Saint Mary's University has the exciting opportunity to present three African Nova Scotian trailblazers in the The Triune Summit, Speaking Their Truths. This hybrid event was held on March 31, 2022 in partnership with the Saint Mary’s University Office of Diversity Excellence to celebrate Black excellence. This event showcased The Honourable Donald H. Oliver, CM, ONS, QC; The Honourable Dr. Mayann Francis, ONS; and celebrated Canadian poet, George Elliot Clarke. During this memorable evening these three African-Nova Scotians read from their memoirs, shared their experiences and their journeys.

The Sobey School of Business Executive in Residence, Ian Smith joined for the first hybrid Sobey Scholars Network event on March 29, 2022. This event celebrated it's newest members, recent grads and held a discussion on the power of diverse teams and the role of women leaders in making the workplace more diverse and inclusive. The event showcased special guest speakers, which included Michael Medline, President and CEO at Empire Company Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc.

On March 18, 2022, the commerce society held an in-person follow up to their virtual speakers showcase on March 4, 2022 to celebrate the 47th Annual Business Event Gala. The gala provided a chance for event speakers, local business leaders, students, faculty and alumni to connect while the commerce society presented the 2022 Commerce Society Awards.

2022 Commerce Society Award recipients:

• Full-time professor of the year: Dr. Paul Dixon

• Part-time professor of the year: Jackie MacKay

• Commerce Society member of the year: Jay Blake

• Commerce Society Community Service Scholarship: Shayne Edwards

• Husky Leadership and Tenacity Award; nomination based: Grace Morrison

Guest Speakers:

• Mark McIntosh, Community Engagement Manager, Phoenix House

• Sara Napier, CEO, United Way Halifax. (Keynote for March 4th)

This year, the commerce society chose to donate their $5 collection from every membership to United Way. During the event, they were able to present Sara Napier with a cheque to United Way for $285.

Winners of the 2022 Charter Day award, the Sobey School of Business Commerce Society is a student run society at Saint Mary’s University. Their goal is to provide students with networking opportunities, as well as business and university resources, while helping to inspire peer to peer engagement. The 2021/2022 team is comprised of undergraduate students pursuing a commerce degree at the Sobey School of Business:

• Morgan Baker-Tucker, Co-President

• Chelsea Greenham, Co-President

• Manav Khera, Vice President

• Ishaan Singh, IT Director

• Tara Haughton, Financial Director

• Logan Waters, Communications Director

• Yasmine Hussain, Social Media Director

• Carmen Scott, First-Year Student Representative

• Rashae Hart, Academic Engagement Officer

• Sophia Hein, Volunteer and Fundraising Coordinator

• Queen-Esther O. Okundonor, International Student Engagement Officer

Thank you to all the members for their hard work, and organizing and showcasing a wonderful two-part event! Please enjoy some photos from the March 18, 2022 in-person event.

On March 3, 2022 our Sobey School Co-Alumni-In-Residences, Bradley Farquhar and Joe Power the Co-Founders of Purple Cow Internet, provided our Sobey School MBA cohort a Professional Development session. Students gained an inside look at what it is like to start your own business, along with the different stages that a business owner might experience. You can view a recording of the presentation here and see some shots from the session.

Additionally, on March 3, 2022 the David Sobey Centre presented their Distinguished Retailer Speakers Series, featuring Brian Hill Founder and CEO of Aritzia. You can view the full recording of the event here.

Please be sure to check out the Saint Mary’s COVID-19 Protocols which were update on January 21, 2022 and can be found here. To ensure that we are prioritize our in-person teaching, learning, and research, the Network has ensured that all events will be conducted virtually for the next month. Please feel free to explore our upcoming events pages for many informative activities that we have planned for the next few months including our Sobey School Alumni-in-Residence Showcase on January 27, 2022. If you missed out on our Sobey School Executive-in-Residence Showcase or our other events and webinars, you could find the recordings in the resources section of Network! Stay tuned for more updates!

The Saint Mary’s University community and the Sobey School of Business family are celebrating the holiday season while respecting the COVID-19 safety protocols. The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is the single most important priority for our university administration. Therefore, in response to the recent escalation in COVID-19 infection rates, SMU is adjusting the COVID protocols to keep our community safe and healthy. Please follow the most up-to-date changes in SMU COVID safety protocols here . From our family to yours, we are wishing all our students, faculty, and staff a wonderful holiday season. We cannot wait to see you in the new year. In the meantime, please check out our upcoming activities page to find out the exciting programs we are planning for the year 2022.

