Posted: December 15, 2023
By: Alison DeLory
As 2023 ends, we take a moment to celebrate the many accomplishments of Dal alumni this year, and revisit things that made news in our community. Here, we look back at 13 stories about and for our alumni community we were proud to share this year.
1.ÌýDr. Kim Brooks was named мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥â€™s 13th President and Vice-Chancellor in July. Dr. Brooks, who has been Acting Provost and Vice-President Academic, also served as dean of two Dal faculties: the Schulich School of Law and the Faculty of Management. She is Dal’s first female and openly queer president. HerÌýÌýwas centred on the themes of people, place and purpose.
2.ÌýOne of Nova Scotia’s most prominent community and business leaders filled мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥â€™s top ceremonial role as Chancellor. ForÌýRustum Southwell (LLD’18), it represents another chapter in his legacy of lifting people up to grow, thrive and succeed. He came to Dal after retiring from the Black Business Initiative, where his position as CEO was filled by alumÌý. Southwell is Dal’s first Black Chancellor.
3.ÌýDal officially broke ground on its long-awaitedÌýEvents Centre, a 60,000-square-foot facility that will feature an NHL-sized ice surface and serve as an on-campus health and wellness hub for both the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ and the greater Halifax communities. Its champions include former varsity athletes and lifelong friendsÌý.
4. Senator Don Oliver’s (LLB’64, LLD’03)Ìýsteadfast fight for diversity, equity, and justice inspiredÌý. Launched with a $1M gift from financier, entrepreneur and investor Wade Dawe, it will support African Nova Scotian students following in Oliver’s footsteps. Oliver also received Schulich Law’sÌýWeldon AwardÌýfor Unselfish Public Service this year.
5.ÌýAfter meeting at Dal, Management alumniÌýDaniel Bartek (BComm’14)Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýCam McDonald (BComm’14)Ìýbuilt a successful pre-mixed drink business, Ace Beverage Group. Their combined skills proved to beÌýthe perfect mixÌýwhen they sold Ace Beverage for a whopping $165 million.
6.ÌýThe Aurum Awards, мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥â€™s flagship alumni awards, were handed out during May’s Alumni Days. Among this year’s winners wereÌýÌýwho brings smiles to those who can’t afford dental care,ÌýÌýhelping Ukrainians find refuge in Canada,Ìý,ÌýÌýworking to help women judges leave Afghanistan to find safety and freedom, andÌýÌýimproving health outcomes for Indigenous patients.Ìý.
7.ÌýIntroduced in 2023, the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ÌýGolden Eagle Lifetime Achievement AwardÌýcelebrates a remarkable alum with a long-standing connection and commitment to the advancement of academic excellence at мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥.ÌýÌý— a professor and prenatal researcher who made a discovery that would eventually lead to the safe delivery of over 10,000 infants across our region — was the inaugural recipient.
8.ÌýFrom 1969-1975,ÌýMarie Jones (MA’23)Ìýattended мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ for her Master of Arts degree, but due to family circumstances, did not graduate. At Dal’s spring convocation, 48 years later, she was finally awarded her degree at age 92.
9.ÌýAs part of her work at мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ and on the gynecology unit at the IWK,ÌýÌýcreated the first patient educational tool in Nova Scotia on sexual health after birth. She also was named a Top 25 Women of Influence.
10.ÌýмÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ and the University of King’s College markedÌý100 years of associationÌýon Sept. 1, 2023. Many Dal alum have taken courses at King’s and vice versa, and the majority of King’s degrees have been jointly conferred by Dal since the original articles of association forming their academic partnership were signed on Sept. 1, 1903.
11.ÌýMedical Sciences student andÌýfuture alumÌýDiana AdamoÌýwas selected as a 2024 Rhodes Scholar, earning a prestigious scholarship to Oxford University. Adamo, who is Dal’s 94th Rhodes Scholar, overcame substantial challenges to find success in academics and in making community impact.
12.ÌýÌýwas appointed Dal’s first academic director, Black health, at мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ Medical School this year. She is leading in co-developing and overseeing the direction for the Faculty of Medicine to engage African Nova Scotian and Black populations in the Maritimes.
13.ÌýAlumniÌýCaleigh WongÌý(DipEng’22, BA’22)Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýChantel Findlay (BSc’21)ÌýreceivedÌý,Ìýthe country’s first comprehensive leadership-based scholarship for master’s and professional studies. They are now pursuing fully-funded graduate degrees atÌýMcGill University, while participating in mentorship, coaching and a leadership development program.
We extend our thanks to all мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ alumni who reached out or responded to our requests to be interviewed in 2023 so we could celebrate you throughÌýÌýlike these. If you have news to share in 2024, please submit aÌýclass noteÌýor email us atÌýalumni@dal.caÌýso we may follow up with you.