News

Residence Life staff honoured with recognition awards

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:36:08

StFX’s Residence Services team recently honoured four student members of the Residence Life staff for their work and accomplishments with awards presented during the Residence Life Recognition banquet held April 12.

Receiving honours were Ian Squires and Katy Grosicki as the Male and Female Staff Members of the Year, respectively; Katie Wilcox with the StFX Commitment to Excellence Award; and the Rookie of the Year to Laura Moreira-Andrews.

Male Staff Member of the Year – Ian Squires
This award is given to a male Residence Life staff member who has demonstrated exceptional contributions to their residential community through program development, leadership, crisis response, addressing student needs, and supporting peer and senior staff.

Female Staff Member of the Year – Katy Grosicki
This award is given to a female Residence Life staff member who has demonstrated exceptional contributions to their residential community through program development, leadership, crisis response, addressing student needs, and supporting peer and senior staff.

StFX Commitment to Excellence – Katie Wilcox
This award goes to a member of the Residence Life staff who has shown outstanding leadership and dedication to developing an environment for student success in keeping with the aims of Residence Services.

Rookie of the Year – Laura Moreira-Andrews
The award goes to a member of the Residence Life staff who, in their first year on staff, has shown exceptional dedication and leadership to students and fellow staff members.

StFX students hit the road to learn rich history of African Nova Scotians

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:02:28

The rich and strong history of African Nova Scotians came to life for 35 students who boarded the StFX bus on Saturday, March 10 for a field trip into local culture.

The delegation – some 20 StFX students and a further 15 high school and elementary students – travelled to Halifax, NS to visit first the Black Cultural Centre and then Africville, a designated National Historic Site on the shores of Bedford Basin.

The trip, organized through StFX’s Student Life Office, included a guided tour of the Black Cultural Centre by executive director Dr. Henry Bishop, who was on the StFX campus earlier this year for Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations.

Irving Carvery, a former resident of Africville, met the StFX delegation on site and spoke about its history.

Corinna Fitzgerald, StFX’s Director of Student Life who has been working with the BLAC Student Society, says the idea for the trip came about when she realized that she and some of the students didn’t fully know about their own history in Nova Scotia.

“What better place to go and see it?” Ms. Fitzgerald says. “It opened all our eyes to the culture and history within Nova Scotia.”

BLAC Student Society president and StFX student Morgan Gero says many students didn't even know what Africville was prior to the trip, “and knew very little about the long, and strong history of people of African descent in Nova Scotia. Even for some of the African Nova Scotian and African Canadian students, it was a great learning experience.”

She says having the community involved really spoke to the history of the black communities, and having their perspective and experiences present added another depth of learning.

“For me, it was really an opportunity to reflect on my history and to share it with others who didn't know a whole lot about it. I was appreciative that the university got behind the trip because it just goes to show how invested they are in educating our students about the diversity and culture that is around our campus.

“All of us were given a great opportunity to learn about a history that isn't always represented. We certainly learned how far African Nova Scotian people have come, something that resonated with everyone.”

The chance for local youth groups to interact with university student role models was also a nice bonus of the trip, Ms. Fitzgerald says.

Students Arrive! Find your picture from this year's StFX photo booth.

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:24:05

Many of you chose to have your photo taken at this year's StFX photo booth. Find and download your picture here!

» Photos taken from 7:30am- 10am
» Photos taken from 10am- 1:30pm (Part 1)
» Photos taken from 10am- 1:30pm (Part 2)

StFX Leaders Forum continues tradition of student leadership development

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:09:10

» Click here to view pictures

StFX helps students become effective leaders, says Nate Annan, one of about 250 senior students who returned to campus early on Aug. 31 to help further develop their skills at a one-day Leaders Forum held at the Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership.

“Leadership is huge on this campus,” says the third year business administration student, who epitomizes the StFX culture of getting involved. He is on the X-Men football team, is a house director at MacDonald House, and is a peer mentor.

“They’re always promoting people to take the next step up. The university really is investing in creating leaders. We’re all going to walk out of this building being better able to lead.”

