingerbread Haus, Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly will be there to greet and congratulate Kristin, and, to top it all off Kristin will swim across the Halifax Harbour.

Kristin began her swim on July 22 in Dover Harbour, U.K., at 7:45 a.m. (BST) and completed her swim at approximately 12:25 a.m. (BST) on July 23, making landfall near Calais, France. Water temperatures in the English Channel hovered around 16 degrees and conditions varied with the Halifax swimmer fighting her way through moderate seas, whitecaps and nausea for many hours.

A StFX graduate student and an employee of the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Kristin is hoping that her English Channel swim will raise $100,000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Nova Scotia -Gambia Association. She also wants to build awareness about the tremendous work that both organizations are undertaking to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.

Kristin was well prepared to successfully take on the English Channel. In July 2008, she swam a double crossing of the Northumberland Strait, a distance of over 30 kilometres. She successfully used her swim to raise $80,000 to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Farmers Helping Farmers.

To learn more about Kristin’s swim, campaign and the charities she’s supporting, please visit www.channelinghope.com, follow her on Twitter @Channeling_Hope or visit her Facebook page, Channeling Hope.  
 

Basketball coaching legend Steve Konchalski, head coach of the StFX X-Men; long-time wrestling coach and administrator Francis Clayton; and television personality Tim Micallef were honoured by Canadian Interuniversity Sport on Wednesday night, June 9.
 
The awards banquet was held at the Mont-Tremblant Conference Center in Mont-Tremblant, Que., as part of CIS’ annual general meeting.
 
Konchalski – Coach K, as he is known – is the recipient of the Jean-Marie De Koninck Coaching Excellence Award, presented since 2007 to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to university sport as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as a coach at the local, provincial national and/or international levels of Canadian university sport.
 
Clayton received the Austin-Matthews Award, presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to interuniversity sport, as demonstrated by his/her long-term commitment and leadership as a coach, director, chairperson and/or executive committee member at the local, provincial and/or national levels of Canadian interuniversity sport.

Micallef received the Fred Sgambati Media Award, presented annually by CIS to a member of media in recognition of his/her major contribution to the development and growth of Canadian university sport.

“These three individuals are emblematic of the hard work and effort invested in the delivery of a successful sports product,” said CIS president Clint Hamilton. “They are champions of CIS, and we are certainly appreciative of their long-standing contributions to the growth of university sport in Canada.”
 
Konchalski, who completed his 35th season at the helm of the X-Men in 2009-10, is the winningest coach in CIS men’s basketball history with a career overall record of 755 wins and 403 losses (.652). Coach K surpassed former Brandon bench boss Jerry Hemmings (734 wins) on Nov. 6, 2009 when his troops defeated UPEI 94-83 in Charlottetown.
 
Over his distinguished career in Antigonish, NS, Konchalski has led the X-Men to 34 consecutive playoff appearances dating back to 1977, nine AUS titles, 14 appearances at the CIS championship and three national crowns in 1993, 2000 and 2001. Named CIS coach of the year at the end of the 2000-01 campaign, he has received the same honour from AUS on six occasions, most recently in 2005-06.
 
A graduate of Acadia (1966) and Dalhousie (1969), the native of Elmhurst, NY, claimed a CIS title as a player with the Axemen back in 1965 when he was named MVP of the national championship. While coaching at StFX, he had a 16-year stint as an assistant with the Canadian national team from 1972 to 1988 including three Olympic Game appearances (1976, 1984, 1988) and had a second tour of duty with the national squad from 1995 to 1998, this time as the head coach. Since 2009, he has been a member of Basketball Canada’s Council of Excellence, serving as an advisor to the national team program.
 
Konchalski was inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 (coaching category), the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 (athlete), the StFX Sports Hall of Fame in both 2001 (builder) and 2008 (team – 1993 CIS champions) and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 (builder). In 1999, he was the inaugural recipient of the Frank Baldwin Memorial Award for dedication to basketball in Nova Scotia.
 
“As a result of his extensive success at the university, provincial and national team stage, Coach Konchalski’s name belongs in the upper echelon of the all-time great coaches in Canada,” said StFX Director of Athletics, Leo MacPherson. “The number of wins speaks for itself, but his real legacy has more to do with the quality of young men that he has brought to the university and how he has helped prepare them to graduate and become leaders. I count myself amongst those former players fortunate enough to benefit from his teachings.”

