Leaders on campus and in the community: meet the 2025 SLRA recipients

Front row: Maria Manette, Spencer Vallis, Khuloud Saqib, Liah Christie.
Back row: Hailey Forbes, Ella Fitzgerald, Melissa Álvarez Del Angel, Audrey Salinger

Career & Experiential Learning and the Saint Mary’s University Student Association (SMUSA) hosted the annual Student Leadership Recognition Award (SLRA) ceremony on April 3, 2025. The award recognizes students who possess, display, and apply leadership qualities and skills within the Saint Mary’s University community and beyond.

The SLRA was initiated in 2012 and is awarded to a maximum of three students from each Faculty (Arts, Science, Sobey School of Business, and Graduate Studies). Learn more about the Student Leadership Recognition Award.

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Meet the award recipients

Melissa Álvarez Del Angel

Melissa Álvarez is a third-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Psychology. As an international student from Mexico, Melissa understands what it means to start over. Facing cultural shock and the silent battles of proving herself in unfamiliar spaces shaped her passion for advocacy and community care. Melissa is a Senior Residence Assistant and Chair of the Residence Wellness Team, where she leads initiatives focused on harm reduction and mental health awareness, creating spaces for students to feel seen and heard. Beyond campus, Melissa volunteers at Peter’s Place, assisting individuals recovering from brain injuries. She is also involved in the French Woodland Conservation Project, where she helps educate children about the preservation of yellow birch trees.

Liah Christie

Liah is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science Chemistry Honours student minoring in Philosophy. A dedicated leader at Saint Mary’s University, she has excelled in academics, mentorship, and research. As a Peer Success Coach, she supports student transitions through personalized coaching and learning strategy workshops. Within the Chemistry Department, Liah has worked as a Research Assistant, TA, SNAP Centre Peer Tutor, and SMU Chemistry Society Co-President, fostering academic growth and engagement for science students. Beyond the lab, Liah is deeply committed to community health and advocacy. She has volunteered over 225 hours with Ronald McDonald House Charities, co-chairs the Halifax Community Health Board, and delivers educational mental health presentations as a certified JackTalks Speaker.

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Minor in French. Ella has volunteered for three years with Students Acting for Global Awareness and served as a Teaching Assistant in the Mathematics Department. Additionally, she has volunteered as a Pack Leader with SMUSA for two years, creating a safe and welcoming community at Saint Mary’s. Ella participated in a year-long Study Abroad program at the University of Seoul in South Korea, where she joined Korean tutoring groups, volunteered as an English discussion leader, and contributed to the International Student Fellowship program, which strives to build a diverse global community. Ella also completed two spring semester exchanges in Québec. Ella will begin her Bachelor of Education program following graduation to further her goal of making education more accessible to all.

Hailey Forbes

Hailey is a third-year Bachelor of Arts Psychology student, completing the Forensic Psychology Certificate. Hailey has a strong passion for leadership, accessibility, and student success, holding various leadership positions in the Saint Mary’s community. As a Peer Success Coach for Accessibility, Hailey supports Arts students and individuals registered with the Fred Smithers Centre by facilitating learning strategy workshops and one-on-one coaching. She also serves as the Vice President of the Psychology Society, fostering connections and growth among students. Additionally, Hailey is involved with the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative, working to raise awareness of sexual and gender-based violence to promote a safer campus environment. Outside of the SMU community, Hailey volunteers every summer at Camp Triumph, a camp for children who have a sibling/parent with a chronic illness or disability.

Maria Mannette

Maria Mannette is a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student, double majoring in Computing & Information Systems and Management. Graduating as Valedictorian in Spring 2025, she has been an active leader on campus, serving as a Teaching Assistant, a Peer Academic Leader, a BComm Ambassador, and the Administrative Assistant for the Sobey School of Business Commerce Society. She also played a key role in student governance as the Deputy Returning Officer for the SMUSA elections in 2023. In September 2024, Maria founded the university’s first Women In Business Society, serving as its inaugural President and igniting a legacy of female leadership, inclusion, and professional development with a growing community of over 100 members. Alongside her studies, Maria works full-time and volunteers with the Greek community.

Lydia Ramsay

Lydia Ramsay is a third-year Bachelor of Commerce Finance and Accounting student and Sobey National Innovator Scholar. For the past two years, she has served as a Residence Assistant on campus, fostering an inclusive environment and community. Lydia leads as Events and Engagement Lead for the Women in Business Society, organizing impactful events such as the Women in Finance Panel Gala. Beyond SMU, Lydia has coordinated French leadership training for the Canadian Student Leadership Association and launched an online Student Leadership Certification Program. With involvement in SMU’s Venture Grade Program and Research Associate for the IMPACT Investment Fund, she excels in financial leadership. Lydia aims to further her leadership in finance and community impact with the Women in Business Society.

Audrey Salinger

Audrey is a fourth-year PhD candidate investigating genetic impacts on the recovery of two endangered cetacean populations. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Tromsø and a Bachelor of Science from UCLA. Audrey’s contributions to the SMU community include co-organizing the seminar and journal club series for the biology and environmental science departments and helping to facilitate the biweekly EDIA book club. Audrey works as both a teaching assistant for biology and ENVS courses and an exam invigilator for the Fred Smithers Centre. Off campus, Audrey volunteers as a student representative for the Nova Scotia Institute of Science, where she serves student interests among the broader scientific community by supporting initiatives for students to share their scientific research and learn about potential career paths.

Khuloud Saqib

Khuloud Saqib is a third-year international student majoring in Criminology with a minor in Psychology. Widely recognized on campus as the ‘purple-haired’ girl, Khuloud has made an impact through her leadership and involvement in student life. She started as a dedicated member of SMUSA’s Street Team in her first year, a role that required energy, extroversion, and direct engagement with students. She was also an active member of the SMU Cheerleading team for two years and served as the Captain of her team in her second year. Alongside this, Khuloud upheld various off-campus volunteer roles. Currently, Khuloud serves as the Vice President - Societies for SMUSA, where she plays a key role in supporting the 60 active societies, managing event risks, and ensuring policies are upheld.

