The UN’s Sixth Annual Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report

Discourse around climate change is nothing new. Protesters have been taking to the streets for decades in the fight for both climate change and global warming. Politicians have made empty promises and made the environment a key issue in their campaigns, all while building new pipelines and pursuing economic interests, at the peril of the environment. Scientists have been ringing the alarm bells for ages, and yet, companies still fail to change towards a more sustainable future and economy. Some politicians even deny that climate change exists at all. In 2021, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their AR6 report on the state of the global climate and the fight against climate change. They have been releasing yearly reports for 6 years. The panel’s findings are grim to say the least.

Scientists have been warning the general population that we must keep our rising global temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius or we will run the risk of encountering very dangerous living conditions in the future. According to the IPCC’s report, the earth is warming very quickly. As set out in their report, we are already approaching the 1.5°C threshold. Humans have been estimated to have caused a rise of approximately 1.07°C of our current global warming trend. By staying below the 1.5°C threshold, we could prevent some of the irreversible consequences of climate change, but we will still face some scary stuff.

By staying under 1.5°C of warming, according to the report, it is still likely that the Arctic will continue to warm quickly. Furthermore, if we fail to meet this threshold, the consequences will worsen, every additional 0.5°C of global warming will have some very serious side effects on

the climate. The more we warm the planet, the less the environment can absorb all the greenhouse gases we emit. This would only worsen the effects of the climate changes occurring.

As outlined by the IPCC, unless we cut our emissions of greenhouse gases drastically and soon, we are on track to warm the global temperature by at least 2°C. We are already at the halfway point. The IPCC’s report includes 5 scenarios of the severity, the Arctic could warm before the end of the 21st century. In all scenarios, the threshold of 1.5°C is at least reached. In other scenarios, the increase is at over 4°C. Staying within the range of 1.5°C is our best-case scenario.

Despite the scary possibilities outlined, there is hope. By reducing our greenhouse gas emissions now, we can prevent anything more than a 1.5 degree rise from happening in the future. The reports from the UN are not meant to scare us, but to push us to take climate change seriously and to act while we still have the luxury of time. We still have time, at least a decade, to move to a cleaner and sustainable future. Let’s use this time wisely.

NS Men’s Health Barber Shop Talks

The Barber Shop Talks was an event hosted at Dennis Hall, Coady West, for two hours at the end of last November. Its goal was to provide a Safe Space for Black men to talk about Race, and mental health, all while receiving a free professional cut, fade, or shave. Hosted by Black student advisor, Tara Reddick, in collaboration with the NS Men’s Health League (NSMHL), the event was well received, and a total of eleven Black men attended it. The NSMHL has hosted similar initiatives, mainly across the greater Halifax region. But, for Antigonish, it was definitely the first time that a mental health talk has ever been incorporated into a pop-up barbershop.

Mental health and hair care, it may go without saying, are among the many services that have been tested and exasperated by this pandemic. But, for members of Antigonish’s Black community, these specific two are hardly more scarce now than they were prior to Covid.

Antigonish has plenty of places to get a haircut, but it is not easy to find ones which cater to the unique needs of Black students. In previous years, the host of the Barber Shop Talks invited Black barbers from Halifax to improve the situation. And, providing services at the Talks this November successfully included one professional from Halifax, as well as two StFX students: Armando Pascual de la Cruz, and Wankunda Bwalya. Since there remain no professional Black barber shops in Antigonish, often times, students capable of providing amateur cuts are relied upon, as Reddick states “We have some very talented Black students who fill the gap in essential hair services for our Black student population”. Some, she comments, “end up perfecting their skills over their academic career here at StFX”.

Black health care professional Dr. Ron Milne was also present at the event, offering discussions on various issues pertinent to mental health in The Black community. Among the notable topics covered was how the lack of medical data on African Canadians, relative to white or Caucasians, affects Black Men’s health. From this, discussions were raised on issues which included misdiagnosis, deficits in cultural understanding, and, the fact that Black people are generally unable to see African Canadian therapists.

The sharing circle made for a steady vibe wherein everyone was on the same level. Questions discussed here by Dr. Milne included: What happens when you start to feel down? What is a stress response? And, who would talk to if you had mental health issues? Two quotes from the responses that day are: “It can be tough for Black males to admit they need help or have a mental health problem”, and “There needs to be more people to talk to on campus and in the community”.

Regarding these sentiments, Reddick comments: “StFX is trying to make mental health a priority and has partnered with the people’s counselling clinic to provide Black staff, students, and faculty with culturally relevant counselling services”. The NS Men’s Brotherhood has also recently hosted a similar event for females which included related discussions along with free mini manicures. Evidently, the format works. It is a creative asset in breaking the stigma of talking about mental health in the Black community; particularly during this pandemic. Due to the latter, however, it is not clear when the next Barber Shop Talks will be. Reddick informs that the NSMHL plans to do more of them on other campuses as well as X in the future. Reddick, herself, hopes that our campus will feature another Talks before the pandemic’s end, noting that this first one was certainly well received.

StFX Explains their Choice to Keep Exams In-Person, Despite Outbreak

Despite the rise in COVID cases on campus StFX has decided to continue with in person examinations, this has left students with many questions.

Many students are concerned about attending exams in person with a large number of students during a coronavirus outbreak on campus. I spoke with Elizabeth Yeo regarding this concern. She said “We have been in direct contact with officials from NS Public Health and will be adhering to the protocols they have established. Public Health has determined that exam settings are low-risk environments for COVID-19 transmission.” She says they will ensure safety by enforcing mask wearing, ensuring physical distancing and screening for COVID-19 symptoms. Yeo also said that “laboratory-confirmed positive COVID-19 cases are required to isolate and therefore cannot attend an in-person exam.”

Yeo noted that although many students and faculty are concerned about StFX’s plan to proceed with in person exams but there are also other members on campus who support the original plan of in person exams. StFX has been working with NS Public Health and she says, “they have assured us that proceeding with an in-person exam schedule can be done in a safe way.” Administration also understands other perspectives and so they have allowed for faculty members to proceed with in-person exams, as scheduled, or will allow for faculty members to move to a take-home format and have allowed for the option of taking exams in January. If students decide to take their exams in January, they will not need to return earlier than scheduled, but the start of winter term classes might need to be altered for those individuals to write their exams. They are still working on this decision.

