Green Acts

CBC's The Hour has launched a new web campaign - One Million Acts of Green and we want you to be part of it! Sign up, log your everyday "green" acts, and join the Mount Allison group to show your support.

Mounties' Gary Ross

UPDATE: Mounties’ QB Hughes is named AUFC MVP

Gary Ross ('10) has made a name for himself as the top special-teams player in the country the past three years, but it has been his unique back story that has drawn a lot of the attention at Mount A.

Gary, 26, is a married father of three children aged five and under and balances a busy home life with a full schedule of football practices and games.

An academic all-Canadian, he plans to pursue medical school and has a sterling grade-point average as a biology major.

As good a football player as Gary is, he's an even better person.

Gary had made a deal with his wife, Tenecia, that in order to raise their family, he would work while she went to university, with the two switching roles once she graduated.

A football and basketball star in high school in Windsor, Ont., he spent five years at a factory assembling welding guns and didn't pursue school or football until two years ago.

Gary knew little about our school, but realized he would get a chance to play a big role, given the Mounties' limited on-field success. Now, the game's most exciting moments at Mount A are determined by when the punt-return team is on the field.

He led the Atlantic conference in receptions, receiving yardage, all-purpose yards and punt-return average - and is a strong candidate to be the conference's most valuable player and nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding player in Canadian university football.

Mount Allison ended a 34-game losing string in his first year and has since won four more games.

With a 2-6 record heading into this Saturday's conference semi-final against the St. Francis Xavier X-Men, the Mounties are heavy underdogs in just their second playoff appearance in the past decade.

Full story: Ross leads Mount Allison's run into the postseason (Globe & Mail)

Tom Forrestall Gala

A Tom Forrestall Gala by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery will be taking place on Nov. 8, 2008 in Fredericton.

The tribute dinner will be recognizing the achievements of acclaimed Atlantic Canadian artist Tom Forrestall ('58).

Tom was hired by Lord Beaverbrook as assistant curator in 1959. He lived there for approximately 15 years, and now makes his home in Dartmouth, N.S.

A book by Tom Smart called Tom Forrestall: Paintings, Drawings, Writings was recently published by Key Porter Books and a major retrospective exhibition on the artist was just featured at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery is going to be hosting the exhibition in 2009.

Tom Forrestall's son, William Forrestall - a member of the event organizing committee and the representative of the Forrestall family - adds that it is worth noting that his father came to Mount A.

Not only are his parents artists, he and all of his siblings are artistic in one way or another. This gala event, he says, is a great tribute to his Dad and it's a great tribute to his mother, who recently passed away.

His mother, he says, managed his father's career and was instrumental in him establishing his career early on.

Upon graduation from Mount A in 1958, he received one of the first Canada Council grants for independent study and travel throughout Europe.

His principal media have been egg tempura and watercolour and, since 1980, lithography printing. His work has been described as magic realism and is exhibited nationally and internationally.

The money raised through the gala will go to the gallery.

At the gala event, a special announcement will be made that is important for the collection and is important for the (upcoming 50th) anniversary of the gallery. A very special surprise, of national significance, will be announced that evening by our lieutenant-governor.

If that isn't incentive enough to come out, the gala will feature a champagne reception and the music of Les Paiens. Senator Noel Kinsella will be the guest speaker and will introduce Tom Forrestall.

There will also be a short auction featuring unique, once-in-a-lifetime artwork, as well as a multi-media presentation on Forrestall.

The Tom Forrestall Gala is taking place on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Delta. The reception gets underway at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $150, with a tax deduction of $110, and if you purchase a table for eight, you will receive the recent book on Tom Forrestall signed by the artist and the author.

Tickets can be purchased at the front desk of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery or by calling 458-2028. To learn more about the gallery, visit www.beaverbrookartgallery.org.

Read full story: Paying tribute to acclaimed artist Tom Forrestall (Daily Gleaner)

New Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies

One of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs is paving the way for the next generation of business leaders.