Ramon Stultz

Born and raised in Jamaica, Ramon Stultz is a third-year international student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management. Ramon co-founded the Premiere Emcee Team, where he draws upon his background in hosting high-profile Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion events. He held the positions of Resident Assistant for two consecutive years and Research Assistant at the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, where he applied his finance expertise and passion for youth mentoring to support groundbreaking research initiatives for Black communities. Ramon also contributes to Tribe Network as an Administrative Lead. Ramon’s goal remains steadfast: to drive positive change, inspire those around him, and foster a thriving environment for learning, growth and innovation.

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Spencer Vallis

Spencer is a dedicated advocate, community organizer and leader, passionate about creating change. He is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Social Justice and Community Studies and minoring in Sociology. Spencer has led the SMU Pride Society for the past two years, advocating for institutional change, organizing queer-centric events, and supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ SMUdents. He is a Teaching Assistant in the Faculty of Arts and represents 2SLGBTQIA+ students on the Sexual Violence Prevention Executive Advisory Committee. In addition to his leadership on campus, he works full-time in retail management and excels academically as a two-time Dean’s List recipient. Recently, he was appointed to the Point Pleasant Park Advisory Committee with the City of Halifax.

Saint Mary's students are reimagining global action from the ground up

Students prepare the SMU Community Garden for Spring

Little actions are growing big change with the SMU Gardening Society. Newly established this academic year, the Gardening Society is an example of how grassroots (literally!) action can have meaningful impacts on things like food security, sustainability and climate action.

April 22 is Earth Day; a day that reminds the world to stop and think about how each little action, like turning the lights off and avoiding water wastage, can add up to big impacts when applied on a large scale. For many, change can feel out of reach as we get caught up in big-gesture, large-scale actions. But for Elizabeth (Lizz) Dixon, President and Founder of SMU’s Gardening Society, it’s the smallest actions that can make the biggest impact in our everyday lives.

An international student completing her first year in the Bachelor of Arts program at Saint Mary’s, Lizz grew up with a love for gardening, both for the joy and family connection, and for the outcomes that helped lessen the impact of food insecurity in her home. Now living in an apartment building in Halifax with no real green space to work with, and continuing to feel the impacts of food insecurity, Lizz came up with the idea to start a gardening society at Saint Mary’s.

“I have lived in Halifax since 2023 and have seen grocery prices go up many times, especially for things like fresh produce,” Lizz explains. “As someone living with diabetes, I can’t just turn to canned or frozen vegetables, which means spending a lot more of my budget on fresh items. But as an international student, I am restricted to working a maximum number of hours per week, limiting my income abilities. Between rising costs, access, and things like dietary needs or medical circumstances, many people are being forced to choose between housing, bills and food; it just didn’t sit right with me.”

In the fall of 2024, the SMU Gardening Society took root with the goal of expanding SMU’s Community Garden to attract more pollinators to campus and establish vegetable and herb plots that could provide fresh produce to students.

Rachel Clarke, Bradley Knockwood, Kagan Akiyama, Leo, Noah Martin, Elizabeth Dixon, Meagan and Chloe from the Gardening, Environmental and Outdoors societies worked together to prepare the Community Garden.

The society has hosted a number of events throughout the academic year including an overhaul of the SMU Community Garden, a collaborative event with the Environmental Society and the Outdoor Society. On March 29, members of the community came together to repair old garden beds, prepare the soil and plant this year’s pollinator plants.

Pollinator plants attract crucial pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. These are integral contributors to a healthy ecosystem by increasing the production of plants that store carbon. Pollinators are also necessary for many plants' food production, which increases local food access and, as a result, decreases greenhouse gas emissions caused by food production and transportation.

An estimated one-third of the world’s produced food ends up wasted, which means wasted energy from its production, packaging and transportation, and increased methane emissions from food rotting in landfills. This Earth Day, Lizz is sharing the message of reducing waste as a small, easy step that can have a significant impact on our climate.

“Food waste is something we can all strive to reduce with minimal effort. Plants have a lot more edible parts than many people realize. Broccoli stalks are edible and nutrient-dense, but so many people toss that part because they don’t realize it’s edible or don’t know how to use it. Prioritizing local produce, having a plan for your food and using all edible components of it all add up to long-term impacts.”

On her hopes for the future of the community garden, Lizz says the Gardening Society has lots of long-term dreams. “Right now, our hope is to bring fresh food to students this year and eventually expand to selling our fresh produce at local markets. We’re playing around with ideas like bee hives and mushroom sheds, and we really hope to establish a greenhouse for year-round growing. But ultimately, we want people to learn about growing and cultivating food that can reduce the impacts of food insecurity and the harmful environmental impacts of externally sourced foods, all while feeling the positive community and mental health benefits of getting your hands dirty!”

To learn more about the SMU Gardening Society and their initiatives, visit SMU Gardening Halifax on Instagram or reach out by email to smugardening@gmail.com.

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Did you know? Saint Mary’s offers a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Certificate in Sustainability Business and Minor in Climate Change Studies. Learn more about Sustainability at Saint Mary’s.

The Counselling Centre helps students de-stress during exam season

As classes ended for the Winter Term, the Mental Health Peer Support team at The Counselling Centre invited some furry friends to campus to help students unwind. Therapy dogs Roo, Chester and Hopkins visited students for pets and cuddles, in collaboration with Saint John Ambulance.

“This time of year tends to be stressful for students. We try to bring therapy dogs in to help people feel a little calmer going into finals,” said Zoë MacDonald, a third-year Arts student and Mental Health Peer Supporter, in a recent story with CBC.

Her co-organizer and fellow Peer Supporter, Cedric Ralph, agreed, sharing that the therapy dogs give students an opportunity to unwind in a social setting. Cedric is a fifth-year psychology student and athlete on the Huskies men’s hockey team.

See the full story on CBC.ca

Peer Supporters are trained upper-year students who have lived experience with mental health and understand the challenges of being a student. They offer confidential, one-on-one support and weekly drop-in hours throughout the term for all students. The Peer Support program is run in conjunction with the other universities in Halifax through the Stay Connected Mental Health Project.

Saint Mary’s students can access mental health and counselling resources from The Counselling Centre and find stress management tools through Mental Health Advocates on Brightspace.

From classroom to career: empowering responsible AI leaders

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education, not only reshaping how students learn in university classrooms but also driving innovative research across disciplines. At Saint Mary’s, our instructors are playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI advancements and the broader business community by integrating AI tools into curriculum and community-based research projects.