Canada’s first female foreign minister, national business moguls, and a leader in ophthalmology will receive top honours from Canada’s premier undergraduate university, St. Francis Xavier University.

The Honourable Flora MacDonald, P.C., C.C. is Canada’s first female foreign minister and was the first female leadership candidate for a major national political party. Ms. MacDonald will be one of four influential Canadians to receive an honorary degree during StFX's Spring Convocation at the Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre on Sunday, May 2.

Two of Canada’s outstanding entrepreneurs, Donald R. Sobey and David F. Sobey, C.M., will be awarded honorary degrees. Distinguished ophthalmologist and surgeon, Dr. Brian O’Brien, M.D., F.R.C.S (C), a leader in developing modern treatment of eye disease will be honoured as well during Spring Convocation 2010.

The morning ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. Degrees or diplomas in course will be conferred in Graduate Studies, Adult Education, Education, Science, Nursing, Human Nutrition, Human Kinetics, Engineering and Integrated Dietetic Internship. The afternoon ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. with degrees or diplomas in course presented in Arts, Business Administration, Information Systems, Music and Jazz Studies More than 1,000 students are expected to graduate.

Brief biographies of StFX’s four honorary degree recipients:

Donald R. Sobey
Stellarton, Nova Scotia

Donald R. Sobey, a finance specialist, joined the family business in 1958 where he played a key role in expanding the regional-based supermarket into one of the country’s most successful grocers. He joined the board of Empire Company Limited in 1963, was appointed president in 1969 and chairman in 1985. On his retirement in 2004, he was appointed Chairman Emeritus. He has been active on many boards and fundraising activities. He established The D & R Sobey Atlantic Leadership Scholarships at Queen’s University, from where he graduated with a B.Comm, and is one of Canada’s foremost patrons of the arts. He is president of The Sobey Art Foundation, which created The Sobey Art Award, worth $50,000 to young Canadian artists. He is a Keith Kelly Award recipient for cultural leadership, a member of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, and recipient of several honorary degrees.

Brian O’Brien, M.D., F.R.C.S (C)
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Dr. Brian O’Brien is a distinguished ophthalmologist and surgeon who was a leader in developing modern treatment of eye disease in the Maritimes. He was the first to use the Argon laser for repair of retinal tears and diabetic retinopathy. Well respected for his diagnostic skills, he was looked to by referring doctors for insight on difficult cases. Working long hours and pursuing upgrading courses at famous clinics, he stayed at the top of his profession and was a valuable member of the Dalhousie Medical School faculty while maintaining a full practice. He was president of the Medical Society of Nova Scotia and a member of the Board of Examiners for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. A graduate of StFX ’52, in retirement he is devoted to his family and to the restoration of Holy Cross Cemetery and its chapel in Halifax, the burial ground of thousands of Irish immigrants that has fallen into serious disrepair.

Honourable Flora MacDonald, P.C., C.C.
Ottawa, Ontario

The Honorable Flora MacDonald was first elected to the House of Commons in 1972, where she served 16 years as MP for Kingston and the Islands, holding three Cabinet positions. She became Canada’s first female foreign minister in 1979, and one of the first female foreign ministers anywhere, when she became Secretary of State for External Affairs. She was the first woman graduate of the National Defence College, and first woman leadership candidate for a major national political party. Since 1988, she has devoted her time to international humanitarian work. Just a few of her passions include the plight of refugees, initiatives to support equal rights and justice, and peaceful change through international commitment. Among numerous other honours, she is a Companion of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, the first recipient of India’s prestigious Padma Shri Award, and the 1999 Pearson Peace Medal recipient.

David F. Sobey, C.M.
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

David F. Sobey is widely respected as one of Canada’s foremost business leaders. He began his career with Sobeys over 60 years ago, serving in many leadership roles. He became chief executive officer in 1982 and was appointed Chairman Emeritus on his retirement in 2001. His commitment to home has always been evident. The family’s maintaining head office in Stellarton, NS, has provided enormous regional economic stimulus. His industry and community service has always been extensive, particularly in education, with the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University and the Frank H. Sobey Excellence in Business Scholarships. In 2008, he was appointed Chancellor of Saint Mary’s, from where he holds an honorary degree. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, and a Knight of the Golden Pencil, the Canadian grocery industry’s highest honour.