Ron Joyce, honorary degree holder, Tim Hortons co-founder, member of the Order of Canada and Canadian Business Hall of Fame, has donated $5,000,000 to establish the Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies at Mount A.

The Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies is housed in the heart of Mount Allison’s campus in the Avard-Dixon Building. The new Centre contains an open-style, community meeting place that characterizes business schools and allows a high-energy collaborative social environment.

Additional improvements include new case rooms, and boardrooms that double as tutorial or seminar rooms. The Centre will also attract an increased number of Commerce students to the University.

The Program is expected to grow by 200 students over the next four years. Additional gains stemming from Ron Joyce’s generous gift include funds to attract the country’s top entrepreneurs and educators — creating new teaching positions, visiting scholars, and executive-in-residence opportunities on campus.

The student experience will be further improved with an increase in student conference travel, field trips, guest speaker series, case competitions, international exchanges, summer internships, and research opportunities.

Building on Ron Joyce’s generosity, the University will fund raise an additional $5,000,000 — for a total investment of $10 million — as it advances to the forefront of undergraduate business education in North America.

Related links:
Millions for Mount A (Telegraph Journal)
Tim's founder donates $5M to Mt. A (Times and Transcript)

Songs on Stage

Sackville is the place to be this weekend, with Songs on Stage, a one of a kind weekend of music.

October 23rd Weekend:

• Chantal Kreviazuk & Gordie Sampson - October 23rd, Convocation Hall, 8:00 pm $34.00
• Maritime Songwriters Circle - Catherine McLellan, Jill Barber, Meaghan Smith and hosted by Bruce Guthro, October 24th, Sackville United Church - 8:00 pm $18.00
• Rob Lutes Rick Haworth Songwriting and Guitar workshops, October 25th - 10:00 am Sackville United Church
• Hot Toddy & Rob Lutes - United Church, October 25th, 2:00 pm $18.00
• Joel Plaskett & Ron Sexsmith - October 25th, Convocation Hall, 8:00 pm

Tickets available at Ticketpro.ca online, phone or Atlantic-wide, Tidewater Books and Live Bait Theatre. http://www.sackville.com/culture

OPEN HOUSE

Mount A invites all teachers, school counsellors, prospective students and their parents, and anyone else who may be interested to visit our beautiful campus, spectacular with its fall foliage, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, October 24th.

The day will begin with a welcome in Convocation Hall, followed by three mini lectures on an environmental theme, an Academic Fair in the Athletics Centre, a complimentary lunch at Jennings Dining Hall, a Student Fair in the new Wallace McCain Student Centre, campus tours, and prize draws.

Five prizes of $2,000 each in Residence Bursaries will be offered to potential students!

Find out more about our Open House!

Greening Mount Allison

Mount Allison students and community members can now sport their school pride while being environmentally friendly with the University's new line of travel mugs and reusable shopping bags.

In an effort to be environmentally conscious, the university wants to get rid of paper cups and bags, so all students this year were issued with a reusable travel mug and shopping bag.

The bags and cups are also available for purchase at the university bookstore.

Michelle Strain, Mount Allison's director of administrative services, said the mugs were purchased with the energy savings from the C3 Challenges held in residences for the last two years, and in academic buildings for the first time this year.

The hope is that Mount Allison will eventually become a paper-cup and bag-free campus, further reducing its environmental impact.

The Greening Mount Allison mugs are available for purchase at the Mount Allison bookstore for $4.10, while the Green and Garnet reusable bags are $1 each.

Buy online!

Meighen Centre celebrating 20 years

The Meighen Centre celebrated its 20th anniversary with a big party, and an even bigger present. Dozens of students, University staff, philanthropists, and experts in the field of learning disabilities gathered to reflect on the Centre’s successes and thank its supporters.

The family after which the Centre is named used the anniversary as an opportunity to ensure the Meighen Centre enjoys at least another 20 years of achievement — with a $750,000 donation.

The T R Meighen Foundation’s gift prompted an additional endowment of $375,000 from an anonymous donor, for a total contribution of $1,125,000 to the Centre.