Find out how Saint Mary’s is supporting students and the business community navigate the fast-paced world of AI.

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Atlantic Canada AI Summit: May 1-3 at Saint Mary’s University

Organized by leading institutions, including Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, the University of New Brunswick, Acadia University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the University of Prince Edward Island, the Atlantic Canada AI Summit fosters collaboration across academia and industry in Atlantic Canada. 

The Summit will showcase cutting-edge AI research, facilitate industry-academia collaboration, and highlight exceptional AI talent in the region. It will feature three days of programming, including research presentations, workshops, a healthcare data competition and a youth AI pitch competition.

The Youth AI Pitch Competition on May 3 invites youth ages 13-18 to use AI and creativity to improve the Children’s Emergency Department at the IWK hospital.

We are looking for AI-driven solutions to enhance the ER experience for kids and their families. Whether it’s making ER visits more fun, improving parent experience or advancing patient care, your ideas can make a difference!

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AI in the classroom

Preparing students for the workplace with AI learning

Anubhav Gupta and instructor Bryce Cross

Under the guidance of Sobey School of Business Lecturer Bryce Cross, who heavily incorporates large language models (LLMs) into his PhD research, Anubhav Gupta and his classmates are getting unique exposure to AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot.

“Professor Cross loves talking about his research, and he tries to integrate it with the concepts he’s teaching,” Gupta shared.

This approach has allowed students to engage with AI in practical ways, such as using ChatGPT to analyze mystery companies, prompting the model to match anonymous balance sheets to the correct industry. “It was an interesting experience to see how AI and LLMs work and their limitations. You can use it, but you can’t replace the knowledge you’re learning at university.”

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Philosophy program teaches students to use critical thinking in an AI-driven world

Dr. Shelagh Crooks

With political turmoil, social divides, economic instability and the complexities of AI, the global landscape is full of challenges.

Philosophy teaches students how to think about concepts like fairness, autonomy and justice, skills that are increasingly important as we interact with AI-driven systems in the workplace. Understanding the societal impact of AI is not just a technical challenge—it’s a moral one.

“If we consume AI, we have to consume it with a critical eye,” says Saint Mary’s Philosophy professor Dr. Shelagh Crooks. “One of the things you learn in all philosophy classes is to be a skeptic…ask yourself, ‘Why should I accept this as truth?’ That is not something people do naturally.”

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Co-op program brings Halifax high schoolers to campus to learn about AI and analytics

Through SMU’s Youth Business Analytics & AI Co-op Program, students earn a high school credit while spending several Fridays on campus, learning from the university’s faculty, student mentors and industry professionals. Organized by the Sobey School of Business, the program exposes students to university-level academics while building foundational skills in AI, machine learning, data analytics and visualization.

"I am learning about how AI is being used by businesses to visualize and interpret data,” said Peter Lutz, a grade eleven student at Charles P. Allen High School. “I am hoping to learn more about market trends and what generative AI is. I am new to this, and we are living in a time when AI is being revolutionized. I want to be able to utilize it."

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Start a career in AI with SMU’s Master of Business Analytics (MBAN)

Interested in working in the growing industry of business analytics and AI? The Saint Mary’s Masters of Business Analytics (MBAN) program equips students with cutting-edge expertise and practical knowledge, emphasizing the development, evaluation, refinement and implementation of AI-powered analytics solutions to transform data into actionable insights, driving business innovation and success.

Students are eligible for an 8-month paid internship, offering hands-on experience with AI-driven tools and methodologies, strengthening their expertise and establishing a solid foundation for a successful career in business analytics and AI.

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Researchers using AI to solve real-world problems

Chris Mitchell and Shahriar Swapni of Citco with Dr. Pawan Lingras

The Office of Innovation and Community Engagement (OICE) facilitates research relationships between Saint Mary’s University and external partners, such as companies, government departments and community organizations. In their 2025 report, OICE highlights a number of completed and ongoing research projects which benefit from integrating AI systems.

Harnessing Data to Reduce Food Waste

Easy Platter, a meal-planning and personal chef service, partnered with Mathematics and Computing Science professor Dr. Yasushi Akiyama to design a framework to calculate ingredient costs, potential food waste and nutritional value for selected meal plans.

Virtual Guides Transform Tourist Experiences

Fundy Language Analytics Inc., which specializes in artificial intelligence and machine learning for language applications, partnered with Mathematics and Computer Science professor Dr. Somayeh Kafaie to use Large Language Models to enhance their virtual tour guide app, Strollopia.

A Partnership to Diversify Revenue and Reduce Risk

Citco, a global network of independent firms, partnered with Dr. Pawan Lingras, Director of the Master of Science in Computing and Data Analytics (CDA) Program and his team of graduate students. Together, they developed a document scraping application powered by generative AI to diversify their revenue streams within the fund administration sector.

AI-Powered Animation Enhancing Creativity One Frame at a Time

Moonshot Rights Inc., a Canada/UK-based animation company, partnered with Dr. Jason Rhinelander, an Associate Professor in the Division of Engineering and Head of Technology and Innovation at the David Sobey Retailing Centre. Together, they are pioneering a new approach to animation by accelerating the generation of Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) computer-generated frames.

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Sharing AI insights with the business community and beyond

Arjun Asokakumar speaks at the 2024 Responsible Leadership Day

Driving responsible leadership of AI

The Sobey School of Business brought together inspiring leaders and forward-thinking students for its sixth annual Responsible Leadership Day in November 2024: The Future of Responsible Work in an AI-Driven World. As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, the need for specialized knowledge remains high. Understanding how to judge the information AI provides you—and being able to evaluate its output critically—is key to using the technology responsibly.

The event included a thought-provoking keynote by Arjun Asokakumar, Director of Data Science at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), on how AI-driven automation may reshape job roles and skill requirements.

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Demystifying AI for businesses

In March, Sobey School of Business professor Dr. Yigit Aydede hosted a half-day conference titled Beyond the Code: Demystifying AI. The event featured three engaging sessions designed to educate, demonstrate and inspire action around the transformative power of AI.

Sessions covered simplifying AI concepts for both technical and non-technical users, demonstrating AI in action to illustrate how the technology is applied to solve real-world challenges, and a practical discussion with key stakeholders on how small and medium-sized businesses can effectively leverage AI to drive growth, boost productivity, and achieve long-term success.

