Orientation Welcome

Welcome New Students!

The Campus is BUZZING with excitement today...that's right, the students have arrived on campus!!

Orientation Week promises to be an exciting one, check out the schedule.

I'll post some photos later...

First Class Bash

Halifax three-piece group the Joel Plaskett Emergency is set to welcome Mount A students to Sackville on Tuesday, September 4 with one of the most hotly-anticipated Frosh Week concerts in years.

The concert celebrates the first day of classes and kicks off at 7 p.m. outside the University Centre.

“Joel’s blowing up nationwide, and he’s remained the hometown pride of Halifax and the Maritimes — we’re so excited to have him back after a magical show two years ago in Brunton Auditorium,” exclaims SAC entertainment director Tim Jones.

Supporting Plaskett are his handpicked openers, Torontonian rising stars the Golden Dogs.

Dubbed “one of the best live bands in Canada” by Halifax Pop Explosion executive director Waye Mason and following up on a successful showing at Struts Gallery in Sackville last Spring, the Golden Dogs are said to have the sound of Beatlesque pop-rock.

“Sydney’s Tom Fun Orchestra, the hit of CHMA Radio’s Stereophonic festival are a perfect choice to kick off the night,” adds Tim Jones, likening the Cape Breton seven-piece to a cross between Tom Waits and Broken Social Scene.

The Mount Allison SAC, the hosts of this orientation concert, is enthusiastically trying to revitalize on-campus entertainment for all-ages after a series of quiet years.

As part of this commitment, the vast majority of SAC concerts this year, like the upcoming appearances by Montreal Juno-nominee DJ Champion, Toronto's Great Lake Swimmers, and Polaris Prize winner Final Fantasy, will be all-ages and open to the public.

Joel Plaskett Emergency, the Golden Dogs, and the Tom Fun Orchestra play outdoors in front of the Mount Allison University Centre (152 Main St.), Tuesday Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at Ducky’s Pub and the Mount Allison SAC Office.

(Photo credit: Chris Smith)

Mount A to Host Maritime Premiers

The three Maritime premiers have agreed to hold a joint cabinet meeting at Mount A this fall to discuss issues of mutual concern.

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham will host Nova Scotia's Rodney MacDonald and P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz in Sackville in late October.

Graham said there are many issues that the three provinces need to work together to address.

"There's also opportunities to continue to work on the Atlantic Gateway initiative. We also have to look at population growth strategies and how to deal with an aging population, and at economic development issues," Graham said in an interview Monday.

Rear full article: Maritime governments to hold joint cabinet meeting in October.

New Regional Director

Congratulations to Brian Chase ('84) who has been appointed as the new Regional Director for the Atlantic Region of the National Parole Board.

Brian is a native of Moncton, and graduated from Polyvalente Mathieu Martin and attended Mount A where he graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Psychology.

He then attended L'Université de Moncton where he studied clinical psychology.

Read more about Brian, and his appointment.

Drawn to the domestic

Renowned Canadian painter Mary Pratt ('57) would have little to apologize for. Now into her seventies, she has an overflowing resume of shows, publications and awards.

Yet, as an exhibit of still-life prints featuring the intense domestic imagery that she is known for continues near Toronto, the artist admits shame at no longer being able to cook muffins from scratch.

Read Mary's interview with the National Post.

House Makes Headlines

MacGregor House made headlines this week:
It's Moving Day - Times & Transcript
Sackville house moves one block down the street - CBC News