Additionally, many students have had concerns that this could be a new variant, as our campus community is experiencing an outbreak while many of us are double vaccinated. When asked if this was a new variant Elizabeth said, “Some people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will still get sick because no vaccine is 100% effective.”

During these uncertain times, if students are struggling with their mental health, there is a collaborative care team of physicians, nurses and counselors at the StFX Health and Counseling Center who are available to help students. There is also online support at Togetherall, TAO self-help, Good2Talk and the Crisis Text Line.

Ultimately, with the end of the Fall semester, it’s important that students follow Public Health’s guidelines and work together as a campus community to get us back on track for the Winter term. Stay safe!

Decision Regarding Status of Exams December 8th

As many of you are aware by now, the current COVID-19 situation at StFX is dire, with 21 students testing positive for COVID-19, as of Wednesday, December 8, including 12 confirmed cases announced on Tuesday. More confirmed cases are expected in the coming days, and the school is encouraging students, staff, and members of the community to get tested as soon as possible. Of course, this leaves many wondering about the status of exams, with first term classes finishing up on Tuesday and in person exams scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 9. Unsurprisingly, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Strang, suspects rising cases to be related to this past weekend’s X-Ring ceremony and celebrations. If you are fully vaccinated, you must monitor yourself for symptoms until December 18 and book a PCR test. If you are not fully vaccinated, you must isolate regardless of if you’re experiencing symptoms or not, and, in general, anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should get tested immediately. Nova Scotia Health’s mobile unit will be at the Keating Centre on campus on Wednesday from 2 pm to 6 pm, and Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm. You can book an appointment or drop in.

An email from President and Vice-Chancellor Andy Hakin was sent out to students, faculty, and staff regarding exams, stating that members of administration would be meeting with public health to discuss the issue. Undoubtedly, many were anxiously waiting with emails open for the final decision. In a follow-up email from acting Academic Vice-President and Provost Timothy W. Hynes, it was announced that scheduled in-person exams will proceed, unless the instructor has changed the mode of delivery. If students have not been contacted by their professor regarding a change, the exam will proceed as scheduled. Faculty must notify their students, their deans, and the Registrar should they change the exam delivery mode. Instructors who move to a synchronous online exam must ensure it matches the date and time of the pre-existing exam schedule, and instructors who move to an asynchronous online exam must ensure the deadline is consistent with the pre-existing exam time. In short, students will have the option to write in whichever format their professor chooses, or if they are unable or uncomfortable to write in December, they may instead choose to write in January. Nova Scotia Public Health officials have assured the University it is safe to write in person, but despite recent events, social isolation requirements, and the fact that many students are uncomfortable writing exams in person, this final verdict has been decided.

Decision Regarding Status of Exams

As many of you are aware by now, the current COVID-19 situation at StFX is dire, with 21 students testing positive for COVID-19, as of Wednesday, December 8, including 12 confirmed cases announced on Tuesday. More confirmed cases are expected in the coming days, and the school is encouraging students, staff, and members of the community to get tested as soon as possible. Of course, this leaves many wondering about the status of exams, with first term classes finishing up on Tuesday and in person exams scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 9. Unsurprisingly, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Strang, suspects rising cases to be related to this past weekend’s X-Ring ceremony and celebrations. If you are fully vaccinated, you must monitor yourself for symptoms until December 18 and book a PCR test. If you are not fully vaccinated, you must isolate regardless of if you’re experiencing symptoms or not, and, in general, anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should get tested immediately. Nova Scotia Health’s mobile unit will be at the Keating Centre on campus on Wednesday from 2 pm to 6 pm, and Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm. You can book an appointment or drop in.

An email from President and Vice-Chancellor Andy Hakin was sent out to students, faculty, and staff regarding exams, stating that members of administration would be meeting with public health to discuss the issue. Undoubtedly, many were anxiously waiting with emails open for the final decision. In a follow-up email from acting Academic Vice-President and Provost Timothy W. Hynes, it was announced that scheduled in-person exams will proceed, unless the instructor has changed the mode of delivery. If students have not been contacted by their professor regarding a change, the exam will proceed as scheduled. Faculty must notify their students, their deans, and the Registrar should they change the exam delivery mode. Instructors who move to a synchronous online exam must ensure it matches the date and time of the pre-existing exam schedule, and instructors who move to an asynchronous online exam must ensure the deadline is consistent with the pre-existing exam time. In short, students will have the option to write in whichever format their professor chooses, or if they are unable or uncomfortable to write in December, they may instead choose to write in January. Nova Scotia Public Health officials have assured the University it is safe to write in person, but despite recent events, social isolation requirements, and the fact that many students are uncomfortable writing exams in person, this final verdict has been decided.

Students Hope for Online Exams as Covid Cases Rise in the Area

This year's X-Ring Ceremony sure was a memorable one, an email sent by the University reported 12 positive Covid-19 cases and are anticipating more. Students are now advocating that StFX moves exams online to keep both students and the community safe.

Last night, an online petition started by Marie-Anne Sergent has over 3000 signatures in support of changing examinations to online. Marie said she began this petition because she heard that many students were concerned about the outbreak and that most students shared the same opinion. She was amazed by the amount of support the petition got, with 3000 signatures in under 24 hours. Not only are students signing petitions, but faculty are too. Students have been reaching out to Marie through DMs, thanking her for speaking out. She says she is happy the Student Union has now shown their support, it shows they care and are doing their jobs. Ultimately, it could alter the StFX’s decision. Marie says the school has not yet reached out to her regarding the petition.

I also talked to Jack Irvin, the President of the Student Union about the Student’s Unions decision to support exams moving online. Jack says, The Students Union is for student advocacy and from what they have heard students want exams online. Last night the Students Union sent out a ‘Covid-19 Student Mental Health Wellness Survey,’ to hear students’ opinions. Overnight more than 800 students took the survey expressing their anxiety and stress about in-person exams. Students also said they believe that in-person exams would impact their academic performance. Jack noted that the petition made it clear to them that students want online exams. The President said he has met with different people from the University, and they are weighing many different things when it comes to making their decision, Jack is unsure what is going to happen at the moment.

It is not yet known if StFX will move examinations online, but with exams beginning tomorrow we can expect a choice from the University soon. We can only hope StFX empathizes with their students.