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SMU competition supports AI innovation in healthcare

The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s hosted The Arena, an annual pitch competition, in March. More than 60 student entrepreneurs from across Canada participated.

The winning project was Wonder Guard—an AI-powered Catheter Bag Module, created by McMaster University PhD student Manak Bajaj. Wonder Guard is capable of detecting and predicting urinary tract infections (UTIS), integrating electrochemical biosensors for real-time detection, quantification, and prediction of UTIs. This allows immediate diagnostic feedback to users and health information systems for AI-driven clinical decisions.

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Considering the impact of AI development

In fall 2024, Faculty of Arts professor Dr. Teresa Heffernan joined UofT Jackman Humanities Institute Humanities at Large podcast host Melissa Gismondi for a conversation about AI. They discuss topics like the public's perception, limitations, environmental impact, and AI’s relationship with fiction. They also touch on the need for regulation and ethical considerations in AI development.

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Guidance for students and faculty

The Patrick Power Library's Artificial Intelligence (AI) guide is designed to help students use AI responsibly and ethically in their academic work.

The Studio for Teaching & Learning has helpful guides and resources for instructors here: Generative AI in Higher Education. They also host learning events and share resources from other institutions, including an upcoming webinar series titled Mind the (Bias) Gap: Ethical AI for Inclusive Teaching, from May 28-30.

Business student recognized for excellence in leadership, athletics and entrepreneurship

We are thrilled to announce that Taylor Lougheed, a remarkable student in the Sobey School of Business, has received the prestigious 2025 Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies. In addition to this award, Taylor is also a Sobey Scholar, a recognition that highlights her exceptional academic and leadership potential.

A natural leader, Taylor has proven herself in multiple areas. As a manager at Scholar’s Edge Painting, a student-run business, she led her team to generate impressive sales and build lasting client relationships. Her experience taught her invaluable skills in communication, problem-solving and resilience—qualities that will serve her well in her future career.

Taylor embodies the perfect blend of entrepreneurial spirit, academic excellence and athletic leadership as the Assistant Captain of the SMU Huskies Women’s Volleyball team. Her dedication and discipline shine through as she motivates her teammates and balances her studies. She is also involved in various campus organizations, including the SMU Women in Business Society and the Saint Mary’s Athletic Council. These experiences not only define her leadership style but also set the stage for an inspiring and successful career ahead.

Looking forward, Taylor aims to pursue her CPA and MBA, laying the foundation for owning a successful and financially sustainable business. With hard work and a natural ability to inspire others, she is poised to become a promising leader in the business world.

Acclaimed comic artist Kate Beaton to deliver the 2025 Cyril J. Byrne Memorial Lecture

What is the relationship between the arts and the economy? How do we value the ‘work’ of art and the business of creativity in our daily lives? 

Spend an evening with internationally acclaimed comic artist Kate Beaton as she revisits her earliest work—some never seen in public—and discusses her artistic journey so far. Join us in celebrating one of Atlantic Canada’s greatest artists as she charts her journey from Mabou, Inverness County, out to the world and back home again.

“We Were Always Working and Making Art: Rethinking the Economics and Value of Creativity”

• Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m.

• Scotiabank Conference Theatre (Sobey Building 201, 903 Robie Street) or watch via Zoom

• Open to the public, free to attend

Beginning with Hark! A Vagrant (2007-2018), moving through the explosive critical success of Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands (2022), on to her penetrating analysis of Bodies of Art, Bodies of Labour (2024) and her new 2025 release Shark Girl, Beaton will discuss her understanding of the essential role of the artist in our daily lives. Why have the arts always mattered to us, and why must we, especially now, continue to value and protect creative work in our contemporary culture? 

Kate Beaton is a comic artist and cultural critic with a webcomic series and eight books written for both adults and children. A multiple past winner of the Eisner, Yale, Harvey and Doug Wright Awards, she is a regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine and her work has been translated and published around the world. She'll be a guest speaker at Harvard University next week as its Weatherhead Canada Program presents "A Visual Narrative of Labour Migration and the Environment: In Conversation With Kate Beaton.”

Beaton’s graphic memoir Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands won CBC’s Canada Reads competition in 2023. It was named a “Book of the Year” by the New York Times, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, The Washington Post, NPR, Time, Publishers Weekly and...Barack Obama! The Globe and Mail hailed Ducks as a “deeply beautiful” book that presents a “moving picture of humanity in general: lonely, disillusioned and, ultimately, redemptively, compassionate." 

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The Cyril J. Byrne Memorial Lecture
Over the years, the Cyril J. Byrne Memorial Lecture has welcomed many of the world’s best writers to Halifax. Past evenings have featured readings and discussions with Booker Prize-winners such as Yann Martel and Anne Enright, Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Ford and many others, including Alistair MacLeod, Anne Carson, Colm Tóibín, Dionne Brand, David Adams Richards, Wayne Johnston and the cast of CODCO. 

Throughout his 35-year career as a literature professor at Saint Mary’s University, Dr. Byrne embraced interdisciplinarity in his teaching and research. Well ahead of his time, he played a major role in establishing the university’s Atlantic Canada Studies Program in 1975 and the D’Arcy McGee Chair in Irish Studies in 1986. In recognition of the national significance of his work, Dr. Byrne was named to the Order of Canada in 1992. After his passing in 2006, this lecture was inaugurated to celebrate his memory, his scholarly vision and his fun-loving spirit.

Sponsored by the Irish Studies Program, this public lecture is presented by the Department of English Language and Literature in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts. All are welcome to attend. The Scotiabank Conference Theatre is located off the main lobby of the Sobey Building (SB on the campus map) at 903 Robie Street, Halifax, or join via Zoom: https://smu-ca.zoom.us/j/89229106318.

Saint Mary's University appoints Dr. Shannon Dea as Provost & Vice-President, Academic and Research

Dr. Shannon Dea

Saint Mary's University is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Shannon Dea as the university's first Provost & Vice-President, Academic and Research (PVPAR). Dr. Dea will assume her new role on July 1, 2025, bringing a wealth of experience and a distinguished career in academia.

Dr. Dea joins Saint Mary's University from the University of Regina, where she has served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts since 2020. In this role, she has been an academic leader for a faculty comprising 13 departments, 43 program options, and over 2,600 students.