The Saint Mary’s University community celebrated the announcement of the launching of two new physical additions to the campus called the “Sobeys Inspiration Hub” and “The Exchange”. The Sobeys Inspiration Hub will be the new home of Saint Mary’s Entrepreneurship Centre and will boast a large intercultural common, research centres, retail labs, maker spaces, project studios, and dedicated rooms for student societies. The Exchange will be home to the Anne J. & Albert T. Isaacs Commons. The 62,000 square foot expansion, currently under construction, will bring together SMU’s 6,600+ students, professors, and researchers together with local businesses, government partners, and other external agencies. When it opens, the $43 million capital investment will provide new learning spaces and foster innovative multidisciplinary work, and an environment that is purpose-built to spark imagination, fuel innovation, and open doors to a world without limits.

Also, to continue our efforts to elevate of Indigenous cultures and learnings, we are highlighting a ceremony to awake the SMU community drum. This powerful event was led and facilitated by Knowledge Keeper, Garrett Gloade, SMU faculty member Raymond Sewell, and Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA). Below are a few photos showcasing the touring of the new spaces, currently under construction, and the drum awakening ceremony.

The event held on campus recently regarding Elevating Indigenous Businesses was a celebration and exposition of Indigenous culture and business teachings. This was the launch of the new Sobey School of Business Impact Speaker Series, which faculty, staff, students and community members turned out to hear from the panelists led by moderator and alumni Cassandra Dorrington (BComm '81
& EMBA '00).

A guest speaker was the Premier of Nova Scotia, Tim Houston (BComm’92) who noted that he intends to come to campus more often. President Rob Summerby-Murray spoke about the importance of this and other ongoing initiatives that allow the university to engage with Indigenous communities, strengthen intercultural research and curriculum, and respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

The event was emceed by Kyle Cook, VP Advocacy, SMUSA, and featured special guests such as the Sobey School of Business’s Prosperity Network Executive-In-Resident Ian Smith, CEO of Clearwater Seafoods LP, and Heather DeBlois (BComm '96), Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Sobeys Inc. In addition, this event featured special cultural elements which were presented by Indigenous Elder, Cathy Martin, and drumming and dancing from Garett Gloade, Patience Sylliboy from Millbrook First Nation, Jingle Dress and our expert Indigenous Business owner and panelist of Jesse Benjamin of Eskasoni Mi"kmaw Nation, Fancy Shawl. In addition to Jess Benjamin, the panelists also included alumni Michael Maracle-Polak (BComm '14), entrepreneur and Chef Stephane Levac.

Please enjoy the recording of the whole event!

We at Saint Mary’s University and the Sobey School of Business are so privileged to have such amazing alumni and we need to ensure that we take the time to celebrate them! On November 15, 2021, under the auspicious of the National Philanthropy Day, we celebrated our 2021 Alumni Award recipients! These recipients are making meaningful impact with purpose in their respective communities. We are pleased to introduce each of our award recipients. Please see the list and photos of this year’s Alumni Award winners. We are also thrilled to see that, Mr. Bradley Farquhar, Sobey School’s Alumni-In-Residence and Co-owner of Purple Cow, was the keynote speaker for the SMU Commerce Society Annual Wine and Cheese on November 18, 2021. Check out some behind-the-scenes shots of both these events honoring our fantastic alumni!

On Remembrance Day (November 11, 2021), Saint Mary’s University and the Sobey School of Business community remembered our fallen heroes and our veterans for their ultimate sacrifices and bravery in defending freedom and our Canada. As we continue our efforts of remembrance, reflection, understanding, learning, and trust, we hope that you will join us for the launch of the Sobey School of Business Impact Speaker Series on November 19, 2021 from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm AST with its inaugural event, Elevating Indigenous Businesses. Please register for this free in-person event! You can find more information on our activities and cultural elements that are planned, event speakers, including a keynote address from Carol Anne Hilton, and remarks from the Networks’ Executive-In-Residence Ian D. Smith, CEO of Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership, as well as other notable business and community leaders on the event website.

On Thursday October 28, 2021 The David Sobey Centre presented and host the 5th Annual National Retail Innovation Awards which were created in 2017. The National Retail Innovation Awards recognizes up-and-coming retailers, or companies supporting the retail sector, for their innovation and unique contribution to Canadian retailing over the past year. This event celebrated the achievements of four impressive companies who have demonstrated retail excellence in the categories of Retail Design, Sustainability, Technology and Community Service. As well featured the Keynote Speaker: Neil Hoyne, Chief Measurement Strategist at Google who discussed The Data-Driven Way to Win Customers Hearts. A list of the four award winners can be found below, as well as a few behind the scenes shots of the stream for the event.

