Accessibility Week at Saint Mary’s

Please join the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility as we celebrate Accessibility Week at Saint Mary's from November 27-December 1, leading up to the United Nations’ International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3. 

During the week, the Fred Smithers Centre will offer virtual and in-person events for students, faculty and staff, including events highlighting stress management, mental health and wellness, workshops for faculty on creating accessible coursework, guest speakers, a faculty open house and tour of the Fred Smithers Centre, a blind hockey exhibition game and a student trivia night. Read below for a full list of events.

The Fred Smithers Centre strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Events will have sign language interpreting and real-time transcription. Please email fredsmithers.centre@smu.ca for other accessibility requests and specific accommodations.

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Accessibility Week Events  

Patrick Power Library Book Display
November 27 – December 11, 2023  

A collection of literature relating to disability and accessibility, featuring staff picks from the Fred Smithers Centre team. See library hours here.

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Keynote Speaker: Vicky Levack

Monday, November 27  
Noon – 1:30 p.m. | CLARI, 3rd floor Atrium  

Vicky Levack is a disability advocate and educator who lives in Halifax N.S. Her story and her work have been featured in many news and media reports including CBC and Global News and the Halifax Examiner.  She is a former SMU student and hosts the “Disability Debunked” podcast.  Vicky is known for her candid and genuine take on all things disability.   

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More Accessible Word and PowerPoint Document Workshop

Monday, November 27  
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Sobey Building (SB) Room 159  

The Studio for Teaching and Learning provides an opportunity to learn how to create more accessible Word and PowerPoint documents. During the workshop participants will have an opportunity to work on their own document(s) and ask questions.  

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Accessibility Week Trivia Night  

Monday, November 27  
6:00 p.m. | The Gorsebrook Lounge, Student Centre main level  

Join Accessibility Wellness ambassador, Zoe, for a night of neuro-spicy trivia covering topics on accessibility, diversity and social justice. This will be an accessible and welcoming event that highlights important issues and fosters great discussions through a fun, trivia format with chances to win prizes.  

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Tune-sy Tuesday Accessibility Week Edition  

Tuesday, November 28  
Noon – 1 p.m. | Lobby Couches, O’Donnell Hennessey Student Centre  

Bring an instrument or borrow one of ours and come jam out for a midday musical mood boost and explore the roles that music can play in accessibility and wellness! Students, staff, faculty and alumni are welcome.   

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Therapy Dog Drop-in  

Wednesday, November 29  
11:30 – 1 p.m. | The Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (SC 309)  

Get ready for a paw-sitively amazing event! Join Meri, the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog for a barking good time. Meri will be here to show us the importance of self-care and emotional support during a stressful time! Don’t miss out on this furry-tale event!  

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Accessibility Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Wednesday, November 29  
Noon – 1 p.m. | Online via zoom (registration required)  

Hosted by the Fred Smithers Centre, the Studio for Teaching and Learning and the Software and Application Support teams, this Q&A event will be an opportunity to discuss and explore accessibility within the scope of institutional learning and working. Participants will learn about resources, supports, software and tools, and will have an opportunity to ask questions.  

Register for the Accessibility Q&A.  

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 Blind Hockey Exhibition

Wednesday, November 29  
7 p.m. | The Dauphinee Centre (Arena)   

The parasport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes whose level of vision ranges from legally blind – which is approximately 10% vision – to completely blind, using an adapted puck that makes noise and is bigger than a traditional puck. Players will take the ice during the SMU v. UPEI hockey game for an intermission exhibition.  

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Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility Open House

Thursday, November 30  
Noon – 2 p.m. | Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (SC 309)  

Faculty and staff are invited to visit the Fred Smithers Centre, meet the team, explore the testing and accommodation spaces, and have a chance to explore some of the assistive technologies. This is an opportunity to learn what services and supports the Fred Smithers Centre offers, ask questions and learn how to incorporate accessibility and accommodation into the classroom and workplace.  