Dr. Dea's academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Western University, an M.A. in Philosophy from Queen’s University and a B.A. in Philosophy and Russian from the University of Waterloo. Her scholarly work spans a wide range of topics, including academic freedom, harm reduction and feminist philosophy. She is the author of many articles and book chapters. Her book, Beyond the Binary: Thinking about Sex and Gender, now in its second edition, has been widely acclaimed for its insightful analysis and thought-provoking perspectives.

In addition to her academic achievements, Dr. Dea has held numerous leadership positions, including Vice-President of the Board of Trustees at the MacKenzie Art Gallery and Chair of the Western Canadian Deans of Arts, Science, and Indigenous Studies. Her commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is evident in her work, particularly in her efforts to Indigenize academic spaces and promote social justice.

Dr. Dea's appointment marks a significant milestone for Saint Mary's University as she becomes the first person to hold the newly created position of PVPAR. In this role, she will oversee the university's academic and research activities, working closely with faculty, staff, and students to enhance the university's academic excellence and research impact. The Provost and Vice-President, Academic & Research also plays a crucial role in the university budget by overseeing the allocation of resources to support academic priorities and ensuring effective management of the budget process.

"We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Shannon Dea to Saint Mary's University," said Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary's University. "Her extensive experience, visionary leadership and deep commitment to academic excellence and social justice make her the ideal person to lead our academic and research initiatives. We look forward to the many contributions she will make to our university community."

Dr. Dea expressed her enthusiasm for joining Saint Mary's University, stating, "I am honoured to be appointed as the first Provost & Vice-President, Academic and Research at Saint Mary's University. I look forward to working with SMU’s amazing faculty, staff, and students to advance the university's mission and to foster a dynamic, equitable and inclusive academic environment."

One million pounds of perfectly imperfect food feeds Nova Scotians

Square Roots, a Nova Scotia social enterprise founded at Saint Mary’s University, celebrates major milestone.

Students sorting donated food

Square Roots, founded by Saint Mary’s University students in 2016, buys imperfect yet perfectly edible food from local farmers and sells it directly to customers at a price that is 50% less than the grocery store. Nova Scotians benefit from getting healthy food at a more affordable price and farmers benefit because they get revenue from the food that would otherwise go to waste. This month, Square Roots celebrates the major milestone of delivering one million pounds of food since its beginning in 2016.

“We could not have done it without the student teams, the community champions and the farmers. ”

— Courtney Dingle, Square Roots president

“Square Roots is delighted to reach this one million pounds of food milestone. We could not have done it without the student teams, the community champions and the farmers. We believe this is just the beginning of what’s possible. We are currently in 16 communities and want to be in every county in Nova Scotia by April 2025 and we have a vision to take this model nationally,” says Courtney Dingle, Square Roots president and SMU business student.

Square Roots was developed by students at SMU who participate in an international student program called Enactus. Enactus marries entrepreneurial-minded students with social action. Square Roots addresses the twin issues of food waste and food insecurity. At the farm level, 30% of harvested produce is dumped into landfills due to cosmetic imperfections despite being perfectly healthy. Square Roots rescues this "less attractive" produce that would otherwise be discarded, offering it at affordable prices to those with limited access to healthy food.

Working with local contacts, Square Roots is currently bringing food to over 25 communities across Nova Scotia—the newest being Port Hawkesbury, D’Escousse, Sydney, Baddeck, Cornwallis Park, Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Mill Village, and Lunenburg. The team intends to be in all Nova Scotia counties by May 2025 and, in the bigger picture, has plans to expand across Canada by 2026.

The SMU Enactus team is well-recognized in Canada and around the world. They have placed top 4 in the Canadian Enactus championships 11 of the last 13 years and won the national Canadian champion in 2024. With this recognition, the team represented Canada at the global Enactus championship in Kazakhstan in October 2024. The SMU Enactus team recently earned first place in the 2025 Enactus regional competition and heads to the national competition in May 2025.

Women's Athletics leading the pack at SMU

Huge congratulations are in order for SMU Huskies women’s teams and athletes! On the courts, on the field and on the ice, female student-athletes have shone this season.

Most recently, two Huskies women's teams won AUS Championships on the same day, with the volleyball team joining the women's basketball team that won their third straight title earlier in the day at the Scotiabank Centre.

The Saint Mary's Huskies won their third Atlantic University Sport women's basketball championship, defeating the UPEI Panthers 68-53 on March 2. The win secured the team’s spot in the U SPORTS Final 8 National Championship, which will be played March 13-16 in Vancouver, BC. 

TheHuskies are the 2024-2025 AUS Women’s Basketball Champions for the third year in a row

The Huskies are the first AUS women's basketball program to hoist the AUS banner three straight years since their predecessors won four consecutive titles from 2013-2016.

MBA student Clara Gascoigne was named the AUS Women's Basketball MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP. Lucina Beaumont, Evie Hargraves and Aki Kobayashi were also recognized with AUS awards.

Clara Gascoigne at the 2024-2025 U SPORTS Awards Banquet

Gascoigne was also named 2024-25 U SPORTS women's basketball defensive player of the year and a First Team All-Canadian. The six-foot guard from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, started in 19 games and led the Huskies in minutes, averaging 31.6 per game.

She is only the second Saint Mary's player and the second Atlantic University Sport women's basketball player to win the Defensive Player of the Year award after Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse and second to be named First Team All-Canadian after Justine Colley-Leger.

Read more about the U SPORTS Basketball Awards.

The Huskies are the 2024-2025 AUS Women’s Volleyball champions

The Saint Mary's Huskies women’s volleyball team became the AUS Champions for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

The Huskies defeated the Memorial Sea-Hawks to win the 2024-2025 AUS Championships, with left-side hitter Emilia Mikanovich named the AUS MVP and Playoff MVP. Grace Blaskovits was named AUS Rookie of the Year and Alena Piatukhova was named First Team All-Star. Mikanovich was also named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian, while Blasksovits was named to the All-Rookie Team. Read more on the U SPORTS Volleyball Awards.

The Huskies will move on to represent the AUS at the 2025 U SPORTS National Championship, and will be making their second straight appearance at nationals slated for March 14-16 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

More honours for student-athletes

Women’s Hockey captain Ashley Penney was recognized for her academic, athletic and community contributions with the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award. Abigail MacKenzie and Ava Shearer also received AUS awards.