Aislinn Fulton and Victoria Hughes didn’t know each other before this year. But the two fourth year students each found their way to the TOMS website – a shoe company that for every pair sold donates a pair of shoes to a child in need – and each was inspired enough by this One for One movement to contact the company to see if a TOMS Campus Club existed at StFX.

It didn’t. But they connected and teamed up to start one.

Now, as co-presidents of StFX’s TOMS Campus Club, they have been busy raising funds and awareness. Part of the movement is to encourage small acts that help others, and they’ve taken this “Start Something That Matters” philosophy to heart.

In February, they staged a school supplies drive and donated all the proceeds to the dozens of StFX students travelling to placements in developing countries around the world through StFX’s Immersion Service Learning program. Each group had two bags stuffed with school supplies.

Ms. Fulton had travelled to Belize on an Immersion Service Learning experience in her second year and knew how much the donation would mean to the recipients.

“After I went with Service Learning to Belize I really saw it firsthand, how prominent the problem is,” says Ms. Fulton.

“It was really eye opening. We take it for granted. They don’t. Anything they get is a huge gift for them.”

This month, the society will host a ‘Style Your Sole’ party, open to anyone to participate. Interested people can be part of a bulk order for plain white canvas TOMS shoes (orders must be received by March 8 at so_toms@stfx.ca; shoes are at a discounted price of $60 including shipping and taxes) and then join together March 24 for a painting party to decorate their shoes. They are hoping through this initiative to be able to donate at least 25 pairs of shoes to children in need.

On April 10, they will stage a Day Without Shoes, where people will walk a portion of the StFX track without shoes to raise awareness of the importance of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life and to see firsthand what it feels like to go without shoes.

Both Ms. Hughes and Ms. Fulton say they were inspired by the TOMS movement.

“It seemed like a nice easy way to help. They are nice, comfortable shoes that are in style, and you just helped a child in need,” says Ms. Fulton.

“If you are buying a pair of shoes, you might as well buy two pairs and donate to someone,” Ms. Hughes agrees. 

TOMS began in 2006 when American Blake Mycoskie (who appeared on the Amazing Race) befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created the company. He returned to Argentina later that year with a group of family, friends and staff with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Wearing shoes is a barrier to disease, and cuts and sore. It can also mean the opportunity to go to school. Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school.

Since that first “shoe drop,” (TOMS hand-fits each child with the solid black canvas style shoe that is required for school), the company has donated over one million shoes in 75 countries.

Ms. Hughes, who has previously volunteered in the clothing room of a women’s shelter, says she saw how something as simple as new clothing can change someone’s day by putting them at ease, and less stressed.

“That’s the biggest thing we have taken from the TOMS movement: simple things that can improve someone’s life.”

The Park Bench Players will be coming to StFX’s Immaculata Hall on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. thanks to a partnership between the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority (GASHA) and StFX. 

The Park Bench Players are a community-based theatre troupe consisting of adults with a chronic mental illness. The play “With a Little Help From My Friends” aims to debunk the myths and to celebrate all the meaningful contributions those who live with a chronic mental illness make to our communities each day.

“GASHA is proud to be a co-sponsor of this event,” says Liz Millett, GASHA’s interim CEO. “Each year, the GASHA ethics committee hosts an ethics education event for the public and this play, because of its subject matter, is quite a nice fit. Ethics is, fundamentally, about how we treat each other and we know that people with mental illness are not always treated well. I think people will enjoy the performance because of the balance of honesty and humour on what can be a very serious topic.”
 
The GASHA ethics committee is a confidential resource available to help patients, their families, and health care workers with ethical health care issues or questions. The committee accepts referrals from anyone concerned about ethics in patient care and policy issues. 

The play, written by Jim Mulcahy, a former English and drama teacher in Antigonish, was performed to a sell-out audience at the Clare Marie Gathering Place this past fall and as a result has been requested by various community groups, educational institutions and government departments.

Following the performance, a facilitated discussion with members of the audience will be lead by Dr. Marika Warren, Nova Scotia Health Ethics Network, and StFX philosophy professor Dr. Will Sweet, chair of the GASHA ethics committee. 

StFX Human Rights & Equity Officer Marie Brunelle says the play is a great way to create awareness and help people realize mental illness is in our community. “Once I saw the play in November, I knew I wanted to bring it to campus,” says Ms. Brunelle. “The Antigonish community is very open to those with mental disabilities/challenges but there are still taboos. I want to help achieve a similar level of acceptance and understanding for people with a mental illness.”
 