Please check out the release of our new Sobey Executive-In-Residence and Alumni-In-Residence programs. The next great wave of entrepreneurs and business leaders are now benefiting from the advice and expertise of three top Canadian business leaders joining the Sobey School of Business through these programs.

Ian D. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership, and Purple Cow Internet Co-founders and Saint Mary’s University alumni, Bradley Farquhar BComm’08 and Joe Power BComm’11 are the inaugural class of executives taking part in the new in-residence programs which are being presented by the Sobey School.

You can view the full news release here. Please also view our In-Residence page to find out more about these top Canadian executives taking part in our programs.

The Network was pleased to share and host the Sobey Women in Business | Building Leaders For the Future: Creating A Positive Impact Through Mentorship in advance of today’s Sobey Women in Business Symposium | Women in Entrepreneurship: Leading Change to view a recording of our panel discussion for mentor and mentee tips and perspectives, please click here. To continue with our discussion on mentorship and trying to be a vehicle for making positive impact and leading change, a special viewing party was organized for a special group of women Sobey Scholar students, includingguests such as President of Saint Mary’s Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Undergraduate and Professional Graduate Programs Sobey School of Business Management, Dr. Margaret McKee and Associate Dean Research and Knowledge Mobilization Sobey School of Business Management, Dr. Catherine Loughlin. View a few photos below to see a snapshot into the intimate and great opportunities we are providing for our students here at Saint Mary’s University and Sobey School of Business. We aspire to continue these important conversations and become advocate for leading change!

The Sobey School of Business has released Building a More Resilient Community: The Sobey School of Business COVID-19 Pandemic Response . This report contains a snapshot of the work that has been done at the Sobey School to tackle the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Sobey School’s expert faculty, research centres, industry partners, alumni and students have worked hard to address those challenges.

This report contains overviews of the many webinars, research studies, program offerings and events that were facilitated at the Sobey School.

In their opening message, Dean Harjeet Bhabra and Associate Dean Mohammad Rahaman outline why the Sobey School focused on supporting the community through those challenges:

“At the Sobey School of Business, we believe it is our role to ensure our research and pedagogy create meaningful impact in the world – at local, regional, national and global levels. Our mission, as outlined in Elevating Impact, the Sobey School’s Strategic Plan, is to prepare citizens of the world to lead entrepreneurial, sustainable businesses and communities, through the creation and mobilization of scholarship.”

“Perhaps no other crisis in our lifetimes has had such far-reaching effects on the world as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the midst of unprecedented change and instability, it was essential for the Sobey School of Business to step up and support our local businesses by sharing the deep expertise contained in our community.”

View Building a More Resilient Community: The Sobey School of Business COVID-19 Pandemic Response online.

Did you know that October 1st is International Coffee Day? Join us to today to from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm ADT on Saint Mary’s University campus, in Scotiabank Conference Theatre to celebrate the Maritime launch celebration for The Fair Trade Handbook and Just Us! Coffee’s 25th Anniversary, which is being presented by Saint Mary’s University Alumni. This event will also be live streamed via the @justuscoffee Facebook page. You can find more information on this event and other homecoming activities on the SMU Homecoming 2021 page. Don’t forget to check out all the cool activities by SMU Alumni not only for homecoming, but also throughout the year.

Stay up to date on Sobey School News and Events such as the recent webinar tackling barriers for black business . During the webinar, Mr. Matthew Martel, Chief Operating Officer of Black Business Intuitive (BBI) discussed ways BBI is connecting with our community through their quarterly B2B Magazine . Mr. Craig Wellington, Executive Director of Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), highlighted how BOF leverages on various pools of capital to support black businesses and black entrepreneurship. You can find more information about BOF activities in the What’s Up! Section of the BOF website. Dr. Mohamad Rahaman, Canada Research Chair at the Sobey School, examined why various direct and cultural barriers exist in Canada for black businesses and ways to overcome those barriers. The next webinar on September 28, 2021 entitled “Checkmate: How Social Distancing Has Changed the Social Media and the Business Support Game”, will feature the state-of-the-art consumer behavior research that has been happening at the Sobey School and in the industry to adjust to the COVID-19 induced changes in consumer behaviors.

If you couldn’t attend our webinars/events or if you want to watch them again, you can view recording of most of them in the resource section of our website. These presentations provide great insights of practical relevance based on academic research happening at the Sobey School and practical issues faced by our community partners.