MARY MACKAY MACMILLAN (’44), Toronto, ON, celebrated her 101st birthday recently with a party in her condo, where she lived alone. Her son Michael MacMillan writes to say that chatting with friends and family and sipping wine on her birthday was a great example of her vitality at age 101. Sadly, Mary passed away on May 28, 2023 at Mt. Sinai hospital following complications after a fall. Sincere condolences to her family at this difficult time.

Another outstanding achievement for alum DR. PAUL CORKUM (’65, ’06 HON). The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Basic Sciences has been awarded to Anne L’Huillier (Lund University, Sweden), Paul Corkum (University of Ottawa, Canada) and Ferenc Krausz (Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Germany), the three pioneers of “attosecond physics” or “attophysics” whose work has made it possible to observe subatomic processes unfolding over the shortest time scale captured by science. After graduating from Acadia, Dr. Corkum completed a PhD in Physics at Lehigh University in 1972. In 1973 he joined the National Research Council of Canada (CNRC), where now, half a century on, he heads the Joint Attosecond Science Laboratory, a partnership between the CNRC and the University of Ottawa, where he is a Distinguished University Professor. He is also Co-Director of the Joint Centre for Extreme Photonics at the University of Ottawa and holds academic positions at Texas A&M University and the University of New Mexico. Author of over 360 articles in scientific journals with more than 47,000 citations, he serves or has served as an advisor to the U.S. National Research Council, the European Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK). He received an Honorary Degree from Acadia in 2006 and was named an Acadia Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2015. For more on the BBVA Foundation Award, please visit: https://bit.ly/3LEbDuy

On November 15, 2022, DR. JAMES H. MORRISON (’66, ’67), CM (Professor Emeritus) was honoured by the Lieutenant- Governor of Nova Scotia at Government House with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. The award was made in recognition of his service to Education and Heritage in the province. It follows his Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, which was awarded 10 years ago for my service to Museums and Oral history. Dr. Morrison says, “I am very pleased to join my good friends and colleagues at Acadia, Dr. Ron Stewart and President Dr. Peter Ricketts, in receiving this award. I have also just published a biography of an early Literacy and Adult Education pioneer, Nova Scotian Alfred Fitzpatrick, entitled, The Right to Read (Nimbus, 2022).”

Another honour in a very distinguished career – Acadia alum and Justice LARRY MUSSENDEN (’86) has been inducted into the Company of Honorary Fellows in Bermuda. Learn more.

Acadia University and LaunchBox announced Acadia's first-ever student Entrepreneur In Residence, MARTIN SUTER (’88). Martin is a serial entrepreneur and the original founder of Cajuns in the Acadia Student Union Building while he was an Acadia Business student (’88). He worked for start-ups in Silicon Valley through the ’90s and helped grow and exit six companies totaling over $750 million! Most recently Martin led Ab Inbev's (Labatt Brewing’s parent company) e-commerce division in China, growing it to over $300 million in three years before returning to Wolfville. "It's an honour to be able to work with Acadia student entrepreneurs as the new EIR” commented Martin. “Having a great facility, programs, faculty and alumni focused on inspiring and enabling student entrepreneurship is something that I wished we had back in my day!"

Acadia’s new student Entrepreneur In Residence (EIR) Program is designed to offer guidance and support to Acadia student entrepreneurs. The EIR is available to meet regularly with students to talk about their businesses and ideas, host workshops, and assist in connecting Acadia to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Kinesiology alum traveled from near and far to the Wolfville Farmers’ Market to celebrate ANN DODGE’s (’91) 65th birthday in March. All assembled are former students other than retired professor DR. GARY NESS (Wolfville, NS, sixth from the right, beside Ann), including: JUSTIN OLIVER (’06), Digby, NS; PHIL MCCOMISKEY (’06), Moncton, NB; GRAHAM FROST (’06, ’08), Brentwood Bay, BC; TOBEY GULLICK SCOTT, Peterborough, ON; GREG KNIGHT (’09), Halifax, NS; KASSANDRA (HAWKER) KNIGHT (’09), Halifax, NS; KATIE AUCOIN (’09, ’14), Dartmouth, NS;ALICIA (SHORTT) WEBBER (’03), Lively, ON; and CHRIS MACWILLIAM (’14), Halifax, NS.