There is no admission to the play, but donations are welcomed to help the Players with production expenses.

StFX men's basketball head coach Steve Konchalski – Coach K – earned his 800th career victory on home court with an 87-68 win over the UNB Varsity Reds on January 7, 2012 at the StFX Oland Centre.

“I am very proud of the accomplishment,” comments the veteran coach. “My original goal when I came to StFX was to produce high-caliber teams year in and year out, so this milestone is a good measurement of the success of that goal.”

Coach Konchalksi's X-Men remain undefeated this season with a 7-0 record and are currently ranked second in the nation. Coach Konchalski continues, “My main focus now is on the remainder of the AUS season. We are off to a strong start this year and it could be a special year, I am really looking forward to it.”

The milestone win came in Konchalski's 37th season, all of which have been spent behind the helm of the StFX X-Men. He currently has an all-time overall career coaching record (regular season, playoffs and non-conference) of 800 wins and 410 losses, coaching in over 1,200 CIS games. He is the winningest coach in CIS history.

Coach Konchalski has led the X-Men to 14 appearances at the CIS championships and has won three national titles (1993, 2000 and 2001). His X-Men have made 35 consecutive AUS playoff appearances and have won nine AUS championship titles.

Coach K was named the 2001 CIS Coach of the Year, has been honoured as AUS Coach of the Year on six occasions, and in 2010 received the CIS Jean-Marie DeKoninck Coaching Excellence award.

Outside of his StFX coaching experience, Coach Konchalski served as the Canadian national team head coach for four years (1995-98) and assistant coach for 16 years (1973-1988), participating in three Olympic Games (1976, 1984, and 1988). He is currently an advisor to the national team program as a member of the Basketball Canada Council of Excellence.

As a player, he led Acadia University to a national title in 1965 where he was named tournament MVP. A native of Elmhurst, NY, Coach K has been inducted into the StFX Sports Hall of Fame (2008, 2001), Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame (2007), Acadia Sports Hall of Fame (1994), Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame (1993) and was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Frank Baldwin Memorial Award for dedication to basketball in Nova Scotia in 1999.

Members of the StFX community gathered Nov. 3, 2011, to celebrate research at StFX and to honour two Canada Research Chairs, who have recently had their chairs renewed, Dr. Petra Hauf and Dr. L. Jane McMillan.

Dr. Hauf was awarded a half a million dollars in federal funding for research and continues to hold the position of Natural Sciences and Engineering Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Development.

Dr. McMillan is once again awarded the title of Social Sciences and Humanities Canada Research Chair in Indigenous People and Sustainable Communities. She will receive a half a million dollars for continued research.

Pictured here during the event, which took place in the Faculty Lounge at the Schwartz School of Business, are, l-r, StFX President Dr. Sean Riley, Vice-President Academic & Provost Dr. Mary McGillivray, Dr. Hauf, Dr. McMillan, and Vice-President Research Dr. Keith De’Bell.

Members of the StFX community gathered Nov. 3, 2011, to celebrate research at StFX and to honour two Canada Research Chairs, who have recently had their chairs renewed, Dr. Petra Hauf and Dr. L. Jane McMillan.

Dr. Hauf was awarded a half a million dollars in federal funding for research and continues to hold the position of Natural Sciences and Engineering Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Development.

Dr. McMillan is once again awarded the title of Social Sciences and Humanities Canada Research Chair in Indigenous People and Sustainable Communities. She will receive a half a million dollars for continued research.

Pictured here during the event, which took place in the Faculty Lounge at the Schwartz School of Business, are, l-r, StFX President Dr. Sean Riley, Vice-President Academic & Provost Dr. Mary McGillivray, Dr. Hauf, Dr. McMillan, and Vice-President Research Dr. Keith De’Bell.
 

Dr. Daniel Paul, a Mi’kmaw Elder, advocate, author, and recipient of the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia, will be in Antigonish to speak on First Nations History: Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Nov. 3 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the People’s Place Library.

The event is sponsored by the StFX Human Rights and Equity Advisor’s Office; the StFX Aboriginal Student Advisor’s Office; and the Aboriginal Rights Coalition Atlantic.

Dr. Paul’s groundbreaking history We Were Not the Savages (2006) documents the settlement and colonization of Nova Scotia from a Mi'kmaq perspective.
 
