Last night more than 500 people filled the ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto to celebrate StFX and the “Codfathers” - top Canadian business leaders from the Atlantic region chronicled in the book of the same name by Gordon Pitts.

Highlighting the ascendancy of some of these business leaders from modest beginnings on the East Coast, The Codfathers also contains a chapter dedicated to StFX, and discusses the university’s extraordinary network with alumni in the top ranks of business, public service, the arts and science.

Pitts, CTV’s Seamus O’Regan, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States Frank McKenna and StFX President Dr. Sean Riley were all on hand to mark the Codfathers phenomenon. Many of the Codfathers were also in attendance – names synonymous with excellence and achievement such as McCain, Sobey, Joyce, Verschuren, Dennis, Keating, Eagan, Flood, and Chisholm. Other guests included Bob Rae, Martha Hall-Findlay and Gerrard Kennedy, all candidates for the federal Liberal Party leadership.

Frank McKenna, a StFX alumnus and former Premier of New Brunswick, delivered a passionate, humorous keynote address that discussed the powerful sense of community StFX fosters, as well as the impact of the university’s commitment to social justice. Dr. Riley later referred to Frank McKenna as the “King Cod” for his senior role in the worlds of politics and business.

The StFX National Dinner was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Canada, Bell Aliant, BMO Financial Group, Agnico-Eagle and Mr. Allan Markin.