Fellow third-year student Philip Jones agrees.

“When you have a lot of leaders together, you come up with fantastic ideas,” says the honours political science student who will work with campus security this year and was a resident assistant (RA) last year. “When you see everyone here, when you can put a face, that this person is also a student leader…it really helps.”

Not only will the skills learned through the forum help in every day life, they will be invaluable in future education and career settings, he says.

Carolyn Reid, a fourth-year honours student from Calgary, AB, and a RA in Plessis House this year, says in particular she will take what she learned to make sure the 40 students in her house will feel welcome and know they won’t be judged or labeled. She says skills learned from the day will help in her personal leadership style, including the importance of taking the time to get to know people. “It’s important to be sure they feel welcome, and to be creative and who they are.”

“I really liked how it created a sense of community,” she says.

The one-day Leaders Forum, sponsored by StFX’s Office of the President, Vice President Recruitment and Student Experience, and the Student Life Office, concentrated on skills such as leadership styles, integrity, and balance, understanding diversity and inclusion, and effective goal setting.

The opening of the Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership in May, and the chance to hear the Hon. Frank McKenna and former U.S. President Bill Clinton speak about leadership in a global context, played a key catalyst in the forum’s line-up, says Corinna Fitzgerald, StFX’s Director of Student Life.
“We were really inspired by all the things connected to Frank McKenna, things he has worked on, and also this space and what it will provide. It’s a real opportunity to infuse campus with some of the things he is known for.”

She says the forum helps students meet other involved students, to learn and apply key leadership elements, to help understand diversity in the context of leadership, and helps students understand they are part of a larger legacy, which contributes to the success of the school and in particular other students.

Investing in student leadership is crucial, she says.

“It’s our role to engage students outside the classroom, and to help them learn to figure themselves out, and they in turn can do this for other students.”

In all, Student Services personnel identified over 250 students – leaders in Students’ Union, residence life and house council staff, athletics, in peer mentoring, Orientation Crew executive, members of safety and security, and international volunteers – and invited them to take part in the forum.

“Those participating in the training have been chosen for their already demonstrated leadership skills at StFX. These students will be empowered to make a difference among their fellow students and the community. These skills we are teaching will carry with them for the rest of their lives,” says Keith Publicover, Vice President of Recruitment and Student Experience.

The afternoon consisted of three concurrent sessions designed to explore different leadership aspects.

Guest presenters included human kinetics faculty member Dr. Angie Thomson, who spoke about Leadership 101 – Lifestyle and Balance; Coady Youth Programs Coordinator Adam Baden-Clay, who presented on diversity, community and leadership; and Kawa Ada, an award-winning professional actor, speaker and life coach, who guided students through a session on goal setting and leading with purpose.

Mr. Ada also delivered the evening’s keynote address, “Bring the Best of You…but Make it About Them.”

International students experience a Canadian spring time staple: M-m-m Maple

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:41:02

A delegation of 45 international students and peer mentors at StFX had the chance to experience a very Canadian spring time ritual in March when the group visited a working maple syrup farm.

On Saturday, March 19, the students boarded a bus at 7:30 a.m. for a trip to Sugar Moon Farm in Earltown, NS.

Peer Mentor coordinator Jamie McCarthy says the trip was planned after feedback his office had received from international and transfer students at StFX at the international student breakfast the peer mentor team held in January. The international students said that they would like to be involved in more ‘Canadian’ events.

"The event had great feedback and everyone had a great time despite the early start time," Mr. McCarthy says. "A maple breakfast, tour of the facility, and ‘maple on snow,’ where you essentially make a maple sucker, were enjoyed by all and a few braved the cool weather to hike the maple trails."

Aboriginal Students at StFX host 8th Annual Mawio’mi

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:24:18

On Wednesday, March 23, Aboriginal Students at StFX hosted the 8th Annual Mawio’mi at MacKay Room in Bloomfield.

Life has many ups and downs so this year’s theme was “Embracing Life’s Journey.” The event included traditional drum, dance and food.