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Man, Oh Man! A Conversation About Masculinity and Mental Health

Thursday, November 30  
7 – 8:30 p.m. | Gorsebrook Lounge  

What does masculinity mean to you? Why are men less likely to access mental health supports? How do we show up for ourselves and the men around us? Join us for a panel discussion about men’s mental health! We’ll be discussing what masculinity is and isn’t, the importance of social support, and how we can reduce the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. Our panelists include private counsellors, community social workers, other special guests you’ll recognize from campus.  

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Accessible PDF Workshop

Friday, December 1  
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.  

Join the Studio for Teaching and Learning to explore creating more accessible PDFs using various software. Learn how PDFs are processed for various neuro-diverse experiences, explore accessibility check tools and get templates to build off accessible-ready documents. This hands-on workshop will allow participants to develop or work on their own documents, get help and ask questions.  

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Keynote Speaker: Jay Dolmage on Academic Ableism

Friday, December 1  
Noon | Online  

Faculty and staff are invited to tune in with Jay Dolmage, disability rights author and educator, for a discussion on academic ableism in higher education. Jay will discuss and explore possibilities for building a more accessible classroom and campus and welcomes audience participation in discussions, questions and explorations of disability rights.  

Register for this event.

Meet our 2SLGBTQIA+ and Accessibility Wellness Ambassadors

Did you know that you can access peer-based mental health support through the Counselling Centre? Along with professional counselling services, they offer drop-in peer supports, bi-weekly art and mental health programming, programs geared toward specific communities and more!

Two of the Counselling Centre's student staff this year 2SLGBTQIA+ Wellness Ambassador Jo (Left), and their Accessibility Wellness Ambassador Zoë (Right). Wellness Ambassadors coordinate wellness-based social programs for members of their communities. Jo hosts bi-weekly Queer Board Games Nights and monthly Trans Student Drop-Ins. Zoë works as a part of the Counselling Centre and Fred Smithers Centre offering social programs to students who are part of the blind, deaf, disabled and neurodivergent communities. All students are welcome to attend events and learn about their work.

Jo and Zoë both have training to offer one-on-one peer support. Want to set up a chat with one of them? Send them an email and learn more about what they do on the The Counselling Centre's Peer Support Page.

Jo McKenzie (they/them), 2SLGBTQIA+ Wellness Ambassador
2SLGBTQ.Wellness@smu.ca

Zoë MacDonald (she/her), Accessibility Wellness Ambassador
Accessibility.Wellness@smu.ca.

Launch of new partnership to support diverse student entrepreneurs

Participants celebrating the first Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) event and the generous gift by TD Bank Group

Natasha Fernandes, Project Manager, TD Inclusion Initiative; Michael Sanderson, Director, Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre; Peter Owusu, Account Manager, TD; Stephanie Tennant, District Vice President, TD; Jennifer Auld, Vice President, Atlantic Region, TD; Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President of Saint Mary's University.

PhD student Tanner George, Lilia Sanchez and their artwork

MTEI student Manish Shinde and MSc student Julie Dayrit with their business HerBiome Skincare

Ashwin Razdan, Katerina Msafari and their business Adrigo Insights

Queen-Esther Okundonor (right), Marketing and Finance co-op student, and her business QTress Beauty Supplies

Tashauna Reid, Psychology and Biology student, and her business College Creative Curations

Students and Tia Upshaw

Students networking

Keynote speaker Dr. Rohini Bannerjee

Jennifer Auld, Vice President, Atlantic Region, TD, gives remarks at the panel discussion

Panelists Tia Upshaw, Ritika Saraswat, Emo Ikede MBA'13 and Sehmat Suri BComm'19 BA'19

Panelists, staff from the Arthur L. Iring Entrepreneurship Centre and guests from TD

The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University is pleased to announce the launch of the TD Entrepreneurship Inclusion Initiative, which was made possible through the generous gift of $200,000 by the TD Bank Group. This two-year pilot is designed to amplify the support of diverse student entrepreneurs, advance the entrepreneurial mindset and innovate business models. Three key initiatives include:

• The Ignition Program —a 10-week program offering training, mentorship, resources and networking;

• The Student Entrepreneurial Experience Bootcamp (SEE) —providing students with a transformational learning experience and an opportunity to develop their own businesses with resources and funding;

• Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) events —promoting collaboration and celebration within and beyond our diverse entrepreneurial network.

