Big Steps to Reduce Our Environmental Footprint
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R R ECORDECORD W i n t e r ‘ 0 9 M a g a z i n e f o r M o u n t A l l i s o n ’ s A l u m n i a n d F r i e n d s N o . 9 0 Big Steps to reduce our environmental footprint. Be our future. New Brunswick is growing and we want you to be a part of it! Be in a place where the average commute time in the city is less than 20 minutes, where you can live on the water, in the country or downtown, where you can be close to family and friends, and above all…where you can balance your dream job with a great lifestyle. In fact, New Brunswick’s housing costs are among the lowest in Canada and our cities are ranked 2nd and 3rd for being the most tax-friendly places for business in the country. Be in the only ocially bilingual province in Canada, a place where you can truly be yourself, belong, and be better. Be home in New Brunswick. NBjobs.ca Contents 4 Events and Gatherings 6 Campus Beat 11 JUMP Update 12 Spotlight on Students 14 Effecting change around the globe 15 Setting the sustainable stage in Cumberland County 16 Saving the planet one policy at a time 17 In Memoriam 13 18 Bleacher Feature 20 In his element 21 Nurtured: caring for families and Mother Nature 22 Centre of excellence 23 Green and furry 24 Examining the past, predicting the future 25 Defining land 26 Wind at his back 27 Full of roots and heritage 28 Back in the day 30 Moulding young minds 21 31 Class Notes 36 Mount A’s environmental watchdogs 13 Turning lights off around the world. 21 April MacKinnon (’98) built an award- winning business out of being ‘green.’ 24 Dr. Colin Laroque uses trees to help predict climate change. 24 Mount Allison Record Winter 2009 No. 90 — New Series The Record is published three times annually. Editor’s Note Editor: Sheila (Berridge) Blagrave (’75) Assistant Editor: Laura Dillman Ripley Design, Layout: Shane McDonald At Mount A we also recognize that education The campus and the is key in developing the next generation of Contributing Writers: Record go green environmental leaders and guiding us toward Tracy Bell We all have times when we realize that we are a more sustainable future. To this end Mount Sheila (Berridge) Blagrave (’75) witnessing somethingveryspecial.I hadoneof Allison offers an interdisciplinary environ- Leah Brown (’09) those ‘magic moments’ this fall when I was mentalstudies degree, as part ofthegeography Laura Dillman Ripley invited to our new sustainable residence by and environment department, which unites Mona Estabrooks (’79) students intent on saving the environment. such subject areas as geography, economics, Lesley Johnson (’94) They wanted to talk to Michelle Strain, the philosophy, and anthropology, all with an eye Sue Seaborn director of administrative servicesat Mount A, to the environment in some course offerings. Alison Smith (’08) and to me to explore how we could all work We have also developed a degree in environ- Barbie Smith (’75) together to help reduce our environmental mental science, sought after by students who Kris Trotter footprint on campus and beyond. More than have a strong interest in science and a concern Photography: 20 enthusiastic students crowded into the liv- for the environment. This program focusses Tracy Bell ing room of Cuthbertson House to talk on disciplines such as chemistry, biology, Laura Dillman Ripley earnestly about what projects we might take mathematics, and physics to give students the Sue Seaborn on. The students were brimming with ideas scientific foundation to understand environ- Heather Taweel that ran the gamut from bicycle-powered rock mental issues. These are dynamic programs, Evan Rensch (’06) concerts to campus challenges. And as we offering ample opportunities for hands-on passed the crackers and cheese and other research at the undergraduate level. Graduates Address correspondence regarding wholesome goodies (all provided by them), I goon totake upmeaningfulpositions inplan- editorial policy and subscriptions to: experiencedone of those electrifyingmoments ning, geography, business, education, and Mount Allison Record public administration, among others. 