Everyone is invited to join in the evening event for a time of reflection about how the community can continue the process of truth sharing and reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples.

StFX Human Rights and Equity Advisor Marie Brunelle says the Nov. 3 event follows two "Conversation Sessions on Residential Schools" held locally for the StFX and local communities. As well, it follows the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Atlantic National Event taking place in Halifax from Oct. 26-28.

In a similar theme, Dr. Paulette Regan, the director of research for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, will present a public lecture at StFX on Monday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. in the Schwartz School auditorium. Dr. Regan  holds a PhD from the Indigenous Governance Program at the University of Victoria, and is author of the book, Unsettling the Settler Within.

Margaret Franklin, president and CEO of Kinsale Private Wealth Inc., delivers keynote

StFX students Maura Casey of St. John’s, NL and Jenna Burge of Ottawa, ON were honoured as this year’s recipients of the Dr. Trudy Eagan Women in Business Scholarship, presented annually to two top female students in the Gerald Schwartz School of Business.

Dr. Eagan, an honorary degree recipient from StFX, presented the awards to the students during the 12th annual Dr. Trudy Eagan Women in Business Speakers’ Series and Award Presentations, “Women Who Make A Difference”.

Margaret Franklin, the president and CEO of Kinsale Private Wealth Inc. and immediate past chair of the CFA Institute Board of Governors, delivered the keynote address to the large crowd gathered at the Schwartz School Auditorium for the event.

Margaret Franklin

Drawing in part from her own prestigious career, Ms. Franklin delivered frank and inspiring career advice to the many students in the audience.

Ms. Franklin has 20 years of institutional and private client investment management experience. She has worked at Barclays Global Investors, State Street Global Advisors and Mercers in senior positions. In 2002, she moved from the institutional side of the business to work with private clients and works with individuals and families to construct portfolios that address their specific objectives, needs, and personalities.

She is a past president of the Toronto CFA Society and is a CFA charterholder. Ms. Franklin was recently named as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100.  She has a BA in economics from McMaster University, and is a regular speaker to media and at conferences in the areas of investing, behavioral finance and private wealth.

Dr. Eagan introduced the student award recipients with glowing comments.

“I continue to be so very proud of the caliber of students on the campus,” she said as she presented the awards.

Maura Casey, described as an inspiring entrepreneur and praised for her enthusiasm and work ethic, has been president for the past two years of StFX’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team, which won the 2011 TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge Regional Championship. SIFE is a team-based program that encourages post secondary students to address relevant economic, social and environmental issues by empowering others to improve their quality of life and standard of living. Ms. Casey is also the vice president of the Class of 2012, and has held various roles on the StFX Students’ Union including as an environmental liaison. After graduation, she plans to apply for a Coady International Institute Youth Internship position.

Jenna Burge, an information systems student majoring in enterprise system, was praised for her dedication, drive, and top academic record. Ms. Burge is in the co-op program and has opted to complete the five-year program in four years. This means carrying additional course work by taking on extra courses during the summer work period as well as carrying an overload in the school year. She is also the captain of the rowing team, and has held several positions with Research in Motion (RIM) including acting as the campus liaison between the RIM recruitment team and StFX students. She consistently ranks at the top of her class. 

Dr. Eagan is well known to StFX as a business leader, community advocate, former student, honorary degree recipient, and friend. She served as CAO and Executive Vice President of Sun Media Information, the second largest publisher in Canada, for 28 years before leaving her position to pursue her passion for philanthropic activities. 
 

Part-Time Undergraduate Study awards deadline November 15.

Dr. Semple says the group worked on repairing pathways at the Belize Zoo - spreading rocks so that visitors can see if snakes come onto the path. They also tiled a library in a school (cementing a loonie into the floor), worked with children in their classes, and led both an arts and sports days at the school. The group also donated sports equipment.

The StFX contingent also had a little time for fun – getting a chance to hike, canoe, and spend an afternoon at a beach village.

“For me, the richest learning came in being exposed to the diversity of ethnicities in Belize,” Dr. Semple says. “For example there is a cultural difference between people of mixed race descent with Afro-Caribbean background - and those who are ethnically similar but who descend from people who escaped from being slaves before emancipation. We also were really faced with the reality of what western tourism and development has done to Belize in the past 30 years.”

Second year political science student Mary Anne MacDonald from Antigonish, NS says the experience was very relevant to her studies. “I’ve taken a few development studies classes, and it was great to finally have the chance to visit a developing country. We made many observations stemming from socio-economic and cultural differences between Canada and Belize.”

