Throughout the month of February, we shared profiles of some of our Black students. To end the month off, we’re taking that journey from student to alumni with profiles of a few of our distinguished Black alumni. Visit the African Heritage Month page to learn more about how we’re celebrating at Acadia, information on events and resources, and reflections from our community.

When you hear the theme “For Us, By Us: Celebrating Black Excellence,” what does it mean to you personally?

It means creating black business that are run by us the black community, it’s protecting and honouring our heritage, our community, our churches. It means celebrating our talented young people and encouraging them to become well educated and achieve the highest level of education possible. It means honouring those people from our community who have archived great things. It means protecting the land we have in the black community and ensuring that we keep our land. Black Excellence is pride in our culture and in our Africa roots. Honouring our Elders and having pride in our history.

This theme reflects my journey during my time at Acadia because I was able to meet young black people who where very intelligent, who were from different parts of Nova Scotia and Canada. During my time at Acadia there were only about 10 black students so most us hung out together and I actually roomed with two other black students for a year. It made by transition better to campus life. For me it was very motivating and it gave me a sense of pride to see other students on campus that look like me. It really made me feel good to be around other black students and not be the only black student on campus it helped me make the transition from high school to university easier.

What program did you study and what year did you begin your Acadia journey? Tell us what you’re up to now!

Excellence after Acadia was having a successful career with the Federal Public Service for 35 years and being married for 50 years. Having two children who both have university degree. Also having my own home and owner of my own land.

I studied Physical Education and Recreation and I began my Acadia journey in 1969. I have been retired for 19 years after a successful career as an Employment Counsellor and Program Officer with the Federal Government. For the last 35 to 40 years. I have also been a volunteer coach and volunteering my time setting on various boards and committees within my community.

What advice would you offer to a Black student starting their post-secondary education journey? Especially someone navigating a small, rural, or predominantly white campus for the first time?

The advice that I would give to a Black student starting their post-secondary journey would be to tell them to be proud of their culture and do not let the fact they are black not to stand in their way. Try to meet other students that look like them. Someone that they can talk to who also is going through learning to be black in a white world. It might one person or could be a group. They should walk with their head held high and be proud of who they are and were they come from. Accept the challenge of one among many, embrace it and not let it stand in your way of achieving your goals.

Are there Black role models who have shaped or inspired you? How have they influenced your path?

Yes, my black role model was my dad. He inspired me and gave me confidence. He encouraged me to get my education and not let anything or anybody stand in my way. When I was feeling down, he always encouraged me to hang in there and don’t give up. He told me that I am as good as anybody and can achieve anything with hard work and dedication. He was an excellent motivator and he always said don’t let your blackness get in your way.

What is an accomplishment you’re especially proud of right now—big or small—and why does it matter to you?

The accomplishment that I am proud of is being part of a committee that created a monument and commemorative panel in Yarmouth Town for black men who were soldiers of the No 2 Construction Battalion. The No 2 Construction, battalion was a segregated non combatant unit, the first and only all battalion in Canadian Military history form during the first world war in 1916. I am very proud of this because these men never received public recognition until 1982 when Senator Calvin W Ruck and the Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia held recognition and reunion banquet at the Lord Nelson in Halifax. Yarmouth had 14 soldiers from our area in that unit so we in Yarmouth honoured these men by unveiling a monument and commemorative panel on Sept 22, 2022. On a personal note, my grandfather was a member of the 2nd Construction Battalion. This certainly made it very special to me.