82A York Street where one feels good about the world and the Sackville, NB E4L 1G2 careful young hands we will be leaving it to. Tel: 506-364-2600 Fax: 506-364-2623 In this issue of the Record you will read about [email protected] This kind of student activism has driven the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who are pursuit of environmentalism on campus for helping to make this world a more environ- Contents Copyright 2009 by many years. Ourstudents havebeensupported mentally friendly place. To help the environ- Mount Allison University and may not in their grassroots efforts by many professors mental cause here in Communications we are, be reprinted without permission. and staff members and very recently by mem- for the first time, making the Record available bers of the administration, who named this online (alumni.mta.ca). This issue of the Opinions expressed in this year the Year of the Environment at Mount A Record has also been printed on paper that has publication are not necessarily those of and have dedicated resources, acumen, and been approved by the Forest Stewardship Mount Allison University. their own zeal to environmentalism. They Council. Costs to do so are high so, alas, we have supported student audits, strengthened won’t be able to do this always. The online Single Copy: $9.00 environmental programming, and sponsored version is a feature that we plan to keep, how- Subscription: $25 for three issues such events as the President’s Speakers Series ever, so please let us know what you think and this fall, which brought to Mount A such tell us if you would like us to stop mailing you ISSN 1702-2525 environmental luminaries as Lester Brown, a print version, if the online version suits your founderoftheWorldwatch Institute andEarth needs and approach to receiving information. Mailed under Canada Post Publication Mail Policy Institute. To find out more about this visit: Sales Agreement no. 40006414 alumni.mta.ca/record Mailed by: Precision Direct Marketing The Admissions Office has entered the green arena too, launching a video contest that I also invite you to send us your own personal Printed by: Advocate — invites faculty, staff, students, future students, acts of green, which we will post, with your Imprimerie Maritime Press andyou ourloyalalumnitosubmitvideosthat permission, to Alumni Online. Together we show how green you are. Read all about it at: can make a difference. If you wish to make a donation to mta.ca/environment Mount Allison, please contact Sheila (Berridge) Blagrave (’75) Susan Springer at 506-364-2341 or by e-mail ([email protected]). Alumni Board nominations Nominees for the position of Director Please forward change of address of the Federated Alumni Board information to Joy Wilbur The following alumni have agreed to let their CHRISTINA VROOM (BA’96) ([email protected]) 506-364-2608. names stand for nomination to the Federated Christina lives in Montreal, where she organizes many of Alumni Board at the Annual General meet- Cover Photo: Ankit Kapur (’06), President of Mount A’s alumni events. As Vayu Energy, installs a wind turbine at a private ing on Saturday May 23, 2009 at the Wu a student Christina was residence in Flagstaff, AZ. Centre. For a complete list of our current involved with the yearbook, Alumni Board of Directors, please visit student recruitment, and participated in the Strasbourg Alumni Online (http://alumni.mta.ca) and Study Abroad program. She is a development Cert no. SW-COC-002628 click on Alumni Board. officer with McGill University. 2 Winter 2009 Mount Allison RECORD participates in many alumni activities. While at Mount A, he lived in Trueman and was involved in SAC, Commerce Society, Student Development Awards, and Alumni President the Argosy . HARRIET (BRUUN) LEGGETT (BA ’61) Harriet resides in Oak Bay, NB and has been involved with alumni associations in Ottawa, as well as in Charlotte County, NB. While at The end of a year is always a time of reflection, newspapers of Allisonian achievements. Most Mount A, Harriet lived in Allison and as I sit by the Christmas tree, presents notably was Maclean’s magazine ranking us as Halland Hart Halland was involved opened, sun rising in glorious pinks and reds, the #1 primarily undergraduate university in inWomen’s Council, HouseCouncil, that is what I am doing. It has been a great priv- Canada. But of course we already knew this. We Commerce Society, Winter Carnival Committee, and ilege being your alumni president. I have met willalso see changes inour membershipas many Choral Society. many varied and wonderful Allisonians, and Boardmembers are retiring. If youare interested shared in their individual and collective inthe opportunity toserveonthe AlumniBoard, triumphs,as well as in their losses. This position please contact the Alumni Office. Nominees for the position of Officer of is humbling since those who came before me the Federated Alumni Board and will come after me have achieved so much Reunion Weekend will be held later this year — in their homes and communities across our May 22, 23 and 24th. Flowers will be blooming PRESIDENT country and indeed around the world. In the and it will be a bit warmer (I hope) when ANDREW CLARK (BA ’98) comingpagesyouwill meet some ofthesepeople. we return. Special celebrations will be held for Andrew presently serves as the Vice- the Class of 1959 and the Class of 1984, and President of the Alumni Board. He The year 2008 brought many exciting changes for classes ending in “4” and “9,” but all lives inToronto andis themanaging to the campus.