By Sara Ericsson

Nelson Mandela touched many people around the world. His death in early December 2013 marked the end of an era, but also sparked the celebration of an inspirational life. A person of huge international influence, Mandela's legacy lives on through the many connections he established, including one he made with Acadia alumna Juanita Rossiter (’96).

Rossiter graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History and went on to pursue a Master of Information Studies at the University of Toronto in 2006. During that time, she applied for an internship with the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) in Johannesburg, South Africa. She was one of two successful applicants.

A native of St. Peter's Bay on Prince Edward Island, Rossiter was astounded when she learned her application had been successful. Upon her arrival in South Africa, she began to work immediately on Mandela's papers, organizing them through preliminary archival descriptions. They covered many different aspects of Mandela and reflected the vast array of people he influenced during his life.

“He was a larger than life figure to many throughout the world,” Rossiter said. Among many others, the papers included a letter from David Beckham and one from the Dalai Lama, sent to Mandela upon his election as the first black president of South Africa.

During her work with the foundation, Rossiter was introduced to Mandela twice. Though she remembers many moments from these meetings, Rossiter was struck by Mandela's humble, friendly nature.

“He was as cordial and inviting to us, two student interns from Canada, as he was with the many celebrity visitors that came to see him at the NMF,” she said. She was affected profoundly by her meetings with Mandela, whom people affectionately called Madiba.

Rossiter was struck by Mandela's humility and his ability to inspire people of various ages, class, ethnicity, and educational background. “Even in the face of international recognition, he maintained humility,” she said.

The experience of working for NMF had a profound effect on Rossiter personally and professionally. Returning to Canada after the internship, she continued working for the foundation in 2006 and 2007, documenting Canadian records relating to Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement.

In addition to her experiences at the NMF, Rossiter credits Acadia with providing a solid foundation upon which to build the rest of her education. Her work in the honours program led to her love affair with primary sources, which she further explored at the Public Archives and Records Office on Prince Edward Island. Rossiter was also awarded the Watson Kirkconnell Fellowship after completing her thesis. “All of this contributed to me becoming an archivist,” she said.

Currently residing in Toronto, Rossiter works for the Provincial Archives of Ontario. She says she will always cherish the memories of her meetings with Mandela, which revealed a man who emerged untarnished from years of persecution. When he could have been resentful, Mandela chose instead to grow from his experiences and reach out to people. “To me, he was adorable,” Rossiter said.