Photo from theU- StFX Student Union Instagram page

StFX Subway Athletes of The Week: First Snow of The Year Didn’t Stop These Players From Bringing The Heat

X-Women Basketball Kimberly Kingsbury and X-Men Basketball Dondre Reddick were named the StFX Subway Athletes of The Week. Today I dove in a little deeper to better understand the story behind these standout athletes and what fuelled them to become the athletes they are today!

First, I talked to X-Women Basketball guard Kimberly Kingsbury, a fifth year BASCH student from Nepean, Ontario. This past week, she played two strong games, she scored a game high of 24 points and then followed the next game with a team high of 11 points!

What drives you to train every day?

I really enjoy playing basketball and learned early on that training is an integral part of being an athlete. It helps that it is something I enjoy doing and find relaxing, so when I get stressed or overwhelmed, I always turn to basketball.

Who is the biggest role model in your life?

The biggest role model in my life would have to be my dad! He played a lot of sports growing up, so he knows a lot about the work and politics surrounding sports. He has always helped me develop my game. Ever since I was a kid, he would sacrifice his time to come watch me play sports and train with me, without question. I wouldn't be the player or person I am today without his support and guidance.

What is a challenge you overcame to get to where you are today?

A challenge I have overcome was probably moving away from a big city in Ontario and coming to live in Antigonish! I had no friends or even people that I knew, I was taking a full course load, living on my own for the first time, and was not able to come home whenever I would have liked. It really made me develop as a person and I found out a lot of new things about myself.

Advice you would give to athletes looking up to you right now?

If I could give any athletes some advice, I'd have to say always try to be the hardest worker. There's always going to be a player who is faster, more talented, a better shooter...etc, but if you can be the hardest worker and always give your best it will pay off. Coaches want players who will work hard and listen to them, and in the end, you will be rewarded!

Next, I spoke with Dondre Reddick of X-Men Basketball. He is a hometown standout athlete from Antigonish and a third year Arts student. He was the player of the game in STFX’s gripping 112-101 win over SMU Saturday night! Dondre also had a big double-double night scoring a career-high 35 points!

What drives you to train every day?

What drives me to train every day is my family. Every day that I am lazy it is disrespectful to them because I would not be where I am today without them, and I am thankful. I also plan on making money off this sport overseas in years to come.

Who is the biggest role model in your life?

The biggest role model in my life is my parents. I see them work so hard and I just can't let them down, they inspire me and instilled a hard work ethic in me at a young age.

What is a challenge you overcame to get to where you are today?

A challenge I had to overcome to get where I am today is my confidence, I always had the work ethic but sometimes I doubted myself. I now have no doubts in my ability and believe that I can do anything when I believe in myself.

Advice you would give to athletes looking up to you right now?

Advice I would give to young athletes is to work hard and never stop believing in yourself, enjoy the process of getting better and listen to your coaches and work on being a leader so that you can help your teammates as well.

Congratulations to this week's StFX Subway athletes of the week Dondre and Kimberly and Goodluck with the rest of your season, LET’S FILL THE GYM! GO X GO!

Environmental Degredation

The year 2020 was recorded as the worst hurricane season on record. Our awareness of rising ocean temperatures leading to greater storms and the steady melting of the polar ice caps has reminded me again of the urgent need of humankind to address climate change. Environment plays an essential role on our planet by providing good climate, good water and good survival conditions for every living organism. Human beings and all life on the planet depend on the environment for survival through ecosystems that provide food, clean water and favourable conditions. The impact of environmental degradation on these ideal factors can be categorized into three types: land degradation, water degradation and air pollution.

Urbanization is one of the factors which has led to land degradation. I grew up in Africa and so much of my knowledge of and concern for the environment arises from my experiences there. The custom was often to simply set the land on fire with the aim to clear it and build homes. Trees were also cut down for easy construction, leaving the land bare. The consequence of this was that when the wind came, it blew away the top layer of soil, leading to soil erosion. As well, much wildlife habitat has been destroyed by these practices. ‘Clear cutting’ in Canadian forests today has much the same negative impact. Both in Africa and in Canada, selective tree planting is one positive way to enhance depleted ecosystems.

Farming can play a role in water degradation, when the use of inorganic fertilizers to boost crop production leads to water pollution. Toxic chemicals which are used during the planting of crops go deep into the soil. When the rain comes it carries away the soil, thereby mixing those chemicals with water and polluting the land.

In addition, some industrial waste materials which are disposed of in bodies of water contribute to the pollution of the water, leaving some water sources unsafe for drinking and also contributing to disease and serious chronic illnesses.

The emissions that go into the sky from different manufacturing companies affect air quality. When the emissions are released, they accumulate and contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer.

As a young person of Generation Z, I am just starting out on the great adventure of life. Like so many of my cohort, I have tremendous concern for the future of the planet we share. Global warming, floods, storms and environmental disease are all negative impacts of environmental degradation. Yet I believe that it is not too late to rescue the planet so long as we – as a global community – commit to best practices for the care and preservation of the earth and its finite resources.

Writing Workshops on Memoir

Awarded author, journalist, and teacher, Majorie Simmins hosted her latest writing workshop “Using the Short Story to Create a Memoir” this past Saturday at the Antigonish town library.

Awarded author, journalist, and teacher, Majorie Simmins

The goal of the event could be understood in terms of Simmins’ recent work: Memoir: Conversations and Craft (2020), an introduction to memoir for writers and fans of the genre alike.

For Simmins, with considerable experience in freelance journalism as well as an MA in literacy education, the memoir holds great value. Since publishing the already-classic Coastal Lives in 2014, she has written a second memoir Year of the Horse (2016) as well as two other books with her most recent being this June’s Somebeachsomewhere (2021). But, in between all sorts of such publications, further including book reviews in The Antigonish Review, feature articles in the Reporter, and essays in the Montreal Gazzette, Simmins consistently finds time to host workshops like the one held here at the town library last Saturday.

The creative spirit which ran through the eight (of the maximum ten) of us seated that day would best be characterized through our host’s guiding statement: “You have the right to your story”.

Simmins, inspiring in her presence and in her sense of candor from the get-go, asked us to name some memoirs we had recently read and enjoyed. Naturally, a thread ran through them. From Canadian classics such as Ondaatje’s Running in the Family, to American maestros including

Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, all the way to new-school virtuosos like Rebecca Mead (of New Yorker fame) with My Life in Middlemarch – that was just it – they were all virtuosos. The act of writing a memoir therefore appearing to some as dauntingly exclusive.