In the Fall term, Cara Freeman was named 2024 AUS Women's Soccer First Team All-Star and Elliana Porter was named 2024 AUS Women's Rugby All-Star.

Track and Field shotputter Katie Pegg won a gold medal in the F46 Para Shotput, with a personal best of 11.57m.

AUS award winners Clara Gascoigne, Ashley Penney and Emilia Mikanovich

Anecia Shepherd: celebrating Black culture and women’s history through art

Arts student Anecia Shepherd performed at the African Heritage Month Opening Ceremony at SMU on January 31

First-year Arts student Anecia Shepherd has already made an impression at Saint Mary’s with her passion, powerful writing and commanding presence. So, when her Professor, Soji Cole, recommended her to perform at the African Heritage Month Opening Ceremony, she saw an opportunity not only to share her words but to honour the legacy of those who came before her. 

Originally from Antigua, in the Caribbean, Anecia says she immediately felt a sense of belonging at Saint Mary’s. “SMU has this community feel that fosters not only growth but health and wellness,” she explains. She credits her professors for making efforts to connect with and support students as individuals, as well as campus initiatives like African Heritage Month programming, which helped establish a deeper sense of connection and belonging. 

“We put everything into celebrating Black culture in February back home,” Anecia explains. “The fact that SMU acknowledges February as this sacred month for Black people and celebrates that is beyond words. I think it makes all the Black students feel extremely appreciated.” 

Anecia moved the audience with her spoken word piece ‘Recalled: A Dream Had, A Dream Have’.

Anecia’s performance at the AHM Opening Ceremony took the audience on a journey through a dream, where a dove sent by her ancestors urged her to confront the past and acknowledge the towering legacy of Black culture. “What lies ahead of you is forged in the histories of those who have bled before you,” she recited from her spoken word piece, Recalled: A Dream Had, A Dream Have. 
 
Her performance reflected on the sacrifices and resilience of Black individuals, particularly Black women, and the burden of expectation placed upon them. “I can’t just be. Being is a measure of mediocrity. I gotta be strong...original...creative...revolutionary.” Her words lingered, acknowledging each stacked pressure before finally casting them off. “Forget I gotta be,” she declared, embracing both the struggles and triumphs of the legacy that shaped her. At that moment, she reclaimed her power. “I am!” 

As February’s Black History Month transitioned to March’s Women’s History Month, Anecia sees a natural connection between the two. "Black history and women’s history are deeply intertwined, woven together by stories of strength, struggle and resilience," she says. But with that legacy often comes immense pressure in the expectation to be everything to everyone and to do it all without faltering. 

Anecia’s piece also paid tribute to her grandmother, whose life was a testament to choosing fulfillment over expectation, embracing culture and living on her own terms. But beyond her personal inspiration, the poem served as a broader reflection on how Black individuals, and women in particular, face relentless pressure to fit into societal moulds, to excel without rest, and to endure without complaint. Her performance challenged that societal construct, rejecting the notion that success must come at the cost of self. 

Anecia’s love for writing extends beyond the spoken word. She hopes to use her words to explore injustice, honour her identity and find ways to influence meaningful change. “Writing feels like something I’ll do in every lifetime,” she says. 

Reflecting on both African Heritage Month and Women’s History Month, she shares a powerful message: “I’m still here…I, for myself, for my ancestors, for every Black person and woman in the wider community. We are still here...make space. Let’s work together and flourish together by building a community built on equality, love, kindness, and justice.” 

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Related:

• Celebrating International Women’s Day at Saint Mary’s

• Legacy in Action: Black Brilliance - SMU's inaugural African Heritage Month opening ceremony

• African Heritage Month 2025: Celebrating our community with events, resources and more

• Black/African Descended Student Support online hub

• Black/African Nova Scotian SMU Community News

Celebrating International Women's Day

Saturday, March 8, is International Women’s Day (IWD), a global celebration of women and girls. This year, we’re challenged to amplify the voices of all women, create opportunities for women and girls and accelerate action for gender equality. Learn more about the Government of Canada’s Strength in Every Story theme and the IWD Accelerate Action theme.

Join the SMU community for uplifting events happening on campus and online in celebration of International Women’s Day, and read about the students and alumni whose leadership inspires us all.

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International Women's Day - Celebrating a Feminist Future

Wednesday, March 5
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Loyola Colonnade

Join the Sexual Violence Support Centre team in the Loyola Colonnade to mark International Women's Day and celebrate a feminist future!

Drop by between 11-2 to honour a woman in your life, contribute to a special art exhibit and share a treat. All are welcome.

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Journalling Workshop for Black Students

Wednesday, March 5
2:30-4 p.m.
Loyola Private Dining Room, LA 298

Join the Black Student Advisor and the Sexual Violence Support Centre for a Journalling Workshop for Black students. FREE journals for the first 20 participants!

Shianne Gordon (Community Mobilization Coordinator with the East Preston Resource Centre and Community Navigator with Avalon Centre) will guide a journalling process of mindfulness and gratitude to support wellbeing.

Join us in Loyola 298 (Private Dining Room) for an afternoon of connection and reflection.

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Her Story: Empower Her

Wednesday, March 5
5:30-8 p.m.
Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre Inspiration Studio (SH 212)

Join us for a special Women’s Day celebration as we come together to honour the achievements and contributions of women across various fields.

This event will highlight how women are re-imagining success by breaking boundaries, overcoming challenges, and leading with courage, innovation, and resilience.

Meet Inspiring Speakers:

• Rashmi Prakash – CEO & Co-founder, Aruna Revolution

• Sayeda Nabila – Senior Market Manager, TELUS

• Navdeep Parmanand – Chief Curves Officer & Founder, Celebrate Your Curves

Join us for an afternoon of thought-provoking conversations, shared experiences, and powerful insights from trailblazing women redefining success in their fields. Register Here.

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Celebration of Women in Entrepreneurship

Friday, March 7
10-11:30 a.m.
Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre Inspiration Studio (SH 212)

Mark your calendars for March 7, 2025, as we come together to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. This event is all about confidence, connection and celebration—an uplifting space to honour women entrepreneurs and change makers!

Why you should attend:

• Connect with like-minded women entrepreneurs, students, alumni and changemakers

• Be inspired by success stories from incredible women making an impact

• Engage in fun, empowering activities designed to boost confidence and self-reflection

• Enjoy delicious treats from women-owned businesses

This event is open to all students, alumni and community members, and we welcome everyone who believes in the power of women’s leadership and entrepreneurship. Register here.