The four-hour evening presentation also included prayer and an opening celebration, exhibitions, speakers Chasity Meuse and Lottie Johnson, supper and a round dance.

Chasity Meuse is from Indian Brook First Nation and works for the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Truro Campus as the Aboriginal Student Success Advisor. The oldest of five children, Chasity has always valued the importance of education and encouraging others to continue their learning journey. A lifelong learner, she will graduate with her Bachelor of Arts in Mi'kmaq Studies this May. She has a passion to share information on Mi'kmaq culture, diversity and suicide prevention. In 2006, she took part in a cross-Canada relay walk to raise awareness of Aboriginal youth suicide prevention. She has been active in many Mi'kmaq communities across Atlantic Canada to deliver a message of hope to youth.

Lottie Johnson graduated from Cape Breton University in 1991 with a BA in community studies. She first began working in the field of addictions in 1993, first as an administrative assistant, and then moved to work as a social work aide with "Journey of Healing," a program for residential school survivors. She worked two years as a field counsellor at NADACA (Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselling Association of Nova Scotia) in addictions. Her present job description is Traditional Teacher with Journey of Healing. It is her hope to help bring about healing through empowering others by her past experience and teachings. She has done numerous workshops from Dream Catcher workshops to the Ceremony of Life. She also is a survivor of Shubenacadie Indian Residential School and continues to be a person of strong belief that all will be resolved in the future.

StFX holds its first ever Sustainability Week

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:55:48

StFX will join other universities across the country in creating visibility and awareness for sustainability issues by holding the first ever StFX Sustainability Week March 21-26. The week is themed “Just…Water & Food” and is filled with events to help members of the campus and Antigonish community explore what sustainability means globally and locally through water and food issues.

“Each day has a different focus, including a broad view of what sustainability can mean, water issues, food issues and a look at global partnerships and sustainability,” says Ben Jantzen, StFX Student Life Office. “Everyone needs water and food, which makes this a great theme to start conversation. Water and food are also hot topics, with campaigns emerging across the country for universities to commit to ending the sale and distribution of bottled water on campus, and the increasing visibility and engagement in food security issues in our local community.”

The week will focus on the complexities behind becoming sustainable and create a space to talk about making communities more environmentally, economically, socially and culturally sustainable.

Events began Monday, March 21 with fair trade coffee, schedules and sustainability giveaways being handed out by some members of the community’s ambassadors of sustainability outside Angus L. Macdonald Library.

StFX Sustainability Week will bring together many different groups from the StFX campus and Antigonish Town and County. Other events for the week include a radio show, a panel discussion, a series of “Lunch & Learns”, two films and “Green Gig”, a coffee house hosted by the StFX Off Campus Leaders. Also, on Saturday March 26, organizers encourage all to join millions across the world in turning off your lights to demand action for climate change.

For the full list, see the StFX Sustainability Week 2011 Facebook Event or the StFX Events Page.

StFX Sustainability Week 2011 is sponsored by the Coady International Institute, StFX Student Life, StFX Facilities Management, the StFX Faculty of Education, the StFX Students’ Union, Eastern Region Solid Waste Management, the Resource Recovery Fund Board, and Antigonish Sustainable Development.

8th Annual Mawio’mi, Run Against Racism among student events taking place this week

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:33:42

Students are invited to come out to a number of events, including the 8th Annual Mawio’mi and the annual Run Against Racism, happening this week. The events, supported through the Director of Student Life’s office, include:

* Tuesday March 22:
One Week Job: Discover your Passion Tour Event
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Room 110 Schwartz School (Auditorium)
The event is open to students, faculty and staff.
StFX sponsors: Co-operative Education Program, Student Career Centre and the StFX Enterprise Development Centre (XEDC)

* Wednesday March 23rd:
Join Aboriginal Students @ X as they host their 8th Annual Mawio’mi from 4-8 p.m. Life has many ups and downs so this year’s theme is “Embracing Life’s Journey.” The event will include traditional drum, dance and food. Everyone is welcome.
Place: MacKay Room
Agenda:
4 p.m. – Prayer and opening
4:30 p.m. – Opening celebration
4:45 p.m. - Exhibitions
5 p.m. – Speakers – Chasity Muese and Lottie Johnston
6 p.m. – Supper
7 p.m. – Round dance

* Saturday March 26:
Run Against Racism – B.L.A.C Student Society

The Run Against Racism And Discrimination 26/3/11 video by Madeleine Midtgaard

Run starts and ends at KMC Conference Rooms
12 – 2 p.m. reception to follow, arrive at 11:30 a.m. to register

Various events for Sustainability Week will also run all week long.

