New President at the University of Regina

The University of Regina had announced the appointment of Dr. Vianne Timmons (’79) as President and Vice-Chancellor.

Dr. Timmons is currently Vice-President of Academic Development at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Dr. Timmons holds degrees from the University of Calgary, Gonzaga University, Acadia University and Mount Allison University.

She is Adjunct Professor at the University of New Brunswick, and has served as Chair of the Education Department at St. Francis Xavier University and Dean and Professor in the Faculty of Education at UPEI.

A member of the Governing Council of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Board of International Education, Dr. Timmons is also co-chair of the Atlantic Association of Universities’ Aboriginal Education Committee, chair of the Maritime Provinces Council on Higher Education, and serves in the International Association of the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities.

Dr. Timmons becomes President of the University of Regina on July 1, 2008.
Congratulations!

NB Teacher Honoured

Congratulations to Ian Fogarty (’93), a Grade 11 and 12 chemistry and physics teacher at Riverview High School, who was in Ottawa May 15 to receive the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.

His success in the classroom stems from teamwork, and building genuine relationships with students and colleagues.

He is completing his 10th year at Riverview High School.

Ian is a strong believer in using lively examples, such as videos of bike skids, snowboarding styles, kayak rolls and billiard-ball breaks, to teach scientific principles to students.

He also likes to use puzzles to help spark problem-solving skills.

Ian has bachelors' degrees in science and education from Mount A, a master's degree in science from New Mexico State University and is working towards a PhD in science at UNB.

Ian was New Brunswick's lone recipient.

A total of 95 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education will be given to educators from across Canada.

The recipients represent teaching excellence in a wide-range of subjects at all grade levels, from preschool through secondary school.

Read full article: Riverview teacher honoured (Moncton Times and Transcript)

Painted Poems book launch - June 1

A book launch for Painted Poems is scheduled for Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 3 p.m. at Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University Campus. There will also be an exhibit of some of the 20 paintings in the book.

Sackville artist, Angelica De Benedetti and Moncton poet and Mount Allison alumna, Margaret Patricia Eaton ('69), have combined their talents to produce a book entitled Painted Poems: inspired by the natural beauty and history of south-east New Brunswick. This publication is supported by the 2008 Cultural Capitals of Canada Project, the Town of Sackville, and the Westmorland Historical Society.

Both the artist and poet are passionate about the beauty of the area as well as the intriguing history. When they realized that their work complimented each other's in the portrayal of the Chignecto region, the idea of a book was born.

There will be a book signing at Keillor House Museum, Dorchester, on Saturday, June 14, at 3 p.m. when the house officially opens for the summer season.

Cycling Across Canada

Chris Boughner ('80), a long time resident of Whitehorse, Yukon, is currently traveling across Canada by bicycle.

The trip started from Calgary on May 3rd and will make its way across the country, eventually ending in Halifax.

Check out his blog to see an ongoing record of his trip.

Reunion Weekend 2008

Reunion Weekend 2008 was a huge success! Fun was had by all, including late nights at the pub, and a great Alumni Banquet followed by an Alumni Dance.

Check out all the photos!

Owen & the Dinosaur

Jennifer Aikman-Smith (’87) had a book launch on April 12th at the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton (with $1.00 from every sale going to the zoo’s Year of the Frog Project!) for the book she illustrated: Owen & The Dinosaur.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mount Allison.

See more of Jennifer’s artwork

Grad publishes Harlequin

Mount Allison graduate Ruth MacLean (’83) had her first book Heart of My Heart released by Harlequin Enterprises on April 8 under the pseudonym Stella MacLean.

Heart of My Heart is the story of a baby boomer couple (Oliver and James) who, after years of being separated by forces beyond their control, get married only to have him fall ill and need emergency surgery. The story is set in the hospital where he is recovering while Olivia relives their love affair over the past 40 years.

Besides having graduated from Mount A, Ruth’s uncle and aunt lived in Sackville for most of their lives. James Wheeler, her uncle, was treasurer of Mount Allison and her aunt Hazel Wheeler was active in the community.

Ruth is one of the few people in New Brunswick to have been published by Harlequin, one of the largest publishers of women’s fiction in the world.

The launch party for the book was be held at Marshland Inn on April 19.

Her second novel has just been accepted for publishing and she is presently writing her third Harlequin Romance.

Read more about "Stella MacLean"

New Manager for NSERC-Atlantic

Congratulations to Dr. Richard Isnor (’89), appointed the new NSERC-Atlantic Manager.

Richard started at NSERC-Atlantic’s office, based in Moncton, NB effective April 7th, 2008.

Dr. Isnor was most recently Director of Innovation Policy and Science at the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa.

He holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Policy Studies from the University of Sussex, UK; a Master’s in Environmental Studies from Dalhousie University, Canada; and a B. Sc. in Biochemistry from Mount Allison University.

He has also held science and technology policy and management positions in a variety of federal government organizations, including the National Research Council of Canada, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Privy Council Office.

Although he was born in Halifax, Richard grew up in Truro, Nova Scotia and is an avid triathlete.

While he has worked outside Atlantic Canada for the past thirteen years, the pull to come back to the Atlantic region has been growing over the past number of years.

NSERC is Canada’s primary agency supporting research in the natural sciences and engineering. NSERC’s goal is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians.

For more information on the NSERC: http://nserc.ca/