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International Women's Day: Embodying Support

Monday, March 10
10 a.m.-noon
O’Donnell-Hennessey Student Centre, 5th floor common space

Join the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative in celebration of International Women's Day at the Student Centre 5th Floor common space! Get a temporary tattoo of a purple and/or teal ribbon to show your solidarity and support for those who have been impacted by gender- and sexual-based violence.

Meet the SVPI team, get resources for available supports and grab some snacks for the day!

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Empowering Voices: A Talking Circle for Immigrant and Black Women Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, March 12
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre Inspiration Studio (SH 212)

If you are an immigrant woman entrepreneur, a Black woman entrepreneur, or both, we want to invite you to connect with us at our intimate Talking Circle!

This is not your typical formal event—it’s a welcoming space to exchange stories, reflect on personal journeys and build meaningful connections.

We'll gather in a cozy circle of seats, sharing our backgrounds and experiences in a warm, supportive environment. It’s a chance to feel connected, comfortable, and inspired—the perfect way to brighten up a cold winter evening.

What to Expect:

• Open conversations about challenges, barriers, and triumphs

• A supportive environment to learn from diverse cultures and perspectives

• Opportunities to foster new friendships and explore business growth in Halifax

Our Facilitator will be Keisha Turner BA'12, Co-Founder of Starberry Drink Co. Register here.

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Paint and Sip

Wednesday, March 19
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre Inspiration Studio (SH 212)

Come join us for a relaxing evening of creativity and tea at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre in support of local women-owned businesses! All ticket sales will go to a local woman-owned business or organization supporting women - we will do a draw at the end of the night. There will also be amazing giveaway prizes from local businesses for attendees.

There will be a tea bar with a selection of teas and snacks to keep you warm and someone to help guide you through the painting process. No experience is necessary; just bring your creativity and enthusiasm! This event is perfect for a fun night out with friends or a solo artistic adventure. Let's paint, sip, and unwind together! Register here.

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Recurring Events

EDIA Book Club

The book for the Winter Term is Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong – and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini.

The EDIA Book Club meets biweekly on Fridays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Patrick Power Library room LI-135.

Remaining dates for this term: March 7, March 21, April 4

Visit the webpage for updates about which chapters to read and for more information about the book club. If you would like to be added to the EDIA book club mailing list, please reach out to Maheshi Dharmasiri (maheshi.dharmasiri@smu.ca).

Women in Sport Business Speaker Series

In this monthly online speaker series, women with expertise in the field of sport business share their insights, highlighting their important roles in the sport industry.

Next event: Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. with Lindsay MacPhee DipEng’04. Register here.

Lindsay, a former chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, founded The Floatation Centre Health and Wellness in 2015. She will discuss the benefits of floatation therapy and holistic wellness for athletes.

For more information, visit the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health website.

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50th Anniversary of Women in Varsity Sport

Former athletes, coaches and supporters gathered to celebrate the anniversary at Homecoming in October 2024

In 2024, Saint Mary's celebrated a monumental milestone: the 50th anniversary of women in varsity sports. The yearlong celebration showcased the inspiring journeys of female athletes who have shaped the university's athletic program, creating a legacy of achievement, determination and empowerment.

The highlight of the festivities took place during Homecoming in October 2024, when alumnae athletes, current student-athletes and prominent figures in women's sports gathered to celebrate the accomplishments and journey of the past 50 years of women in varsity athletics. It was more than just a celebration; it was a heartfelt tribute to the past, present and future of women's sports at SMU. Read more about the celebration and alumni highlights in Maroon + White alumni magazine.

Today, the SMU Huskies women’s teams are leading the pack!

Women’s Basketball AUS Champions 2024-2025

Women’s Volleyball AUS Champions 2024-2025

The Women’s Basketball Huskies won the 2024-2024 AUS Championships for the third season in a row! MBA student Clara Gascoigne was named the AUS Women's Basketball MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP. Lucina Beaumont, Evie Hargraves and Aki Kobayashi were also recognized with AUS awards.

The Women’s Volleyball Huskies won the 2024-2025 AUS Championships, with left-side hitter Emilia Mikanovich named the AUS MVP and Playoff MVP. Grace Blaskovits was named AUS Rookie of the Year and Alena Piatukhova was named First Team All-Star.

Women’s Hockey captain Ashley Penney was recognized for her academic, athletic and community contributions with the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award. Abigail MacKenzie and Ava Shearer also received AUS awards.

In the Fall term, Cara Freeman was named 2024 AUS Women's Soccer First Team All-Star and Elliana Porter was named 2024 AUS Women's Rugby All-Star.

AUS award winners Clara Gascoigne, Ashley Penney and Emilia Mikanovich

Inspiring Students

Rheannon Richards BA’24 was the first woman to be awarded the Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award at last year’s Spring Convocation. She was recognized for giving back to her community as a tutor and conversation partner for newcomers. The $30,000 award was established in 2023 for undergraduate Arts students of African Nova Scotian or Black/African descent who aspire to careers in writing.

Commerce student and entrepreneur Olivian Sanderson was awarded a Dream Chaser Change Maker Award for Sociable, a mental health app for students, which she co-founded. The award provides a $10,000 scholarship and celebrates student entrepreneurs who use their businesses to address pressing social and environmental challenges. 

First-year Engineering student Mia Makhlouf received the Montreal Women’s Memorial Scholarship, which honours the memory of the 14 women who were killed on December 6, 1989 in an anti-feminist attack at the École Polytechnique, the engineering school at the Université de Montréal.

First-year student Emi Morse received the prestigious Honourable David C. Onley Scholarship Award from Canadian Hearing Services. This national scholarship is awarded to an individual who demonstrates outstanding academic achievements, resilience, and dedication as a leader in accessibility and the deaf community.

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International Women’s Day Collection at the Patrick Power Library

This year's theme, Strength in Every Story, highlights the importance of uplifting the voices of all women, especially those who continually face barriers to success. The SMU Library's International Women's Day book list celebrates women’s resilience, determination, and contributions to our past, present, and future.

Find the display on the ground floor of the library, or browse the book list online. All Library resources are free for SMU students, faculty, and staff to borrow. 