Discover Your Passion presentation with Sean Aiken coming to StFX March 22

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 06:34:18

In 2008, Sean Aiken created the One Week Job Project in which he worked 52 jobs in 52 weeks throughout North America in search of his passion. On his inspirational quest, he trekked more than 74,000 km, slept on 55 couches, raised over $20,000 for charity, and sampled a variety of careers along with their associated lifestyles: baker, teacher, real estate agent, advertising executive, Hollywood producer, radio DJ, and more.

The media covered the story extensively: The New York Times, The Rachael Ray Show, Good Morning America, CNN, 20/20, Time, Wall Street Journal, Macleans, Globe & Mail, CBC Newsworld, CTV, Global National, and countless others around the world.

Now at the end of his journey, Sean is helping others find their passion. He created the One Week Job Program which allows others to sample different careers, and has organized the Discover Your Passion Tour in which he will visit over 30 campuses across Canada to share his inspiring story in an entertaining and interactive multimedia presentation.

He will be at StFX on Tuesday March 22, and all students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend.

“The goal of the campus tour, much like the One Week Job movement, is to help young people discover what they’re passionate about,” said Sean. “So many young people are in the exact same situation that I was, struggling with the question, ‘What should I do with my life?’” he continued. “I know that sharing my story and what I learned can help ease that transition into the working world.”

Sean and his team will be conducting a presentation at StFX on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 4 p.m. in the Gerald Schwartz School of Business Auditorium (Room 110). This event is open to students, staff, faculty, and community members.

The Documentary Trailer: http://www.oneweekjob.com/documentary/

Tour sponsor is David Aplin Recruiting. StFX sponsors are Co-operative Education Program, Student Career Centre and Enterprise Development Centre (XEDC).

Student leadership skills at forefront of weekend workshop

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:10:16

About 50 students discovered their unique leadership skills during a student-led weekend conference at StFX March 5-6. The 5th annual Conference on Student Leadership, organized by the student Leadership Advisory Team, attracted student attendees who included residence staff, peer mentors, international students, and even six high school students from the Paq'tnkek First Nation.

“Students get the opportunity to learn about different kinds of leadership and to learn their own leadership style so that they can become a better leader,” says Director of Student Life Corinna Fitzgerald, whose office offered much support for the event. Ms. Fitzgerald says the idea is that students organize the event for other students to help their peers discover leadership skills and learning from each other.

“Our hope is that you leave the conference and return to your leadership areas on campus with a renewed sense of what it means to be a student leader and an expanded knowledge and skill base to share with your fellow campus communities,” organizers say.

Participants in the weekend leadership conference

Personality Dimensions®, presented by Adam Kuhn of McMaster University, was a highlighted keynote. Personality Dimensions® is based on leading-edge research into human motivation and behaviour and helps to explain what motivates behaviour in people with different personalities or temperaments. It is designed to support temperament theory and to provide an easily understood methodology for building self-awareness, self-esteem and effective communication strategies.

Mr. Kuhn, a co-manager of McMaster’s Student Success Centre, also delivered a workshop entitled Borrowed Wisdom, intended to inspire students in leadership.

Dr. Chris Frazer, a history professor, and the LGBTQ Student Advisor at StFX, delivered a keynote address entitled The Queen of Antigonish: How Drag Saved My Life and Changed The World.

Other workshops were presented by the Student Career Centre and the Leadership Advisory Team.

Sorting it out: Recycling and garbage streaming pilot helping sustainability at StFX

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:52:49

Classrooms and common areas without garbage cans; a series of centralized sorting stations tucked throughout the building: visitors to the Coady International Institute may have noticed a few changes this month.