JENNIFER KING (’91) was honoured recently to be a nominee at this year’s East Coast Music Association (ECMA) awards for her solo piano album O Mistress Moon: Canadian Edition, distributed by the Leaf Music label based in Halifax, NS. Two of the 12 compositions on the album were written specifically for Jennifer and this project by Amy Brandon and Richard Gibson. Jennifer also expressed her sincere thanks to Music Nova Scotia and The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR) for supporting the album.

Congratulations to Acadia University Canada Research Chair DR. LESLEY FRANK ('95), who has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to the province in academics and research. “It is humbling to be honoured for my research and academic work by our Province,” says Frank. “My research has involved many collaborators, including those struggling to meet their basic needs, and many fellow academics, policy experts, and community organizations working for social justice." https://loom.ly/KVWA-YM

Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that NICK HEALEY (’95) has joined the firm’s Healthcare, Life Sciences and Education business unit as a partner, providing healthcare transactional and regulatory services. A resident of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Healey is based in the firm’s virtual Link office, and affiliated with the firm’s growing Denver office. Healey has more than 20 years of experience guiding healthcare providers such as hospital systems and their medical staffs, ambulatory surgery centres, federally qualified health centres (FQHCs) and rural health centres (RHCs), physician groups, pharmacies, clinical labs, and medical device manufacturers in corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions and through the complex healthcare regulatory framework. He regularly advises clients on the legal implications of general business and reimbursement issues, handles medical staff matters and administrative proceedings, provides counsel on compliance with state and federal healthcare laws and regulations, and assists with compliance investigations. Healey has built a reputation for becoming an integral part of clients’ decision-making processes and serving as a full partner to their organizations.

HEIDI (GALLANT) WILLIAMS ('98) will celebrate 25 years with RBC in July 2023. Heidi is currently Senior Manager, Initiatives and Implementation with RBC's Atlantic Regional Office in Halifax, N.S., where she lives with her husband Mark.

Congratulations to alum JOANNE BERNARD (’00), CEO of Easter Seals Nova Scotia. She was named Business Leader of the Year by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce at this year’s Halifax Business Awards.

SUZANNE KNIGHT (’07) was honoured to be named one of The DMZ’s 2023 Women of the Year. From 800 nominees across the country, this award recognizes 18 women who are part of the Canadian tech ecosystem for their outstanding accomplishments and contribution to creating impact. Learn more.

Acadia alum and 2019 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient HEATHER MACDONALD (’09) was recently named the new Chief Executive Officer of Brigadoon Village, effective May 8, 2023. Heather is an accomplished non-profit leader with extensive experience in youth-serving organizations. Most recently, Heather served as Regional Director for NPower Canada, a non-profit working to create sustainable digital career pathways for underserved youth and adults. She also held executive leadership roles at MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, JA Nova Scotia, and YMCA. She is highly skilled in strategic and business planning, marketing, fund development, and stakeholder relations. In addition to a background in non-profit leadership and recreation management, Heather holds an MBA and is active in many community organizations.

KEVIN GARBUIO (’11, ’13) received a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in January 2023. The citation reads: Kevin Garbuio believes that sports are the ultimate community builder. As Football Coach to the Saints, Trappers, and Vice Principal of Holy Trinity High School, he persisted in his dedication to the youth of Fort McMurray through the uphill battles of the Fire, Flood, and COVID-19, and successfully obtained funding to promote positive sport culture in Wood Buffalo. During the 2016 Wildfires, Kevin helped several children rejoin their families safely. He was awarded the Stars of Alberta Volunteers Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community and has been a driving force for the Special Olympics in Fort McMurray, and Board member of Kidsport Wood Buffalo. In Coach Garbuio’s words, “Everyone should have access to sports, every sports arena needs to be inclusive and safe for everyone. I am proud to be around so many amazing families and see so many of these athletes go to on to do great things.” Congratulations, Kevin!