Opposite this view, Simmins coaches in her workshops across the country that the default setting for anyone writing a memoir should be to tell a story, saying: “It’s for anyone who decides to do it.”

A firm believer in the value of structure in good writing, Simmins also believes that structure has value for developing confidence in new writers. “Achievable goals are wonderful”, she says, recommending 250 words a week to her students as a terrific baseline.

Simmins’ workshops offer students excellent feedback, technical advice, and an affirmative spirit which inspires. “You have to believe in yourself. People and friends who say things like ‘oh, you’re a writer this week’ are not the kind of people you need in your life”. Her statement resonates, with several of us nodding our heads in response and at least as many inquiring of future workshops afterward.

Marjorie Simmins will be hosting another workshop at the town library on the 30th this month. For free admission, register online at: http://www.parl.ns.ca. For more information, visit: https://www.marjoriesimmins.ca to browse future dates, prices, and locations.

OERs at StFX

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, students didn’t spend thousands of dollars on textbooks, for many were freely provided by the institution they attend. But wait, this isn’t a fairy-tale—for many students attending university in British Columbia, it’s reality. Since 2012, students on the West Coast have saved almost $24 million dollars as many of their courses are taught using open textbooks. It’s not just students that benefit from these open textbooks, either—hundreds of faculty members have made the switch and have a variety of free textbooks at their disposal.

What is AtlanticOER and Why Does it Matter?

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are online, freely distributed textbooks, but can also include a variety of resources such as videos and educational materials. To learn more about these OERs, I attended the virtual launch event of AtlanticOER and spoke with its lead organizer, StFX alumna Tiffany MacLennan ’19, ’20.

First, MacLennan explains, “AtlanticOER is a repository of open educational resources that are going to be available to any student in Atlantic Canada. That means that once it gets off the ground and gets building itself a little bit more, it will be a place that any professor in Atlantic Canada can put in either their textbooks, educational materials, or videos. As it grows, the aim is that students get access to free educational materials and we can ween away from the traditional textbook model.” You don’t have to convince any student about the benefits of OERs. Many of us know that textbooks can be expensive, unengaging, and unhelpful to the learning process. Many students choose not to buy textbooks for a class because for them, it is a choice between textbooks and groceries.

There are benefits for professors, too. MacLennan explains that “bringing OERs into your classroom can provide you with a new learning opportunity and can force you to have more exciting and inviting conversations with your students. Through using OER, you get to learn more yourself… and you get to play with it—it’s a fun initiative. We also have librarians who can comfortably find OERs for a classroom to remove some of the burden.”

AtlanticOER was established to eliminate some of the barriers to creating OERs, McLennan shared. First, “it gives educators the platform to start creating and sharing their own OERs,” she said. It also helps overcome the challenges that come with creating textbooks and educational materials by addressing the barriers of limited time and resources. “Creating a textbook isn’t very fast–they take a lot of work. With the AtlanticOER repository, there are grants you can apply for that compensate your time spent on OERs or to hire students to help create OERs.” The organization also places a great deal of emphasis on disseminating knowledge, helping people understand the benefits that come with OERs. For McLennan, “the end goal is that no student makes the choice not to buy a textbook based on affordability. The grad gift this year is

for student food insecurity due to an uptick in food related asks from the financial aid office. That tells us those decisions are being made more and more often.”

Students’ Union Advocacy

I also sat down with Siobhan Lacey, current Vice President Academic (VPA) of the StFX Students’ Union to find out what they’re currently doing to advocate for OER adoption. Provincially, they’re working with StudentsNS, the province’s non-profit advocacy group that represents post-secondary students, to advocate to the provincial government for OER funding, such as providing financial incentives and grants to professors. Close to home, the Students’ Union is facilitating conversations with key stakeholders such as faculty and students.

Prior to the launch of AtlanticOER, StFX did not have the on-campus resources to push for OERs; but now, Students’ Unions across the Atlantic region are undergoing training to advocate for OERs at their University Senates. Moving forward, it is important for our Students’ Union to make a bigger push on OERs, but this change can only happen if students want it. It will require students talking to their professors about OERs to create an Open Education culture on our campus.

When asked about the barriers to implementing OERs, Lacey said that “there are a couple big ones. The biggest one is obviously funding. It’s always going to be funding. But to first develop an online infrastructure that can host a variety of OERs… is going to be very expensive, maintaining that even more so. The funding [barrier] is why I think we’re seeing such communal effort around OERs, and why no separate university is developing them. It would take a big budget that I don’t think one university would be able to sustain. Another barrier we’re seeing is incentivizing faculty to develop their own OERs. Obviously, developing a textbook is time consuming and can be a lot of work for faculty. But, ultimately, we know that it’s so much more beneficial for students. So, it’s about incentivizing those folks and showing them the benefit it has to student academic success.” The final barrier Lacey identified was awareness: “trying to encourage faculty to develop OERs because students want them while the majority don’t know what they are is a little difficult to do!” Earlier this year, StudentsNS ran an awareness campaign focusing on this final barrier, and is currently putting a lot of emphasis on knowledge translation to provide students with the skills to engage in conversations with faculty about OERs.

Offering advice to future VPAs or students interested in OERs, McLennan says “not be discouraged by the slow uptake at first, because all good things take time. Starting conversations isn’t easy, especially when faculty have been teaching with these books for [several] years. Use the time it takes to build things to build things right. We need more students to know about OERs to get more students to talk about them… with our faculty, administrations, and librarians to actually push this forward.”

University Administration

The university administration can play a big role in implementing OERs. On March 5, 2021, University Academic Vice President and Provost Dr. Kevin Wamsley agreed to sit down with me for an interview. “I’m a fan of educational resources being distributed to as many people as possible,” he said. “Education is difficult, it’s hierarchical, it can favour those with more resources, and textbooks have, for the past twenty-to-twenty-five years, become very expensive. Textbook companies have become unfair in their pricing. While education has been brought onto the open market readily, the burden of this falls to the student… providing free or low-cost educational resources makes education more accessible.”