"Helping create an environment where everyone can adapt, thrive and reach their full potential is extremely important to us at TD. By supporting the TD Entrepreneurship Inclusion Initiative, through the Sobeys School of Business and the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, we know that we will contribute to providing entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds with the right tools to realize their dreams," says Jenn Auld, Vice-President Atlantic Region, TD Canada Trust.

 The program will leverage the expertise and passion of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, creating a holistic support environment for diverse entrepreneurs. Michael Sanderson, Director of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre said, “The TD Entrepreneurship Inclusion Initiative is a significant milestone for our students and the broader entrepreneurial community. This initiative represents an important step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for our students and aspiring entrepreneurs. It aligns perfectly with our mission to foster innovation, diversity and excellence in the entrepreneurial community.”

The first TD Entrepreneurship Inclusion Initiative event, TD Connect: Celebrating Diversity Through Entrepreneurship, was held on October 26. This event provided a platform for students to connect and engage with a diverse cohort of entrepreneurs and professionals. It highlighted the endeavours of eight student entrepreneurs and a panel discussion featuring accomplished and diverse business leaders. With an attendance of over a hundred enthusiastic students, the event emphasized the importance of DEIB in the entrepreneurial world.

 Learn more about the programs and events offered by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and the spaces in the new Sobeys Inspiration Hub.

Impact and inspiration: students attend Michelle Obama talk

Students attend the Michelle Obama pre-event at Saint Mary’s

Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray welcomes students

Nick Booth speaks with students at the pre-event

Inspiration and encouragement was the goal behind three generous Saint Mary's University alumni donors this term. On October 18, 200 Saint Mary's University students had the opportunity to attend A Conversation with Michelle Obama thanks to tickets provided by Chancellor Michael J. Durland BComm'87 DComm'10, former Chancellor Robert P. Kelly BComm'75 DComm'97 and Daniel J. McCarthy BComm'76 DComm'11.

A diverse group of student attendees was selected based on nominations from academic Deans, Athletics, Student Affairs and Services, the President's office, the Students' Association and other university departments.

"It was a real honour to be chosen for this event. But I think the bigger impact was the nomination itself...to be nominated for an event as big as this was something else," says Ken Cornell, a fifth-year student in the Faculty of Arts.  

Before picking up their tickets, the students had a chance to hear from guest speaker Nick Booth, CEO of the True Patriot Love Foundation. Booth spoke about his professional journey as a leader in the non-profit industry. His inspirational words and advice sparked insightful questions from the student audience. The pre-event was an excellent kick-off for a night of inspiration. 

“It was one of the most empowering and inspiring experiences I have ever encountered,” says Shiray Tan, fourth-year student in the Sobey School of Business and President of the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association. “Michelle Obama made me realize that I can do anything and everything in this world as long as if I put my mind into it and work hard.” 

New Self-Service Banner 9 features will simplify name changes, self-identification

Enrolment Services is proud to share that the Student Systems and Strategic Projects team has taken steps to improve and enhance Self-Service Banner 9 (SSB9) as it pertains to personal autonomy, including name changes and self-identification.

The Studio for Teaching and Learning (The Studio) has developed an excellent instructional resource that reflects SSB9’s new capabilities. The previous process of submitting a preferred name change form is no longer required. Please refer to the Preferred Name Change Guide found on The Studio site or access it through the Resources section of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community Hub for instructions.

