Hall of Honour

The St. Francis Xavier University Hall of Honour was initiated by the Class of 1991 Legacy Committee to recognize those members of the StFX community who have carried on the Xaverian tradition of helping others. The Hall of Honour serves as an inspiration to current students to ensure this StFX tradition continues. The first induction ceremony took place during Homecoming celebrations on September 28, 1991. 

View a complete list of Hall of Honour Inductees.

Nomination Information

2026 Hall of Honour Inductees

Dr. Carolyn Rideout '67

A global champion for health and human dignity

Dr. Carolyn Rideout has dedicated her life to improving the health and well-being of others. A physician, psychiatrist, educator, humanitarian, and community leader, Carolyn’s remarkable record of service reflects a deep commitment to compassionate care, human dignity, and global citizenship.

Carolyn, a member of the StFX Class of 1967, built a distinguished career as a psychiatrist serving Antigonish and surrounding communities. Through her work with the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority, Nova Scotia Health, and private practice, she provided psychiatric care to individuals and families, earning deep respect for her commitment to mental health and patient advocacy. 

Carolyn’s dedication to service extended beyond her professional practice. In 2010, she became a driving force behind A Partnership in Caring (APIC), a volunteer organization supporting healthcare and community initiatives in Rwanda. Since her first mission in 2011, she has travelled to Rwanda 15 times, helping build lasting partnerships rooted in education, collaboration, and sustainable care. 

Working alongside Rwandan healthcare professionals and community organizations, Carolyn supported education in palliative care, newborn care, wound management, and mental health. She helped coordinate the Helping Babies Breathe initiative, which trained 75 nurses in newborn resuscitation using a sustainable train-the-trainer model. Her leadership also strengthened palliative care practices and helped provide essential medical equipment, mobility aids, improved infrastructure, and care for vulnerable individuals, including persons living with disabilities.

Throughout, Carolyn has led with humility, compassion, and profound respect for those she serves. Her work has strengthened healthcare, empowered caregivers, and created enduring partnerships.

Dr. Rideout’s lifelong dedication to healthcare, education, and humanitarian service exemplifies the values at the heart of the Xaverian tradition. She has made a meaningful and enduring difference across communities and continents. Her extraordinary contributions represent the very best of StFX and make her a deserving inductee into the StFX Hall of Honour.

Garry Madeiros '71

Transformational leader makes lasting difference

Garry A. Madeiros is a respected business leader, mentor, volunteer, and proud StFX alumnus. He has made a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and communities throughout Bermuda. 

After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1971, Garry earned his Chartered Accountant designation and built a distinguished career. Over 22 years with the Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO), including 13 years as President and Chief Executive Officer, he led transformative growth while fostering a culture grounded in innovation, excellence, and respect for people. His steady leadership was particularly evident following Hurricane Fabian in 2003 and a catastrophic fire in 2005, when BELCO’s resilience and preparedness helped Bermuda recover from major disruptions. 

In the community, as a two-time Chair of the Board of Mount Saint Agnes Academy, he led major capital campaigns, strengthened the school’s foundation, expanded bursary support to make education more accessible, and helped guide MSA to Alberta Education accreditation. His impact continues through annual scholarships established in his name that recognize and encourage leadership among students and teachers. In retirement, Garry carried this commitment forward with the Bermuda College Foundation, where his vision, energy, and unending commitment helped raise more than $7 million to enhance learning facilities and expand student bursaries. 

His contributions have been recognized with numerous honours, including appointment as an Officer of the British Empire in 2011. In 2025, BELCO named its administration building in his honour, reflecting his enduring impact. 

Yet Garry’s legacy is equally evident in the quieter ways he serves others—as a mentor, friend, volunteer, neighbour, and devoted family man. His warmth, generosity, and commitment to doing right has inspired many. 

Garry Madeiros represents the very best of StFX. His life is a powerful expression of leadership in service to others and makes him a most deserving inductee into the StFX Hall of Honour. 

Maria van Vonderen '94

A powerful advocate for inclusive and compassionate communities

For over five decades, Maria van Vonderen has dedicated her life to caring for others. A nurse, educator, advocate, volunteer, and community leader, Maria’s extraordinary record of service reflects a deep commitment to building healthier, more inclusive, and compassionate communities. 

Maria began her nursing career in 1976 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She graduated from St. Martha’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1988. In 1994, she was among the first graduates of StFX’s distance nursing program, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She later earned a Master of Education in Counselling from Acadia University. Specializing in mental health, Maria enjoyed a long career at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital and later as a Clinical Nurse Educator at the StFX Rankin School of Nursing. 

Maria’s commitment to service extends beyond her professional career. Since 2010, she has volunteered with A Partnership in Caring, supporting medical capacity building, education, and community aid in Rwanda. At home, she has served numerous organizations, including SAFE; the Antigonish Affordable Housing Society; Antigonish Community Transit; and the Canadian Association for Community Living.

Maria has enriched the local arts community through volunteer leadership in theatre and her own work as a juried artist. Her passion for the arts has been a powerful avenue for advocacy. Since 2011, Maria has played a key role with the award-winning Park Bench Players, using performance and storytelling to reduce stigma, raise awareness about mental illness, and share hope. 

Throughout, Maria has led with humility, compassion, and a profound respect for human dignity. She has inspired volunteers, strengthened communities, and built lasting partnerships grounded in mutual care. 

Maria Van Vonderen’s sustained service represents the very best of StFX. Her life and work are a powerful expression of the Xaverian tradition in action and make her a deserving inductee into the StFX Hall of Honour.

The Late Andrew Harvey '05 '20

A tireless champion for social justice, community, and belonging

Andrew Harvey brought compassion, conviction, and extraordinary energy to building stronger, more inclusive communities. A two-time StFX graduate, a social worker, advocate, writer, mentor, and community leader, Andrew helped create spaces where people felt safe to be exactly who they were. He was a beloved father to daughter Ava and the devoted spouse to the love of his life, Jay.

Andrew credited his experience with StFX’s X-Project as a catalyst for his lifelong commitment to activism. Its grassroots, community-driven spirit became a hallmark of his own approach to service: listen, build relationships, challenge inequity, and work alongside people to create meaningful change.

In St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Andrew served his community in many capacities, including with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre, Choices for Youth, First Light St. John’s Friendship Centre, Happy City St. John’s, and Eastern Edge Gallery.

At Choices for Youth, Andrew worked directly with young people experiencing homelessness and co-created Man to Man, an innovative peer-support program to open conversations about mental wellness and reduce stigma and isolation. Bringing this philosophy to First Light, he advanced housing initiatives and incorporated culture, community, and land-based learning into programming as Director of Housing and Social Supports. 

Andrew’s impact endures. First Light’s Harvey House, a transitional housing facility supporting women and 2SLGBTQIA+ relatives with lived experience of violence, is named in his memory. The Andrew Harvey Memorial Scholarship in Social Work similarly carries forward his commitment to social change, community building, and Indigenous allyship.

Andrew led through action. His compassionate leadership, courageous advocacy, and unwavering belief in human dignity left an enduring imprint on his community. His legacy is a powerful expression of the Xaverian tradition in action, making Andrew Harvey a deserving posthumous inductee into the StFX Hall of Honour.