When asked about benefits for faculty, Wamsley emphasized that the role of the professor is to disseminate knowledge. “I think it’s important that professors are actively involved in producing materials for class. Professors creating and modifying OERs is an important part of the process… professors are excited to talk about their work and that’s the way it should be. Once you begin to contribute, and you see how it can be dynamic in your classroom, I think people are going to be all in,” he said.

Coming back to one barrier identified by the Students’ Union in implementing OERs, I asked Wamsley about incentivizing professors to adopt and create them. He said there are no current plans to incentivize professors to take this project on, but went on to explain that the school does have a plan: “we have a fabulous teaching and learning centre over in Mulroney Hall operated by Dr. Angie Kolen, and this presents a marvellous vessel to get the word out and provide workshops about OERs and how to get involved.” Further, he says, “professors are not getting rich selling textbooks. They’re not, they never will,” so there’s nothing standing in the way of making future publications accessible.

Representatives Elected

The results of the 2021 Representative Council elections for the StFX Students’ Union were announced March 10, 2021. 

Polling took place over two days, March 9 and 10, and included elections for the Science, Arts, Business, Equity, International, Students of African-Descent, and Education constituencies. 

A rare phenomenon at StFX, this election saw no incumbents reoffering for their positions. There were also few candidates, with the only contested race being that for Students of African-Descent Representative. 

Meredith Cudmore-Keating, StFX Students’  Union Chair of Council thanked all voters saying “this was a great election to finish the year off .and we look forward to seeing you vote next year.”

The results ended with the following candidates being elected.

Arts Representative - Margaret-Ann Gillis

Business Representative - Hunter Park

Education Representative - Tianna Williams

Equity Representative - Tiffany Bondoc

International Representative - Derin Derici

Students of African-Descent Representative - Atik Gilao

Science Representative - Mackenzie LeVernois

The Graduate Student Representative has not been elected for the 2021-2022 year. 

It Goes Beyond Brendan Boucher

In the February 9th edition of the Xaverian Weekly, former Student Union Presidential Candidate Brendan Boucher released a statement relating to the controversy surrounding his campaign. This statement primarily addressed his anti- “Black Lives Matter” rhetoric which was exposed through a number ofsocial media posts within the StFX community. In all honesty, I would love to use my position on this platform to entertain Boucher’s statement to the fullest, but I will not squander the words I have in this article just to entertain a henchman when the real villain is the system that allows people like Boucher to have a voice. Nevertheless, here are my brief two cents on Boucher’s statement: he is obviously and categorically wrong about everything he suggests in his piece. Citing Frederick Douglass after attacking Black Lives Matter as “Marxist” is absurd and laughable. His inability to do basic research on what racism really is just indicates how much of a joke Boucher’s so-called “statement” is. No more words need to be spent on him—he is as irrelevant and unimportant as his attitudes are to any meaningful effort to create social justice. [Although, I suppose I must wish him, a jazz major, a very happy Black History Month.]

What is worth delving into is the context that allows for people like Boucher to thrive—to be given a platform and to be allowed to repeatedly harm other students. StFX is a community that confuses censorship with morality, or silence with equity. This community upholds whiteness as a norm, and consciously or unconsciously pushes those of us who are outside that norm into isolation. If we take the University at its word and assume that we attend a university that is “as it is meant to be,” there is no room for policies that allow blatant racism, misogyny and homophobia to slip through the cracks. What is “meant to be,” it appears, is a community where white men are able to attack Black students, women, and LGBTQ+ students, and be given an opportunity to broadcast those attacks as much as possible in pursuit of the highest student office. I suggest that this type of student, and what he stands for, is institutionally enabled through the University’s policies.

If all is not ‘as it is meant to be,’ what went wrong? A simple look at the candidate’s social media personality and stance would have alerted university student affairs staff about what this candidate stands for. We all know that they patrol students’ social media accounts. They push back against women who are fighting for the right to simply exist on campus without being assaulted. They will intervene if you criticize the university. They won’t intervene if you are tokenizing Black women on your Instagram page. I find it hard to believe, therefore, that they did not know that this outrage was coming. If they did, and failed to act, then his words were institutionally supported. That, in my book, is a form of institutional racism. 

So I ask you, readers, to evaluate this university from your own perspective. Is it racist or anti-racist? Your friends might share the same ideas as you, but look to the institution. How many of the administrators have you heard say Black Lives Matter? How many administrators did you see at Take Back the Night? Have you EVER seen an administrator at X take an anti-racist, anti-sexist, or anti-oppressive stance that wasn’t performative? Do any of those in power take an anti-racist stance?

If no, it’s easy to see why Brendan and those who espouse the same hateful ideas as him, feel emboldened. Don’t be shocked when a candidate like this puts their name forward again.

Vice President Academic Candidate Interview

On Friday, January 29th, both I and Will Fraser, sat down with Vice President Academic Candidate Meredith Cudmore-Keating and discussed her plans if elected as Vice President. Meredith is a 3rd year Mathematics student and currently the chair of council for the Students Union. She has much experience with the Student’s Union and additionally she leads the elections team. Meredith stated that she loves the StFX community, wants to give back to the community, and hopes to have the ability to make StFX better for all students.

When asked about plans to prevent Sexual Violence on campus, Meredith voiced that she is always in support of the survivors, she wants to make educational training and opportunities more accessible so that students right away can have prevention training. In terms of action, she hopes to make students more aware of resources for survivors on campus.

Meredith talked about these issues in her platform she wants to assure a well-rounded student experience and so when it comes to mental health support, she believes that access to healthy food, a range of societies on campus, sports, etc. all help students be more mentally healthy, and this part of her platform indirectly helps mental health for students on campus.

On a scale of 1-10, Meredith ranked StFX at 7.5 when it comes to the University's performance regarding Covid-19. She thinks it is spectacular that we have the opportunity to have in person classes, but some drawbacks are the university's communication with students and as VP, she would assure there would be lot more communication with students and the University.

One thing Meredith hopes to add is more Open Educational Resources, such as online textbooks that are basically free to students. She hopes to make students and faculty more aware of this option and advocate for this program.

Meredith stated that she does not have a preferred Presidential Candidate, she believes that democracy can do its work and whoever the majority of students choose is the best!

Meredith said that she hopes to target minority groups on campus when she goes to hire her executive team. She says that rather than waiting for them to come to her, she will seek different groups on campus, ensuring a more diverse team! She is looking for people who are looking out for StFX student’s well-being, people who work well in teams and are inclusive.