Ms. MacDonald is currently completing an interdisciplinary class through Service Learning which involves writing a paper about a topic of her choice incorporating her personal experience on the trip with academic research. “I am researching ecotourism in Belize, which is basically an effort toward establishing sustainable development thorough the tourism industry by focusing on conservation of the environment while also contributing to the local community and economy. Working on this project during the trip was actually more of a bonus than a burden because it gave me the initiative to talk to a number of interesting people who work in the ecotourism industry.”

She says she decided to participate in Service Learning as it was a good way to ease into international travel. “Belize was my first visit to a developing country and I was glad to have good company. On the way to Belize, we found out in Halifax that our flights were cancelled; not delayed, but simply cancelled. Conveniently, we didn’t have to worry as the good folks at Service Learning were working behind the scenes to make alternate arrangements.”

She says their time in Maya Center was very much in the spirit of ecotourism as they lived in the community in the family compound, experienced first-hand the Mayan culture through food, music, and dancing; volunteered at the school, played with the kids, were in and out of the jungle; even learned how to make traditional meal: “Something that I would never have experienced in a mass resort type situation.”

Ms. MacDonald says she was fascinated by the fact that most people in Maya Center Village speak three to five languages. “I was chatting with a few boys who were intrigued that I knew French, a new language for them. I taught them a few words and they avidly took notes. It soon caught on and other students brought notebooks to copy down the words too. I was surprised, yet thrilled that these young people wanted to absorb another language despite having already mastered several others. A few of the boys continued to greet me in French for the rest of the week.”

From protecting endangered sea turtles in Grenada to applying for grant funding in Ontario, StFX student Rachel Mitchell has had a busy and productive summer since finishing her second year at StFX this spring.

The aquatic resources and economics student from Toronto, ON spent the month of May in Grenada working as a research assistant with Ocean Spirits, a conservation organization focused primarily on protecting marine turtles. She is now in Portland, ON completing an internship with Centre for Sustainable Watersheds (CSW).

“In Grenada, my work consisted of night surveys, morning surveys, nest excavations, data collection, protecting hatchlings, and working with local youth through the after school club,” she says. 

Ms. Mitchell worked four nights a week from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Levera Beach, home of the Leatherback, a critically endangered sea turtle. “With every turtle that emerged, we were responsible for counting the eggs, measuring the carapace, checking flipper tags, and documenting any other information on the turtle, whether it was a missing flipper, or wounds.

“In the event that you came across a new turtle, untagged and with no micro chip, you were given the opportunity to name and tag your very own turtle. I was fortunate enough to discover two new turtles.”

She also completed morning survey work that involved waking at 5:30 a.m., walking to a nearby beach, and raking turtle tracks. “It was very important to cover the tracks, making it harder for poachers to steal the eggs,” she says.

“The after school club at the local school was a great opportunity to educate kids about sea turtles, how to protect them, and the importance of not consuming turtle eggs and meat. We held various workshops, providing the kids with a wealth of information, as well as hands on learning, and crafts.”

Ms. Mitchell, who will be the internal environmental officer with the Students’ Union as well as an arts councilor this year, says she has always been interested in turtles. She spoke with her StFX program advisor, Lynn Patterson, for guidance on sea turtle conservation trips. “I discovered Ocean Spirits last year, and knew that this was the trip for me. I worked as an RA in TNT this past year to help with saving for the adventure. I soon feel in love with the residence just as I had during my first year in Lane Hall.”

Since returning to Canada, she is interning with the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds in Portland ON, and living in a house with two fellow interns, engineering students from France. She discovered CSW through an email Ms. Patterson sent out. “I checked their website, and found a posting about internships. I sent in my resume and a couple days later I received a call from the president and CEO.”

As an intern, Ms. Mitchell says she is fortunate to benefit from work experience in various areas. She just finished a presentation on BioBlitz, a volunteer biological inventory, and is now working on a funding proposal to carry out BioBlitz events in the area. In the coming weeks she is looking forward to potential field work with the endangered American eel, as well as the Eastern Pond Mussel.

“This internship is great. I have been able to gain lots of experience that will help with my studies, and potential jobs into the future. Experience is hard to come by, and though this is an unpaid position, I know it will be very beneficial to me.”

As for StFX? The experience has been amazing, she says.