We are also pleased to announce that further upgrades are happening this term, including:

1.    Confidential and voluntary self-identification opportunities

Having a more fulsome view and understanding of our dynamic community will allow Saint Mary’s to better support and further an equitable, diverse and inclusive institution. Self-identification opportunities are confidential and completely voluntary. Data reports will focus on big-picture snapshots of populations and will not identify individuals. These reports will help drive initiatives, strategies and systems that better reflect and serve Saint Mary's students.

2.    Gender identification opportunities

In offering students an opportunity to identify with a gender descriptor, Saint Mary’s will be better able to provide services, enhance interactions and support consistencies in how we engage with students. Gender identification will be a voluntary option for students using Self-Service Banner. As we capture data on population representations, Saint Mary’s will be in a position to improve its awareness and continue strengthening a community of belonging.

We look forward to launching these enhanced capabilities this fall. We welcome feedback and questions; please connect with Enrolment Services via registrar@smu.ca.

The Counselling Centre: Regulating emotions during stressful times

The team at the Counselling Centre is pleased to welcome new and returning students to Saint Mary’s! We know that transitioning from summer life to the academic term can come with challenges such as navigating new environments, changing routines, disrupted sleep schedules and even impacts on nutrition. These changes can cause physical and/or emotional stress that can wear us down and leave us feeling dysregulated.

PL.E.A.S.E. Skills are a great way to help you regulate your emotions and energy during stressful times, like the start of a new semester. Have you ever had a bigger reaction to a stressor than was necessary? Maybe something small happened, and you found yourself snapping at others or becoming overly upset. Emotional regulation skills can help. PL.E.A.S.E. is an acronym that stands for:

PL – Physical symptom treatment
Some physical symptoms are easier to manage than others – do what you can!

E – Eat food that makes you feel good
Eating at regular intervals throughout the day will help you maintain your energy levels.

A – Avoid substances
Some substances like alcohol or cannabis can have lasting effects hours or days after using it. Be mindful of how substance use might impact your other commitments.

S – Sleep
Good sleep hygiene and a consistent sleep schedule will help with memory, cognitive functioning and much more!

E – Exercise
Move your body in a way that feels best for you: dancing, walking, weight training, running…you name it!

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Want to talk to someone? The Counselling Centre provides one-on-one, professional therapy for students actively enrolled in classes. You can also reach out to our Peer Supporters, Accessibility Wellness Ambassador, or 2SLGBTQ+ Wellness Ambassador for peer-based support.

Contact the Counselling Centre

Email:

• Counselling Centre: counselling@smu.ca  

• Peer Supporters: Peer.Support@smu.ca

• Accessibility Wellness Ambassador: Accessibility.Wellness@smu.ca

• 2SLGBTQ Ambassador: 2SLGBTQ.Wellness@smu.ca

Phone: 902-420-5615
Location: Fourth Floor, O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday

Saint Mary’s launches 2SLGBTQIA+ digital community hub

Saint Mary’s is thrilled to announce the launch of the 2SLGBTQIA+ digital community hub!

The 2SLGBTQIA+ Hub was developed to address a gap in readily accessible and easily navigable resources, supports and information of interest for an important population within the SMU community.

The digital hub was developed primarily by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who sought out a wide variety of community consultation, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, alongside those who offer services and courses that may be directly or indirectly connected with the community. Feedback through community consultation was a priority and updates and revisions were made based on the insights received.

The digital community hub is where you can find news and events for and about SMU’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, information about support services and spaces on campus, and updates during Pride season. It’s designed to continue evolving and growing, with the SMU community offering contributions as new information, programming and resources are developed.

Have feedback or questions? Contact student.services@smu.ca. We'd love to hear from you!

Keep It Social team promotes responsible consumption at Touchdown Atlantic

Members of the Keep It Social team at Touchdown Atlantic

The Saint Mary’s Keep It Social team recently made an appearance at the CFL’s Touchdown Atlantic event hosted at Saint Mary’s University at the end of July. Keep it Social is a student-led partnership with the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) which promotes responsible consumption, personal choice and a culture of moderation on East Coast campuses. The Keep it Social campus teams work to empower students to reduce the risks of consumption and respect their individual limits.