Meredith concluded by saying “I would really love to serve you all as Vice President Academic, I’m well qualified for the role and I would like to make next year a year where students can come to the Students Union, be heard, advocated for and thank you for your time.”

Long Live The Queen: Priscilla Returns to Campus

Fear no more, fellow Xaverians! Priscilla: Queen of the Highlands lives on. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Chris Frazer has been working diligently with X-Pride to ensure that the beloved Priscilla will grace the StFX stage for its sixteenth consecutive year. Having grown its fan base and interest significantly since the first show back in February 2005, which hosted an audience of only 100 people, the show has been known to sell-out the Mackay Room of the Students’ Union Building, hosting around four-hundred viewers from across the province.

This widespread show of support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community in our small, rural town began as the entertainment portion of a workshop titled “Centering the Periphery: The Experience of Rural Life for LGBTQ Youth,” which was hosted on the StFX campus in 2005. The workshop was organized by Dr. Frazer (History) in tandem with Dr. Nancy Forestell (Women and Gender Studies) and Claire Fawcett (Anthropology). Dr. Frazer had recently been appointed as faculty advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ students following a number of homophobic assaults on the University’s campus. In an effort to support Dr. Frazer’s new role, and following the success of the first-of-many Priscilla shows, X-Pride decided to continue producing the show on an annual basis.

Photo by Addy Strickland

On Friday, February 20, we will all be able to enjoy a socially distanced show featuring many favourite local and regional performers. Dr. Frazer notes that among this year’s performers, we can expect fan favourite Rouge Fatale from Halifax, who will host the show. Other performers will include Elle Noir, more local Kings, and Dr. Frazer’s own Joni Cash and C. Leah Cruise, along with some other Halifax regulars. Viewers can expect dynamic performances which will include a range of queens, kings, genderf*ck, and non-binary performers. The show will be hosted on Zoom, and tickets will be sold online. More information will be released closer to the show.

To stay up to date as more information becomes available, follow @xpridesociety and @xgsdsa on Facebook and Instagram!

The StFX Art Gallery: A Campus Gem

I was lucky to have an interview over email with Andrea Terry, director and curator of the StFX art gallery and professor in the StFX art department. I must admit that during my time at StFX, I’ve never visited the art gallery. However, after asking Dr. Terry some questions about the gallery and receiving some very detailed answers describing the gallery and why students should take advantage of it, I think I’ll find the time in my schedule to give this wonderful place a visit, and I think you should too.

SB: Can you give me a brief history of the art gallery?

AT: The gallery was established in 1976. First, it hosted exhibitions on the fourth floor of Bloomfield Centre, and then it moved down to its current space on the first floor.

The StFX Art Gallery hosted fifty-seven exhibitions in its first decade of operations, featuring local and Nova Scotian artists. It also brought in touring shows from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Moreover, over the past few decades, the gallery has cultivated a sizable permanent collection of approximately 3,500 artworks, acquired largely through donation. The collection features art and objects that represent the cultures and histories of northeastern Nova Scotia. Notably, a sizable portion of the collection is stored in the former CIBC bank vault at the back of the Bloomfield Gallery with a large, heavy door, levers, and two combination locks that take me – on average – 15 minutes … to open!

In September 2020, the StFX Art Gallery opened its newest exhibition space in 2002 Mulroney Hall, complete with 11’ high walls, climate control, and an amazing lighting system to show off the art exhibited to its best advantage, so the gallery continues to grow and expand, which is quite exciting!

SB: What do you enjoy most about being a curator at the STFX art gallery, and can you tell me a bit about previous art galleries you may have worked at?

AT: I received my PhD in Art History (2010) and taught art history courses at universities across Canada. In 2014, while teaching at Lakehead University, I started doing some independent curatorial projects with artists based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and eventually I became the Acting Curator of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Being the Director / Curator of the StFX Art Gallery lets me do two of my favourite things: working with artists and working with students. I recognized early on in life that I had some artistic abilities, but I keenly appreciated and wanted to support those who had more skills than myself, so being able to support, promote, and celebrate artists and their practices is extremely important to me. I also appreciate working with students, both in the classroom and in the gallery. I’ve been fortunate to have excellent student staff workers at the gallery who have designed exhibition posters, edited artist interview videos, and managed the gallery’s social media. Basically, my approach when working with student staffers is to tell them what I’d like – in terms of an exhibition poster – and let

them run with the project. It’s amazing to see what they produce, as my graphic design skills are somewhat/extremely limited.

SB: Do you have a favourite piece or exhibition?

AT: Right now, I’m extremely grateful to be able to host the national touring exhibition COLOUR WITH A “U” featuring 33 art quilts by artists from across Canada. It’s a beautiful and captivating exhibition—there’s a wealth of colours, textures, and sights to be experienced, and it’s on in 103 Bloomfield until February 27, 2020. Visitors can make 30-minute appointments to visit on the gallery’s website.

In 2002 Mulroney Hall, I’ve organized a New Acquisitions exhibition, showcasing the latest additions to the gallery’s permanent collection. A number of works are by accomplished Indigenous artists, such as Cree painter and printmaker Allan Sapp (1928 - 2015) and Tsimshian carver, painter and printmaker Roy Henry Vickers (b. 1946), to name a few. I’m looking forward to having people see these new works and learn how and why the permanent collection continues to grow.

SB: Why should students visit the art gallery?

AT: That’s a great question, one I’ve given a great deal of thought. It’s a great place to take a break, to go and see, learn, and experience new things. It offers a space for people to take a breath, to escape their daily routines, to do something different. An art gallery visit can offer similar benefits – in my opinion – to a yoga or meditation class in that encountering art on exhibition typically encourages one to be fully present, to flex mental muscles, to appreciate that which is around you.

For me, it’s such a pleasure to walk through the gallery from time to time and see people, students, visitors captivated by different pieces. The gallery landscape constantly shifts and evolves; each visitor notices something different – oftentimes people ask me such thoughtful, insightful questions that I have to mull over my answer, or they’ll point out things about an artwork that I would have never noticed myself. These exchanges are extremely rewarding, and I am incredibly grateful take part in them.

SB: Can you tell me more about upcoming exhibitions?

