In acknowledgement of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, our Alumni Virtual Event Series panel discussion featured community members who have experience with and are involved in projects that support persons with disabilities. Guests include Senior Alumni Officer Melanie Jackson ('99, '01); pro football player Bailey Feltmate ('20); accessibility advocate Emily Duffett ('11, '13); and assistant professor Dr. Emily Bremer.
This virtual event features Dr. Mary Sweatman ('03, '19), Associate Professor in Community Development at Acadia; Dr. Jackie Oncescu ('03, '06), Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at UNB; and Lydia Broderick (‘19), Active Living Community Coordinator for the Town of Kentville, Parks and Recreation Department.
Our virtual event on October 4th celebrated National Coaches Day. The conversation featured Mark Smith of Falmouth, Nova Scotia, who retired recently as head coach of Canada’s bronze medal-winning women’s softball team after a historic run at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; volunteer coach James Weekes; and head coach of Acadia women’s volleyball team, mentor and educator Michelle Wood.
A panel discussion chaired by Executive Director, Alumni Affairs Oonagh Proudfoot (’93, ’06), featuring Executive Director, Student Services, James Sanford (‘87), Acadia Alumni Association Vice-President, Matt Rios (’14), and newly appointed Black Student Success Navigator, Janique Ellis ('21).
The next presentation in our Virtual Events Series features the Maritime Marionettes, founded by puppeteers Heather ('81) and Darryll Taylor. They have entertained audiences in Canada and abroad, performing in English or French, since 1986.
Dr. Rob Raeside, Head of the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at Acadia University, joined us to discuss how climate has changed in the past, and its effects on the environment and on human history.
Melanie Priesnitz, Conservation Horticulturist, was our featured speaker on June 7, 2021. She gave a brief introduction to the plant research and conservation work happening at the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens at Acadia and encouraged guests to learn more about how to garden with nature using native plants.