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More inspiring women at Saint Mary’s:

• Sustainability…period! From classroom to Aruna Revolution: how Bridget's MBAN is helping make menstrual products eco-friendly

• Anecia Shepherd: celebrating Black culture and women’s history through art

• Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre highlights Female Changemakers

• BComm student with focus on sustainability wins prestigious Frank H. Sobey Award

• 'A dream come true' Saint Mary's shot put star Katie Pegg set to compete at 2024 Paralympic Games 

• PWHL's Victoria Bach inspires young hockey players during campus visit

• Celebrating Women in Business: Highlights from the 2024 Conference

More events this month:

• March 6: Public reading by our SMU 2025 Writer-in-Residence Souvankham Thammavongsa

• March 12: Queer Market

• March 13: Upholding Sacred Obligations: Searching for the Missing and Disappeared Children

• March 14: Fighting for France: Secret Intelligence, War Memoirs, and How Josephine Baker Took on the British Empire

Legacy in Action: Black Brilliance - SMU's inaugural African Heritage Month opening ceremony

Sanmi Conga

Zoe Tolliver

SMU student opened the event with song

Deborah Brothers-Scott

Director, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellness

Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray

President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s

Simbarashe Chiunda

Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association President

Anecia Shephard

First-year Arts student

Damini Awoyiga

Halifax Youth Poet Laureate

David Woods

Organizing founder of Nova Scotia’s first African Heritage Month celebrations

Colin Campbell

Director of Government and Community Relations at African Nova Scotian Affairs

The Honourable Twila Rose Grosse

Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs

Sunal Shah

Student and event emcee

President Summerby-Murray with event attendees

Sanmi Conga drummers

Damini Awoyiga shares her poem “Legacy”

David Woods with a SMU student

Attendees applaud

On Friday, January 31, members of the Saint Mary’s University community gathered for the inaugural African Heritage Month Opening Ceremony, centred around this year’s theme: Legacy in Action: Black Brilliance.  

Organised by the Black Student Advising Office and emceed by SMU student Sunal Shah, the opening ceremony saw more than 100 students, faculty, staff and community members in attendance for the event, which blended powerful performances and speeches with vibrant drumming from Sanmi Conga and a soul food meal catered by R&B Kitchen. The event was both a joyous celebration and a deep reflection on the histories, perseverance and impact of Black and African Nova Scotians. 

SMU student Zoe Tolliver opened the evening with moving renditions of “O Canada” and “Lift Every Voice,” the Black National Anthem. Quiet voices through the crowd lifted alongside her as participants stood in unity, setting the tone for the event. 

“We are here today to celebrate African Heritage Month, and it is important that we not lose sight of the fact that we are seeing attacks on EDIA. This backlash is often rooted in anti-Black racism,” said Deborah Brothers-Scott, Saint Mary’s Director, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellness, during her welcome. “We find ourselves in challenging times. It is important that we stand together united in creating more equitable, inclusive and diverse spaces.” 

President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Summerby-Murray reflected on the meaning of legacy, celebrating both the African Nova Scotian community and those who have joined from places of African descent worldwide. “As we think of that word—legacy—we are building on the past and the foundation laid by many within this room,” he shared. “But it also tells us that we have a responsibility to use that foundation to build the future, and everyone in the SMU community has a role in projecting that legacy forward for a better and brighter future together.” 

Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association President Simbarashe Chiunda took in the crowd as he stepped to the podium. “I have never been more proud to be Black,” he proclaimed. He explored the significance of legacy and brilliance, highlighting the rich history of the African Nova Scotian community and the vast African diaspora. “As students, we represent the future of this legacy,” he said, reflecting on the Black excellence he sees at SMU, from students and student leaders to entrepreneurs, artists, and advocates. “Let us honour our ancestors by taking action to support each other and build a world where Black excellence is not just recognized but celebrated. Because Black history is not just history. It is now, it is here, and it is us.” 

First-year Faculty of Arts student Anecia Shephard delivered a powerful spoken word performance. She guided the audience through an introspective journey depicted as a dream, where a messenger dove from her ancestors led her through Black history, identity, and legacy. Her words painted a vivid picture of struggle, resilience and hope, embracing the strength of those who came before her and her role in shaping the future. “We are the present, written for future minds,” she declared. 

Halifax Youth Poet Laureate Damini Awoyiga took the stage with a spoken word piece celebrating the unbreakable spirit of Black history. Her poem “Legacy” traced a lineage of strength from freedom fighters to cultural figures, recognizing the struggles, sacrifices, and victories that shape both the present and future. “We are the legacy. Straight from the ashes, voices like thunder,” she intoned, embracing the power of the present while honouring the past. 

The event’s first keynote speaker, David Woods, reflected on the personal and collective journeys of Black and African Nova Scotians. A multidisciplinary artist and the organizing founder of Nova Scotia’s first African Heritage Month celebrations in 1992, Woods delivered a moving performance speech titled “Notes from Beloved,” a call for self-love in the face of oppression. “Out yonder, they don’t love your hands,” he recited, describing Black flesh that weeps, dances and endures. “Love your heart above all, for this is the prize.” 

Following his performance, Woods intertwined personal narratives and historical accounts, highlighting the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s first and only all-Black battalion, and the Caribbean immigrants who settled in Cape Breton to work in the steel mills and coal mines, alongside individual accounts of journeying to and settling in Nova Scotia. “These are stories that were hidden and erased,” he emphasized. “By them coming to light, they have enriched not only Black folk but all Canadians. The challenge of this month is to extend them. Extend them to the spaces where you are.” 

The second keynote speaker, Colin Campbell, Director of Government and Community Relations at African Nova Scotian Affairs, shared a recorded address from Twila Grosse, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs, before unpacking the meaning behind Legacy in Action: Black Brilliance. He highlighted the extension of the UN’s International Decade for People of African Descent, underscoring the global call to action for recognition, justice, and development. 

With his final thoughts, which concluded the 2025 African Heritage Month Opening Ceremony, Campbell echoed the evening’s recurring lament: “Standing on the shoulders of Black brilliance was paved with a price by generations.” He closed with a call to action, reinforcing the sentiments imbued by each speaker and performer throughout the night. “Let us commit to advocate, educate, and celebrate—not just during African Heritage Month, but every day. Together, we will ensure that the brilliance of our community shines for generations to come.”