Members from the Saint Mary’s Keep It Social team, Student Life Coordinator, Liv Brennan, Welcome Activities Coordinator, Toky Tajwar and Student Transitions Specialist, Emma Rota, alongside student volunteers, participated in the Touchdown Atlantic pre-game tailgate event to help share the Keep It Social message and support participants in having a safe and fun time. The team distributed mini Keep It Social footballs and noise makers, and even boasted a 360° photo booth, while reminding participants about safe consumption, hydrating and making the safe choices for their own limits.

The SMU Keep It Social team is available for training sessions and can be present during events where substances may be consumed. If you’re interested in booking the SMU Keep It Social Team, or would like to get involved, email student.life@smu.ca.

Getting ready to celebrate Welcome Weeks at Saint Mary’s!

In just a couple of weeks, Saint Mary’s will be bursting with energy as students, staff and faculty make their way back to campus and new students prepare to begin their journey here. As we get ready for the excitement and bustle of Welcome Weeks, we want to highlight what’s open on campus and which events you’ll want to save the date for.

Move-in weekend

Move-in weekend starts on Saturday, September 2. There will be higher than normal volume coming from Robie St. and moving through the roundabout by the Loyola Residence entrance. Be sure to have your SMU campus map on hand to help navigate campus or find alternate driving and walking routes to avoid excess congestion. 

What’s open on campus during move-in weekend?

• C-Store (campus convenience store)
  Loyola Colonnade, through the Loyola Academic Complex (LA)
  September 2-5, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

• Tim Hortons
  Loyola Academic Complex (LA), en route to Loyola Residence
  September 2-5, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Dockside Dining Hall
  Loyola Residence (LR), down the hall from the Residence Information Desk
  September 2, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
  September 3-5, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

• Campus Bookstore
  O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre, 2nd floor
  September 2 and September 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Patrick Power Library (PPL)
  For hours, visit The Patrick Power Library

• SMUSA Information Desk (Bus Pass)
  O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre (SC), 1st floor (by the elevators)
  September 2-4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• The Homburg Centre for Health & Wellness (HC)
  September 2-3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  September 4, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

All facilities and resources will resume regular operations beginning on September 5. SMU Dining locations, will resume regular operations beginning on September 6.

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Welcome Weeks key events

Welcome Weeks activities will run from September 2-15. These events are designed to introduce students to Saint Mary’s, learn about the campus, build connections in their program/faculty, find their supports and resources, and make friends. It’s also an excellent time for faculty and staff to get reacquainted with each other, make a lasting impact on new students, expand their own awareness of supports and resources and have some fun! Below are some of the key events that everyone will want to save the date for.

Husky Festival | September 4, 2-5 p.m.

Come out to the Quad for an afternoon full of fun! There will be games, inflatables, snacks and more. This is a great way to shake off the start of term nerves, make friends and enjoy some time away from screens before classes begin.

Service Expo | September 2-7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Key campus service providers will be set up to meet with students. Students can pick up their SMU ID, learn about the Student Health Plan, talk to advisors and learn about the various services and supports available. Just past the circulation desk of the Patrick Power Library, get all your questions answered. It's all here!

Academic Welcome Sessions | September 5

An opportunity for students, faculty and staff to meet within their respective faculties. This is a great opportunity to connect with peers, find out how to get involved within each program and start the academic term off on the right foot. Students - check your email for details.

• Faculty of Arts | September 5, 10 a.m.-noon

• Faculty of Science | September 5, 10 a.m.-noon

• Bachelor of Commerce | September 5, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Santamarian Ceremony | September 5, 3-4 p.m.

Saint Mary’s annual ceremony officially welcomes new students to SMU, inviting them to share in the core values of the Santamarian: academic integrity, the pursuit of knowledge, responsiveness to community needs, openness to change and concerns for a just and civil society. Hear from the University President and an alumni speaker.