The Meighen Centre has gained wide acclaim both regionally and nationally for its work with students who have learning disabilities, and the Centre’s staff members have received national recognition for the work they do.

The Meighen Centre is one of the only centres in Canada at the post-secondary level with the sole mandate to support academic assistance, training, and research in that field. Services include a peer tutoring program, a note-taking service, test and exam accommodations, as well as academic and personal counselling.

Read more: Mount Allison celebrates 20 years of helping students with learning disabilities

Related links:
Meighen Centre gets $1.125 million (Times and Transcript)
Harvard researcher visits Mount A (Times and Transcript)

Mount A's Animal House

Mount A is getting its own Animal House, but it’s not the National Lampoon variety.

In a unique partnership with the Moncton SPCA, the University residence is fostering pets from the shelter during the school year.

Animal House is located in one of Mount A’s satellite residences with ample outdoor space. Eight students and several pets moved in this September.

Tasks include feeding, exercising, grooming, ensuring access to vet care, and socializing with the animals, as well as a number of house initiatives to assist the animals in finding permanent homes through the SPCA’s adoption program.

Current four-legged residents include a rabbit, a cat, and a dog.

The Animal House project is also serving as a valuable learning experience outside the classroom. Many of the house residents plan to pursue careers in the field of animal care and veterinary medicine.

The Animal House experience will provide them with additional ‘pre-vet’ education, together with their regular studies at Mount Allison.

Related links:
Student residence going to the dogs (and cats)
(Globe and Mail)

Mount Allison's own Animal House
(Telegraph Journal)

Mt. Allison launches "Animal House"
(Times and Transcript)

Student residence fosters pets from the Moncton SPCA
(Sackville Tribune Post)

N.B. university campus opens its doors to SPCA animals looking for adoption
(Amherst Daily News)

Commerce CMA Accreditation

A special reception was held at Mount A at the end of September to celebrate CMA (Certified Management Accountants) Canada’s accreditation of the university’s Bachelor of Commerce program — the first university in New Brunswick to receive this distinction.

Vieweg confirmed that Mount Allison University is the first university in New Brunswick to have an undergraduate accounting program accredited by CMA Canada.

Mount A students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Commerce program with a minimum grade point average of 75% are exempted from writing the CMA Entrance Examination. This select group of students will enter directly into the Strategic Leadership Program, the last step required to obtain the CMA designation.

Read more: Mount Allison's Commerce program receives CMA Canada Accreditation

Related links:
Mount Allison’s commerce program receives CMA accreditation
(Sackville Tribune Post)

Mount A commerce program accredited
(Moncton Times and Transcript)

Reception to celebrate CMA Canada's Accreditation of Mount Allison University's Commerce Program
(Canada Newswire)

Wallace McCain Student Centre Opening

Close to 2,000 students, University staff, alumni, donors, and community members watched as a giant “garnet and gold” scarf (in place of a ribbon) was untied and the new Wallace McCain Student Centre was officially opened.

Margaret McCain, Mount Allison graduate, honorary degree holder, officer of the Order of Canada, former Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, and Chancellor Emeritus of Mount Allison said when she and Wallace donated $5-million three years ago, they wanted their investment to benefit students directly.

Renovations on the historic residence, Trueman House, began in 2006. While the sandstone exterior of the building has remained largely untouched, the building’s interior has been completely renovated, and updated to include some cutting-edge “green” features.

These include a multi-storey atrium (to provide daylight to the building core), thicker insulation (for better heat retention), low-flow plumbing fixtures and a rainwater collection system (to conserve water), energy efficient office lights as well as daylight sensors and motion sensors in areas that are not constantly being used (to conserve energy).

As part of the opening celebrations the University’s pep band unveiled its new fight song Garnet & Gold. The pep band is a new addition to Mount Allison.

Read more: Wallace McCain Student Centre opens at Mount Allison University

See photos of the celebrations!

Related links:
New ‘one-stop’ student centre opens at Mount Allison
(Sackville Tribune Post)
Mt. A's new student centre opens its doors
(Times and Transcript)