AT: From May to August 2021, the StFX Art Gallery is pleased to host, in partnership with the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame, the exhibition Sports Illustrated: The Nova Scotia Edition. This exhibition features the original artworks of Chronicle Herald editorial cartoonist Bruce MacKinnon, more specifically his sports cartoons. I understand that Bruce grew up here in Antigonish and that his cartoons have garnered international attention, so it promises to be an excellent exhibition.

SB: Finally, do you have a favourite piece of artwork in general? I personally really like Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi and Portrait of Madame X by John Singer Sargent.

AT: That’s a tough question for someone in my position to answer because there are so many that come to mind right away.

One artwork that I find particularly captivating is on display at the gallery now as part of Colour with a “U” – Linda Finley’s 36 Million Stories: The Fabric of US. This art quilt is a small patchwork quilt framed within a ship’s wheel, embellished with sculptural fabric elements, more specifically meticulously crafted heads of various individuals that make up the array people living in the land now known as Canada. The detail of the various figures is astonishing. One of my favourites is a woman with pink curled hair and a nose ring, because I had a nose ring when I was an undergrad, so that particular form resonates with me. Once I point that head out to visitors and explain why I first noticed it, visitors point to other figures that strike a chord or evoke a memory for them.

It’s a truly remarkable work, and I’m going to be doing an artist video interview with Linda this week and posting the interview to the gallery’s website and social media pages in 1-2 weeks’ time, so everyone can learn more about her practice.

To view the work, go to https://www.instagram.com/p/CHi_LiXHRzP/

Board of Governors Candidate Interview

On Friday, January 29, both I and Will Fraser, had the honour to talk to the four Board of Governors' candidates -- Anna Hancin, Dhruv Patel, Duncan McIntyre, and Emma Valardo. I got the opportunity to get to know the candidates and have a better understanding of their platforms.

Firstly, I asked the candidates to introduce themselves and talk about why they are running for the Board of Governors. Anna is a first year in the Public Policy and Governance program and she is also on Cameron Hall’s student council; Duncan is a third year, also in the Public Policy and Governance program; Emma is a third year in the Forensic Psychology program; and Dhruv is the current International Students Representative and is a second year. Collectively the candidates agreed that they want to create change and be a voice for the students, Anna stated “I would be a voice for the students, my job is to be your voice for the change that you want to see.”

When asked what makes them stand out from each other Emma explained that she is vocal, in touch with the student body, very educated on current issues, and she doesn’t give up! Dhruv on the other hand said he doesn’t consider himself better than other people but believes his role as International Students Rep gives him more of an edge. Anna believes that her collaboration skills set her apart from the others and her involvement with many different things throughout campus. Duncan believes that his experience of being a student for what will be 4 years and his open mindedness are his strengths.

On a scale of 1-10 each candidate named how they thought the University did with the Covid-19 response. Duncan said 4 or 5, Emma 3, Dhruv 8, and Anna 6. Duncan and Emma had similar thoughts, agreeing that what was good about StFX’s response is that we still could be on campus but agreed that the contract sent out in the summer was wrong and not all students were taken into consideration. Dhruv agreed that the contract was not the best, but said that being in Nova Scotia is such a privilege and gives credit to the University and town of Antigonish for their work. Similarly, Anna agreed it was amazing we are allowed to be on campus but believes it is unfair that the majority of classes are in person, some students are not being taken into consideration and would like to implement things that allow for students that are not able to be at campus currently, to feel included.

Collectively the candidates agree that more efforts on Sexual Violence Prevention needs to be undertaken at StFX. They believe in the importance of anti-Sexual Violence programs, education, removal of "predators," and the importance of communication with survivors. Dhruv said he believes we need to focus on "toxic masculinity" and states that this would be one of his

priorities. Emma agreed that this was a problem but wanted to add that it is very important to note that males on campus are also being sexually assaulted.

Overall, the four candidates voiced that mental health support is an important issue on campus and agree that the programs on the campus are very beneficial for students but could be improved by being more accessible.

Individually Anna was asked if as a first-year student, she enough experience has to be on the Board of Governors. She argued that this was not the case and that she is very engaged and active on campus. Anna knows about and is involved with many organizations, has contacts, and is always willing to learn if need be.

Emma and Duncan were asked if it would be a problem if only one of them were elected as the pair are dating. Both candidates assured that this was not an issue and agreed that they will always keep each other accountable if it is needed, they are not afraid to disagree on different subjects, and their relationship is not the priority of this campaign.

Dhruv was asked if students were looking for change on campus why should they elect someone who is already a part of the system. He didn’t like the question but stated he believes that he has done very good things in his position as the International Representative and will continue to do good things.

When asked who the candidates would prefer as the new President, Duncan stated he believed all candidates are good, Emma said Jack would be the best choice, Dhruv said he would not pick one, and Anna also stated that all the candidates are all very qualified and would look forward to working with any one of them.

Overall, my conversation with the Board of Governors' candidates was insightful and I learned much about their platforms, views and goals if elected!

Varsity Athlete Charged with Human Trafficking

In an email to students on December 29th, 2020, Elizabeth Yeo, VP Students, revealed that a first-year StFX student had been charged by the York Regional Police in relation to a human trafficking investigation.

Justin Barrett, 20, of Brampton was charged by the York Regional Police with a number of offences, including Trafficking in Persons Under the Age of 18, Material Benefit from Trafficking in Persons Under the Age of 18, and Material Benefit from Sexual Services of a Person Under 18 Years. A media release by the York Regional Police stated that “the accused spent time in West Virginia, United States, and currently has ties to Nova Scotia.”

Barrett, a first-year Bachelor of Arts student was in his first year of eligibility as a goalkeeper on the StFX Men’s Varsity Soccer team. Barrett’s name no longer appears on the team roster, and his player bio has been removed from the StFX Athletics website.

In her email to students, Yeo stated “the university will be monitoring and reviewing the situation closely to ensure the safety of our community, which is always our priority. This includes attempting to gain more information from the York Regional Police about the file. Under the Sexual Violence Policy, StFX will implement immediate measures in cases of elevated risk to the StFXand/or broader Antigonish community.” 

The immediate measures described by Yeo, range from no contact orders to university suspension. The Xaverian Weekly was unable toconfirm if interim measures had been implemented against the accused. 

Representatives from the soccer team were unavailable to commentprior to publication.

The charges against Justin Barrett have not been tested in a court of law.