On Feb. 28, the Coady joined with the Schwartz School and MacDonald Hall, adjacent to MacIsaac Hall, (where the process is already in place) for a month-long recycling and garbage streaming pilot project.

“We’re trying to create a model that will be spread across campus,” says Peter MacDonald, manager of Custodial Services.

Dedicated to both waste management on campus, and compliance with Nova Scotia law, Facilities Management is looking to implement a consistent recycling and garbage streaming system that will work across campus.

After a month’s pilot, feedback will be solicited from Coady personnel. “We have to determine if it’s the correct model,” Mr. MacDonald says. “The target is to have a system in place by September, consistently across campus.”

The Coady will be a big test space, he says, as it has office staff, students, and common spaces. It has also received great buy-in from the staff as early adopters and sustainability champs, he says. They’re ready to participate in sustainability, in a building where they teach it.

Each office has two containers – one for garbage and one for paper recycling. When the office occupant wants these emptied, they put them outside the door in the hallway and cleaning services staff will empty. If they are contaminated, a rejected sticker will be put on the bag and it will not be taken away.

Centralized sorting stations are also set up for organics, garbage, recycles, mixed paper, and in some cases a fifth stream, refundables.

Food and drink are not allowed in classroom spaces. Posters inside classrooms explain the program and point all to the nearest sorting stations. This gives people the correct way to sort their waste.

“The onus is on the people to make a decision,” says Mr. MacDonald.

“What makes it easier is that we have standardized the order so that it is the same across campus: garbage is always on the left, recycling in the middle and organics on the end,” Mr. MacDonald says. “That in itself has made a big difference across campus.”
Facilities Management, often on the front lines of environmental sustainability, faces some big challenges when it comes to waste management on campus. In some cases, there is a big disconnect from what people do at home to what they do in common areas at work. As well, students who come to Nova Scotia from other provinces and areas with different legislation may not be familiar with Nova Scotia’s recycling laws.

There also seems to be a misconception on campus that garbage and recycles don’t get properly streamed on their journey from StFX. Mr. MacDonald says this is totally untrue: when it is streamed here, it absolutely continues to be streamed.

Two collection trucks – which look very much like each other – come on campus. The first picks up garbage and the second picks up recycles. The interior of the truck has two streaming compartments inside. So while some may think it’s all going in the same place, that is not the case.

Recognizing that education and awareness are extremely important, Facilities Management has also developed pamphlets that describe what goes into each stream.

Mr. MacDonald says it is very important to sort correctly. If a stream becomes contaminated – say, for instance, someone tosses a pop can into paper recycling and the remaining liquid drips on the paper, it all becomes garbage.

“When we put the wrong item in a recycling bin, it contaminates the entire contents,” he says. “Many times the entire bag will be rejected. This reduces the effectiveness of the whole recycling process.”

Coffee cups are the largest users of waste space and adopting a “lug-a-mug” program where coffee is sold would help reduce waste significantly, he says.

“It does work when people know about it,” he says. “It does actually work when people take the effort to stream.”

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

• Educate yourself on where sorting stations are, and what goes in each stream.
• Take the responsibility to sort your trash and recycling properly.
• Lug-a-mug for coffee.

Sustainability at StFX

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:44:45

It’s a fact. Sustainability is important at StFX. Across campus, people are interested in seeing more done, and that’s exactly what’s happening. A recent campus-wide survey posted on the StFX website drew an amazing 600 responses. Since the fall of 2010, a group of dedicated students, staff and faculty have come together to form the Sustainability at StFX committee.

The committee, which brings in members from across campus, is striving to be an innovative environmental leader by ensuring all members of the university community are aware of environmental issues, and by contributing to the resolution of these issues.

The committee’s mandate is to educate members of the university community on environmental issues; recommend any amendments, additions or revisions to environmental and other policies; recommend actions by various groups or departments on campus; and to communicate the action plan and success stories. While the committee is focused mainly on the environmental pillar, committee members say sustainability is broader then only environmental issues and is defined in terms of four pillars: environmental, economic, social and cultural.