This is cool! Four members of the 2011-12 Acadia Students’ Union Executive reunited at this year’s Acadia Alumni Awards Dinner on April 20 at Pier 21 in Halifax. Pictured left to right, they are: ASHLEY MARGESON (’12), BEN JESSOME (’11), NICOLE (MARENICK) HOWATT (’11), and current Acadia Alumni Association President MATT RIOS (’14).

ALEX MacLEAN (’15) received a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and a note from Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston thanking him for his leadership in business and strong promotion of the East Coast. Alex noted in a subsequent LinkedIn post: “Beyond honoured to receive the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. I’m proud to call Nova Scotia my home and will continue to give back to our province and Atlantic Canada in every way possible. Thank you, Nova Scotia, and Premier Tim Houston - it’s an honour.”

It was a dream come true for Acadia alum and stunt actress MAYA MACATUMPAG (’16), who was in the blockbuster Marvel film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Macatumpag says in an interview that working on the set of Black Panther was about representing her culture and the Black female community in the film industry. Learn more.

Acadia alum TAYLOR BAKER (’19) delivered this year’s Sydney Taylor Memorial Lecture on Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m., proudly sponsored by the Department of Politics and the Women's and Gender Studies Program at Acadia. An Indigenous woman with both Coast Salish and Gitxsan ancestry, Taylor is a Member of Tsawwassen First Nation and spoke on the topic, “Powerful Indigenous Women Resisting the Indian Act”.

From Karen MacQuarrie: “These Acadia alumni recently sang with the Truro Cantabile Society Choir at their winter concert, “Reflections on Light”: Back (left to right): JACQUELINE CHAMBERS (’83, ’07); STEVE HARTLEN (’90, ’14); ALF BENT, (’68); ELIZABETH SOLLOWS (’77). Front:  SHEILA (SPONAGLE) ALLAN (’68); BARBARA MAIN (’82); LISA ANNAND; KAREN (ANDERSON) MACQUARRIE, (’81); and BELINDA (COLBURNE) ADSHADE (’86 to ’88).”

Acadia University President Emeritus RAY IVANY’s portrait was recently unveiled on campus. It takes its place alongside former university presidents in the lobby of University Hall. Learn more about the process and the recent grads who appear in the backdrop by clicking HERE.

A new book by JIM PRIME ('69) is available from Moose House Publishing. Beyond the Passage is a collection of short stories, anecdotes and other tales based on his "memories, real and imagined." Long and Brier Islands are the backdrop for many of the entries and, as Jim puts it, "the inspiration for them all." These stories are a departure from Jim's usual sports and/or humour-related subjects although both of those themes are sprinkled throughout. Many of the entries deal with more weighty subjects of life, love, betrayal, and renewal. Having said that, at the end of the book there is a teaser, an opening chapter for a possible sequel to the very popular Fish and Dicks, to be written by Jim and co-author Ben Robicheau, "if we can figure out how to narrow our two remaining synapses and thereby stimulate the single shared neuron that contains our creative spark."

DR. JAMES H. MORRISON, CM (PROFESSOR EMERITUS, ’66, ’67), has published a biography of an early Literacy and Adult Education pioneer, Nova Scotian Alfred Fitzpatrick, entitled, The Right to Read (Nimbus,2022).

DEBORAH HEMMING was featured recently in the Acadia Alumni Book Series. She has written two novels: Goddess and Throw Down Your Shadows, which was shortlisted for the 2021 ReLit Novel Award. She studied English at McGill University and the University of King's College, and Information Studies at Dalhousie University. Deborah lives in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, with her partner and son. She is also an academic librarian.

Author PAT THOMAS (’74, ’76) has produced a coffee table book, Raven: Get a Grip, one of three in the Raven series. Each contains about 20 complementary pages on raven development and conditions they require to thrive, followed by 180 pages of information, stories and narratives (literary, creative and historical) paired with evocative, colourful art and photographs. Raven: Get a Grip offers a wealth of facts and personal impressions of ravens in two-page spreads that stand on their own. All three books in the series are 8” X 10” (landscape), with a full-colour interior printed on art paper. They can be ordered directly from WindyWood Publishing (editpat001@gmail.com), and purchased at Bookmark on Spring Garden Road; Blue Mind Gallery, Bear River; Masstown Market; several other Nova Scotia galleries and gift shops; and Amazon.ca