 “X marked the spot for me from the moment I stepped on campus.

“I wanted to attend a smaller university, with lots of school spirit. I want to graduate not only with a degree, but with the feeling that I have been a part of something. It’s been the best two years of my life thus far, and I am anticipating much of the same going into my third year. StFX is such a close-knit community, I find that being involved opens up many doors, and has allowed me to meet people from all over,” she says. 

“This summer has been very exciting, from Grenada to Portland, and I am very much looking forward to the coming year. I love X and all it has to offer.”

St. Francis Xavier University and the Town of the Antigonish are teaming together to explore the future of feminism through a series of events during International Women’s Week March 7-12 that encourage discussion on healing, justice, and equality for women.

One of the highlights of the week will be Dr. Sherene Razack, professor of Critical Race, Gender, and Citizenship Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, who will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday, March 8, International Women’s Day, at 7 p.m. in Dennis Hall, Coady International Institute, StFX. Dr. Razack will also be available to sign copies of her latest book, Dying From Improvement, on Indigenous deaths in state custody.

 Dr. Sherene Razack

In this book, Dr. Razack argues that amidst systematic state violence against Indigenous people, inquiries and inquests serve to obscure the violence of ongoing settler colonialism under the guise of benevolent concern.

She will also attend a Lunch & Learn on noon (Community Room, People’s Place) on Wednesday, March 9 on the future of feminist scholarship and the implications for the community.

Dr. Razack is a scholar with an international reputation whose expertise lies in the area of critical race, gender, and citizenship studies in education. Her research has focused on education for social change. Her work has particularly addressed sexual and racial violence, and the role such violence plays in maintaining white supremacist, patriarchal and capitalist social orders. She achieved her doctorate in education from the University of Toronto in 1989. Apart from two years spent as an assistant professor of women’s studies at the Simone de Beauvoir Institute at Concordia University in Montréal, she has been a faculty member at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at University of Toronto for the past 24 years. She is currently a full professor in the Department of Social Justice Education.

Dr. Razack’s publications include five single-authored and three edited books, and numerous refereed journal articles and book chapters. She has been invited to present her work across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Events planned for the week include:

Monday, March 7

Women, Reconciliation & Community Action: A Panel & Discussion with Indigenous Women Leaders
6:30-9 p.m.
Dennis Hall, Coady International Institute, StFX

Tuesday, March 8

Free coffee for women at participating businesses

Women’s Day March
12-1 p.m.
Coady International Institute, StFX

Dr. Sherene Razack, keynote and book signing
7-9 p.m.
Dennis Hall, Coady International Institute, StFX

Wednesday, March 9

Dr. Sherene Razack Lunch & Learn
12-1 p.m.
Community Room, People’s Place Library

Journeys to Wellness: The Light through the Tunnel
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Community Room, People’s Place Library

 Thursday, March 10

“Not Who We Are” Film Screening & Syria-Antigonish Families Embrace Fundraiser
7-8:30 p.m.
Desmond Hall, Coady International Institute, StFX

Friday, March 11

Feminist Futures Breakfast
7:30-9 a.m.
The Prissy Pig
* Advance tickets required, 902-863-6221.

Saturday, March 12

Family Singalong
2-3 p.m.
Club 60

Express Yourself: A Feminist Cabaret
8 p.m. on...
Piper’s Pub
* $10 cover ($5 unwaged/student). 19 years and up.

The week is supported by: the Antigonish Women's Resource Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association, Naomi Society, Building a Breastfeeding Environment, Antigonish Town & County Crime Prevention, Paqtnkek Health Centre, Pictou Antigonish Regional Library, StFX – Women’s and Gender Studies, Human Rights & Equity Office, International Student Advising Office, Service Learning, Young Women’s Empowerment, and the Coady International Institute – International Centre for Women’s Leadership.

Beginning Friday, February 12th, all Library Patrons will be able book one of our 4 study rooms up to 7 days in advance.  In addition, patrons will be able to hold up to 6 bookings on their account at any one time.  Our study rooms seat up to 8 people comfortably and include a presentation monitor plus an RGB and HDMI cables for connecting to a computer. Other adapters are available for borrowing at the Access Services desk.  The study rooms are great for individual or group study, presentation practice, online interviews, tutoring, online exams and much more.  For more information, please visit the Access Services Desk located near the main entrance of the Library or our website, www.library.stfx.ca.

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