Committee membership includes Facilities Management director Leon MacLellan, Students’ Union president Sam Mason, Maura Casey and Olwyn Foley, environmental officers with the Students’ Union, faculty members David Risk (earth sciences) and Elizabeth Lange (adult education), Dave MacNeil, budget analyst with Facilities Management, Kyler Bell, Marketing and Communications director, and Corinna Fitzgerald, director of Student Life.

Resource people available to the committee include Peter MacDonald, manager Custodial Services; Kevin Latimer, supervisor Energy & Utilities; and Matthew Chisholm and Ben Jantzen, sustainability officers who are on contract with a federal government grant that expires in March.

To highlight committee efforts, StFX News will be running a series of articles on what is happening in waste reduction, energy management and the results of the Sustainability Survey.

Student Career Centre open house a success

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:49:41

On February 10, 2011, StFX's Student Career Centre (SCC) held its first open house since relocating to the new Gerald Schwartz School of Business building. Throughout the afternoon, students, faculty and staff dropped by to discover the career resources offered to students.

The SCC developed two displays that included information about career planning and employment. Alicia Mika, programs coordinator with StFX Alumni Affairs, was available to answer questions regarding StFX’s Career Mentorship Program (SAINT).

To celebrate the open house, the SCC sponsored two student prizes. Congratulations to Darcy MacDonald, 4th year BBA accounting student, winner of the Sobeys $100 gift certificate and Carolina Romero Arevalo, 3rd year BA political science student, winner of the $50 Boston Pizza gift certificate.

The Student Career Centre offers a variety of career information. New this year, the SCC has developed handouts to assist students with answering “What Can I do with the Degree in …” question. The Student Career Centre’s services and programs are available to all StFX students in any year of study. Students are strongly encouraged to contact the SCC if they have any question regarding career planning or employment opportunities.

Peer mentoring serves up breakfast, support for international students

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:04:00

Saturday breakfast at Morrison Hall was about a lot more than the pancakes and real maple syrup served. Also on the menu was an offer of support for StFX’s international student body.

StFX’s mentorship team hosted the Jan. 29th event as a get-together and to let StFX’s international students know they are there for them.

“We wanted to host an event to reintroduce ourselves to the international student body and remind them that they have a resource in us,” says StFX peer mentorship coordinator Jamie McCarthy.

“The peer mentors make themselves available to discuss issues that are important to individuals in a group setting as well as on a one-to-one basis if that is preferred.”

During the breakfast, students had a chance to place pins in a global map representing their hometowns.

Mr. McCarthy says near the end of the breakfast, the group had a discussion about the international students StFX experience to date. “We discussed events they would like to attend in the future, popular misconceptions about Canada when they first arrived – it wasn’t as cold as they thought it was going to be -- and services they would like to see implemented for future international students.”

Alejandro Mayoral Banos of Mexico City thought the event was great.

“StFX’s support is incredible because they encourage us to keep going and to improve ourselves to find new ways to attain our goals,” he says. “This is possible because they are constantly doing integration events and inviting us to share our culture and motivating us to express ourselves. The breakfast was a great example!”

The mentorship team is now planning its next event to build on the success of this one. It will be a karaoke/games night. Details will follow.

Sustain StFX - Campus wide Survey

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:12:58

A chance to win one of FOUR $25 gift certificates for DCB or the Tall and Small! *requires email address

Do you know what is happening at StFX to develop a more sustainable community?

What are YOU doing to keep our environment and the people in it healthy? What would you like to see happen at StFX around sustainability?

Give us your input and help us build a community that is a healthier, safer and more vibrant place to be!

Go to https://surveys.stfx.ca/index.php?sid=29832&lang=en

The StFX Sustainability Awareness Survey is confidential and should take about 10 minutes to complete online.

Thank you for your input. Survey ends February 9th, 2011. Results will be available in March through the Student Life office. Questions? Contact the Community Sustainability Officer, Ben Jantzen, at sustainability@stfx.ca or 902-867-4996