Festival of Food | September 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Leave the lunch bag at home and have some cash ready. The Festival of Food is coming to campus and there will be all kinds of delicious food to taste, including Abhi’s Curry N’ More, Bud the Spud, Jamaica Lee’s, PBJ Eatery, and Drift coffee truck. Please note that a portion of the Inglis St. pay and display parking lot will be closed off to regular parking to accommodate the food trucks.

Husky Kickoff and Home Opener | September 15, 6-7 p.m.

It doesn’t feel like the academic term is in full swing until the Huskies play their first home game of the season. Get out your maroon and burgundy and meet us in the Quad for games, face painting, snacks and all kinds of energy to get everyone pumped up. Then head over to the field in time for the football game kick-off and take in the awesome atmosphere of the Friday night lights with your fellow Huskies. Get your Home Opener tickets here.

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Find out more!

For information on Welcome Weeks activities, checklists, student resources and more, be sure to visit New to SMU, and don’t forget to register your favourite events and add them to your calendar! If you have questions, reach out to welcome.weeks@smu.ca.

Want to stay in the know all throughout the year? Be sure to follow @SMU_StudentLife and @SMUhalifax on social media.

Assistive technologies available to the SMU community

July is Disability Pride Month, and, although it is not yet recognized by the Government of Canada, Saint Mary’s is pleased to take the opportunity to recognize and celebrate those within the SMU community who experience disability.  

In recognizing the societal and institutional barriers that many face, the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (FSC) has created a round-up of assistive technologies available campus-wide or directly through the FSC. These technologies can help reduce many barriers faced by those who experience cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities impacting certain mobility, and more. 

Notetaking is a vital part of academic and professional success. It allows people to retain and review information from lectures, discussions, meetings and more. The FSC has procured a number of assistive technologies to support those, particularly students, who may experience barriers in notetaking. 

Glean 

Glean is a web-based app designed to help students achieve their academic and personal goals through supported notetaking. The technology allows users to record lecture audio, import slides, add brief notes and highlight key points with simple clicks. It also creates a visual and interactive outline of notes to support reviewing content. 

Glean is designed to be simple, accessible and cognitive-friendly. It has a distraction-free interface that focuses on the content rather than the tool. It also has a transcription feature that converts audio recordings to text. Glean is currently available as a pilot program to students who have an academic accommodation to do with Notetaking Support. 

 Google Read and Write 

The FSC has also purchased a campus-wide license of Google Read and Write (R&W), which is a Chrome extension that provides assistive technology tools to support reading, writing and studying.  

 Some of the R&W features include: 

• Text-to-speech to hear words, passages or whole documents read aloud with dual color highlighting. 

• Speech-to-text to dictate words and create documents with the user’s voice. 

• Word prediction to suggest the current or next word as the user types. 

• Text and picture dictionaries to see the meaning of words explained with text or images. 

• Highlighters to collect and organize information from web pages or documents. 

• MP3 maker to convert text into audio files for listening on the go. 

• Spelling and grammar check to correct errors and improve writing quality. 

• Simplify and summarize to reduce the complexity and length of web pages or documents. 

Google Read and Write is available for Windows, Mac and Chrome OS devices. It can be used with Google Docs, PDFs, ePubs and other common file types in Google Drive. It is also compatible with screen readers. This extension is available for the entire Saint Mary’s community. Visit The Studio for Teaching and Learning to learn more about and access the extension download.  

Dragon 

Dragon is a speech recognition software that allows users to control their computer, create documents, send emails and search the web by using their voice. It is a form of assistive technology that can benefit people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties or repetitive stress injuries that make typing difficult or impossible. 

Some of the features of Dragon include: 

• Fast and accurate transcription of up to 160 words per minute 

• Customization and personalization of vocabulary, commands, and preferences 

• Compatibility with popular applications, such as Microsoft Office, Google Chrome, and screen readers 

 The Dragon software is available on most of the computers in the FSC’s test and exam area and is available as an academic accommodation for students.  