Two COVID-19 Cases on Campus

On Tuesday January 5th Dr. Andrew Hakin, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Francis Xavier University sent out an email to the StFX community to announce that there is now a positive covid-19 case on campus. The student arrived on January 3rd and had been isolating in residence.

A second email was sent out on January 9th to notify the StFX community of a second positive case. This student arrived to campus on January 5th had been isolating in residence since their arrival. Dr. Hakin wrote that the two cases appear to be unrelated. The Public Health Centre is working on contact tracing and the university has made the decision to even reach out to those considered a low-risk contact. 

Both cases are said to now be following the COVID-19 protocol in place by the university. Inside the Protocols for Isolation Handbook provided by the university to ensure a safe arrival back to campus explains that if a positive test result occurs that Public Health will take the appropriate steps to contact the student and start contact tracing, then the student will remain in the same location they are isolating in unless they share a campus apartment or bathroom. The university has set aside rooms in AC, Governor’s Hall, and International House.Individuals who test positive will have regular phone or email support from Public Health or a Health and Counselling Nurse to assess the student’s condition. 

Students are being asked to monitor their symptoms, and to get a COVID-19 test on day 6,7, or 8 of their isolation as they return from New Brunswick and outside of Atlantic Canada. Dr. Hakin in his emails to the StFX community reminds students that if they think they have symptoms you are to do a COVID-19 self-assessment or call 811 and those students who are sent for testing are to email Isolate@stfx.ca.

Music Student Returning to StFX After Years-Long Court Battle

***Content Warning: The following article contains details which may be triggering to some. There is a list of resources at the end of the article. Please do not hesitate to contact any of these resources if you find yourself struggling. 

Luke Letourneau will be returning to classes this semester after being acquitted of sexual assault in October 2020. Letourneau, who enrolled in the Department of Music at StFX in 2017, was suspended by the university’s Judicial Board in April 2018. He subsequently appealed the suspension, which was set aside and he was allowed to return to campus in September 2018 while the case was pending criminal proceedings. 

The complainant was not informed of Letourneau’s return to campus, and left StFX upon hearing that he was back. Her experience was part of a series of events inspiring student protests that made national news, and eventually led to the review of StFX’s Sexual Violence Policy. Letourneau withdrew from campus shortly after, and StFX Vice-President Finance and Administration Andrew Beckett issued a statement apologizing for how the situation was handled. Letourneau was acquitted of sexual assault on October 16, 2020 and will return to classes at the start of the Winter semester to continue his degree.

“I am looking forward to resuming my education at StFX and am pleased that the university has welcomed me back,” Letourneau said in a written statement provided exclusively to the Xaverian Weekly. “The past three years have been very difficult for me. It was a great relief to me to be completely vindicated by the judge last fall, and I would encourage anyone doubting the outcome of the case to read [Justice Denise Boudreau’s] verdict.” 

 In that decision, Justice Boudreau found him not guilty due to Crown attorney Jonathan Gavel having “not proven one of the essential elements of sexual assault beyond reasonable doubt, i.e. the lack of consent.” Most of the trial revolved around the complainant's “memory gap,” which spanned the “most crucial period of the evening.” Justice Boudreau said that the memory gap was “entirely unexplained” and concluded “that the complainant, in fact, has not forgotten. She remembers the entire evening. She has chosen, in her testimony, to say she has forgotten.” That conclusion left the Justice with “serious doubts as to the complainant’s credibility regarding the events of that evening, including her testimony that she did not consent.”

Student Outrage

Despite the Court’s findings and Letourneau’s acquittal, many students are upset that Letourneau is coming back to StFX.

The case’s complainant has expressed her disappointment with StFX’s decision to allow Letourneau to return to campus. In a written statement provided to the Xaverian Weekly, she expressed the opinion “that StFX has once again chosen their image over student safety…. {Letourneau} was supposed to be my friend. He took what he wanted then continued on with his life while I was left to live in fear. I stopped eating so I didn’t chance seeing him at meal hall. I couldn’t walk anywhere without a key between my knuckles. My chest still tightens up when I hear certain songs. I still clench my fists if I see someone drinking a PBR. I never know what seemingly normal thing will send me into a downward spiral or panic attack.” She concluded her statement with a plea to the university to “do better, please.”

Talking to students on campus and observing social media, the complainant’s disappointment is echoed. Gabe Mink, a fourth-year Music student “acknowledges the rarity of false sexual violence reports as well as the even rarer occasion of the accused to be found guilty”  and feels that the university’s current actions seem to disregard that information. “I feel for all the survivors and allies who are once again being let down by StFX,” he said. 

University is Taking Measures

 To avoid a repeat of the unrest of 2018, StFX has been reaching out to any students involved in the initial case through Zoom to inform them that Letourneau will be returning. Elizabeth Yeo, Vice President Students, shared in a statement to the Xaverian Weekly that “the specific matter involving Mr. Letourneau is one that the university has carefully reviewed, and in accordance with its policies and procedures, including the Sexual Violence Response Policy, Mr. Letourneau is eligible to return to the university to pursue his degree if he so chooses … the University has no basis for disallowing his admittance.” She also stressed that “StFX does not tolerate sexualized violence and has made considerable advances in education and prevention and its policies in recent years.”

StFX Students’ Union President Sarah Elliott told the Xaverian Weekly that “The StFX Students’ Union believes and supports survivors. Students deserve to feel safe on campus, and survivors deserve to feel heard,” she wrote.

It’s apparent that the perception of Letourneau’s return varies greatly. Many students and on-campus activists feel outraged, whereas StFX has no tenable reason to hold any odium towards Letourneau or exclude him from campus. It remains unclear how this news will affect the campus community or Letourneau himself as he continues his education. 

The following resources are available to StFX students looking for support dealing with this information:

StFX Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Advocate

902-867-5601 | Bloomfield Centre 313D 

The Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre 

902-863-6221 | 204 Kirk Place, 219 Main Street, Antigonish | Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 4:30

StFX Health and Counselling 

902-867-2263 | Bloomfield Centre 305

StFX Peer Support Program

Bloomfield 417 | Monday to Friday, 12:00 to 5:00 (Reopening January 25)

NS Mental Health Crisis Line

1-888-429-8167

Good2TalkNS

1-833-292-3698 | Text “GOOD2TALKNS” to 686868