 Kurzweil 3000 

Kurzweil is a company that provides assistive technology products and resources for students with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia or visual impairment. They also have supports for English language learners. The FSC has the Kurzweil 3000 software installed on all the exam and test computers, which offers features such as text-to-speech, word prediction and spell check. Kurzweil 3000 is currently available to students as an academic accommodation.   

Saint Mary’s is pleased to offer a number of resources and supports to students, faculty and staff to support various disabilities and reduce barriers, as well as resources for faculty and staff on how to implement accessibility best practices into their work.

For student-related accommodations and supports, visit the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility or, for those students already registered with the FSC, contact your Accessibility Advisor. For staff and faculty resources related to improving accessibility at Saint Mary’s, visit The Studio for Teaching and Learning. 

Embracing the power of writing with new Kane Award

Trayvone Clayton (center) receives his award at Spring Convocation from (L-R) Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, Stephanie Johnson BComm’93, Dean Mary Ingraham, and Chancellor Michael Durland BComm’86 DComm’10.

Trayvone Clayton and Edna Kane

Trayvone with Board Vice-Chair Mark Gosine BA’95, Stephanie Johnson BComm’93, Edna Kane and Kirk Johnson

Trayvone Clayton BA’23 is well versed in the power and impact of words as a young leader in his Halifax community of Uniacke Square. During his time as a student at Saint Mary’s University, he also discovered the power of writing as tool for healing, self-reflection and mental health. So it means the world to him to be the first recipient of the university’s new Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award. 

“Writing keeps me balanced,” says Clayton, who carries a notebook around much of the time. “Just writing down daily thoughts and ideas, things that have been on my mind all day. It takes so much pressure off and gets the negative thoughts out of your head. If you ever want to look back, it’s all right there in the book.” 

He got a rousing standing ovation upon receiving the inaugural Kane Writers Award during the spring graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Arts. Valued at $30,000, it’s one of the most substantial student awards in the university’s history. Launched in the fall of 2021, it was created through the generosity of donor Floyd Kane BA’92, a writer, filmmaker, lawyer and TV producer from East Preston. 
 

Stephanie Johnson BComm’93 and Edna Kane

Kane’s mother Edna and his cousin Stephanie Johnson BComm’93 (daughter of his late aunt Velma) were on campus to take part in the May 19 award presentation. Kane was away but watched the graduation live stream. 

“I’m really proud of my son Floyd,” Edna Kane said after the ceremony. “He went through a lot but he’s a super guy, that’s all I can say. He’s a super son.”  

Johnson, a self-described “Husky for life,” added that her cousin is best known for his creative work but his spirit of philanthropy is just as strong. “To be able to give someone in the community this type of opportunity that will help them live their life and pursue their dream, it’s brilliant. So I’m proud to be part of it. It’s a legacy for my mom and my auntie here, and we’re just really proud of Floyd,” she said. 

Trayvone Clayton is the first recipient of the Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award

Clayton hopes to go on to law school for his next chapter, the same path Kane took after Saint Mary’s. A former SMU Huskies basketball player, Clayton majored in Criminology with a minor in Social Justice and Community Studies, themes that reverberate throughout Kane’s hit TV series, Diggstown. Shot largely in Nova Scotia, the legal drama wrapped last year after four seasons. Since then, Kane has been hard at work developing another legal show, shooting two movies and filming a documentary about Black music in Canada.  

The two men had a chance to meet each other for the first time on June 2. In many ways, Clayton is the type of student Kane had in mind with his gift to the university, which aims to remove financial barriers to education for African Nova Scotian students.  

“I identified with a lot of his story,” Kane said after their lunch meeting on campus. “Although I grew up in the country and he grew up in the city, we both grew up with relatively modest economic means. We both grew up in African Nova Scotian communities where there wouldn’t be a lot of Black men going to university and pursuing post-secondary education, mainly because of economic circumstances.” 

Working several jobs to pay his tuition while he was a full-time student, athlete and volunteer, Clayton faced other big hurdles along the way, including learning to live with epilepsy. He was devastated by the 2019 shooting death of his younger cousin Triston Reece, who was also a promising athlete. Processing his grief from that loss prompted Clayton to start carrying the notebook around. 

Said Kane: “We talked about loss, the commonalities of experiencing significant losses early in life. I kind of always reverted to fiction. When I try to write something personal, I have a hard time doing anything autobiographical. But telling a story, that’s way easier for me. Writing got me through some tough times.” 

Another life-changing experience in 2019 cemented Clayton’s commitment to social change and the movement against anti-Black racism and discrimination. He was in Ottawa attending the National Black Canadians Summit, and his group encountered racial profiling by an employee in the Parliament buildings. That’s when he started speaking out; the incident made national headlines and led to a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  

“I guess I always had it in me about doing the right things, and it took off from there,” Clayton says. “With GameChangers902, we’ve built a platform and we’re trying to create opportunities for youth. My whole purpose in wanting to go to law school is to lead by example. I want to build a legacy for other young people. When they see I can do it, they’ll realize they can do it too.”

Clayton in his community of Uniacke Square

Clayton feels a responsibility to be a good role model, coach and mentor. Last December, he helped organize a community Christmas for African Nova Scotian youth, which raised more than $20,000 so that each youngster at the event received a $500 gift card. “It just made me feel like you can do anything you really put your mind to,” he says.  

His community work has seen him honoured with other awards, including the 2019 Peace Medal from the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, and two 2019 Nova Scotia Human Rights Awards. The advocacy work gave Clayton the confidence to work hard at his academic studies, “to show people in my community that we belong here, that we do have something to say and that our voice matters.”  

Read more in our Q&A with Trayvone Clayton.

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Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award

Students planning to graduate in 2024 have until November 30 to apply for the Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award. Kane stressed that the term ‘writer’ can mean everything from poetry or screenwriting to wanting to write a master’s thesis.  
 
“This award keeps ‘writing’ broadly defined because writing is the foundation to so many things,” said Kane. “We’re all writers in some way, it’s a key part of what you do and learn in a Bachelor of Arts degree. I had a great time at law school but Saint Mary’s is where my path was first taken. I had amazing professors who gave me the confidence to embrace the power of writing.”

Community Food Room full after record-setting contributions

Thanks to the faculty, staff and alumni who participated in the annual Food Drive Competition hosted by the Alumni Office. As a community, we exceeded last year's record and raised more than 2,100 lbs of food and $1,475 in monetary donations—the shelves in the campus Food Room are full! 

Congratulations to the Sobey School of Business ‘Accounting Matters’ team who won the competition by contributing 455 lbs of food with just eight members! They received a trophy and pizza party. Special shout-out to the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre for the most creative team name—’The IncrEDIBLES’.

Thank you to faculty, staff and alumni who made financial contributions during the competition allowing the Food Room to have some flexibility in making purchases of much-needed items. Members of the SMU community can donate to the Food Room anytime and receive a tax receipt for your donation.  

““I am thankful to every department that enthusiastically participated in the Annual Alumni Food Drive. Each participant’s passion and excitement in supporting this important cause was extremely motivating. I would want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers from the SMU Community Food Room, whose outstanding assistance was critical to the food drive’s exceptional success. Their commitment to collecting, weighing, and stacking the amazing 2,100 pounds of food was remarkable. Despite the huge workload, the persistent dedication and hard effort paid off magnificently.” ”

— Tarim Faress Alsaquaf, the Community Food Room Coordinator

Stats: 

• 13 teams (141 people including alumni) participated. 

• Food donations raised: 2,138 lbs 

• Monetary donation from faculty, staff and alumni: $1,215 

See more photos published in an Alumni Facebook album