Winter 2008 1 from the Editor L Helen Murphy ‘08 Alumninews Letters St
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Frank Muller ’84 cheers on the X-Men at the Homecoming football game. StFX AlumniNews ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY l ANTIGONISH l NOVA SCOTIA l CANADA 7 In This Issue 6 StFX Among The Best Globe and Mail Canadian University Report puts StFX at the head of the class 7 New Home For Music and Fine Arts StFX brings teaching and learning facilities up to high standards for the future 10 The Magic of Coming Home The wonderful truth about Canada’s best Homecoming 6 20 Meeting Grandpa How a trip to StFX provides unexpected bonding moments 22 Honouring Allan J. A rock of Nova Scotia 20 25 Classics for the Classics Here’s your chance to come back to the classroom! 22 25 ON THE COVER: Special touches. That’s what a StFX Homecoming is all about. Here, Keith MacDonald (left) from Mabou, this year’s house 10 director of House International, and Rankin MacInnis, also from Mabou, resident assistant in Lane Hall, pipe the X-Men football team onto the field before the afternoon classic. REGULAR FEATURES President’s Message 5 l Alumni Association News 29 l The Word From Our Chapters 30 l News Exchange 36 StFX ALUMNI NEWS l WINTER 2008 1 FROM THE EDITOR l HELEN MURPHY ‘08 AlumniNews LETTERS St. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY mind that they may be family heir- of kindness. I asked how I could MANAGING EDITOR looms. In particular, I am looking for repay him. Could I send a cheque? Helen Murphy ‘08 personal letters of StFX students Did he have an address? Some- That intangible something Email: [email protected] serving overseas or in Canada dur- thing. Anything. “Pay it forward,” Phone: 902-867-2243 ing the war. In addition, there was was all he said. tFX alumni often speak about the strong pull to ASSISTANT EDITOR a magazine entitled Camouflage To me, this represents a true come back to campus, in some cases after 50 Shelley Cameron-McCarron produced by the StFX No 9 Station- commitment to the pursuit of Email: [email protected] S years or more. At Homecoming, the attraction ary Hospital Unit while in-theatre in “whatsoever things are true, noble, of alma mater is something that’s easy to recognize, WRITERS France. All copies of this magazine good, and worthy of praise.” Joe: but hard to put into words. Shelley Cameron-McCarron are believed to be lost; however, thank you. You have inspired me to We’re often asked by folks at other universities about PHOTO EDITOR I am hopeful that someone out be a better Xaverian, to be a better the “secret” to StFX’s incredible alumni support and John Bastin there may have a copy. person. You are a walking example spirit (as you know, StFX is widely recognized as hav- Email: [email protected] Thanks to all, of the Xaverian commitment. As a ing the most loyal alumni in Canada). But really it’s no PRODUCTION & DESIGN X-Ringers on the Great Wall: l-r Jake MacDonald ‘07, Colleen Turlo ‘07, Jesse Scott Matheson, ‘09 way to pay it forward, a donation secret at all, and it’s not something you can orchestrate Angela Penney 15 James St, Apt 3 has been made in Joe’s honour to Email: [email protected] Withrow ‘06 and Emily MacIsaac ‘06 through a new program or policy. Those alumni bonds Antigonish, NS B2G 1R6 our alma mater, StFX. Thank you! are firmly rooted in the student experience. NEWS EXCHANGE EDITOR LOOKING FOR StFX WWI on primary documents – personal [email protected] – Emily Asbell ‘07 Many of you spent three or four years living on Glenda Bond MEMORIES letters, newspapers, magazines, Email: [email protected] campus. During that time, StFX was your second fam- My fellow Xaverians, photographs, and pamphlets of PAY IT FORWARD ily. It was a close-knit, supportive family; a place where PHOTOGRAPHS I am a 4th year history honours the period. Consequently, I must Dear Editor, fellow students, faculty and staff helped you through John Bastin student working to complete an ask a favour: if you happen to have Here’s a story that makes me the tough times and celebrated with you the good COVER DESIGN undergraduate thesis. I have cho- any such documents, I would be proud to be a Xaverian. I was times. The friendships forged during those years have Angela Penney sen to write a history of StFX during deeply indebted if you would per- rushing to be somewhere when withstood the test of time. the First World War. mit me to borrow them, or perhaps I realized I was out of gas. I had to ADVERTISING INQUIRIES As alumni, when we see another X-Ring we know Glenda Bond As I delve deeper into my re- make copies. quickly stop to fill up.I went to grab we share something special with that person. There’s Phone: (902) 867-2186 search I am quickly discovering that I promise to treat all documents my wallet… but it wasn’t there. a shared understanding that we’ve spent three or four Fax: (902) 867-3659 my thesis will be largely dependant with the utmost respect keeping in I had left it in my yoga bag, now Email: [email protected] wonderful years of our lives at a truly special place. sitting in my front hallway. In this issue we delve deeper into the magic of year’s Homecoming was another record-breaker for UPCOMING DEADLINES I made my way over to the Homecoming and that pull to return to alma mater both those celebrating special anniversary years and SPRING ISSUE counter, nervous, embarrassed, – an attraction that is perhaps stronger at StFX than at other alumni. copy deadline February 20 for tenant with the Canadian Army panicked, feeling like a total idiot. April mailing any other university in Canada. We’re already working on Homecoming 2009. We’ll Engineers in Europe, and meet- As I walked toward the counter, Bill and Barbara (Palmer) Shaw Each year we tweak our Homecoming schedule a be rolling out the red carpet for all alumni and friends SUMMER ISSUE ing fellow StFX alumni overseas another customer called out to me: little. This year we added Homecoming Inn pub nights October 2nd to 4th, especially our 50-year class from copy deadline May 20 for during those trying times was “Hey! Nice ring!” ROCKS, RINGS, ROMANCE & X! after our dinners on Friday and Saturday nights, which 1959 and the 25-year class from 1984. July mailing special. He received the Croix I think, ‘Oh God, not now!’ I say, In 1945, Bill Shaw and Barbara were very well received. We were also very pleased to Whether you’ve been a regular at Homecoming, de Guerre from the French for “Thanks! You too!” Palmer met at StFX. Bill was a senior have 55- and 60-year class reunions for the first time – a or maybe never participated before, we’ll hope you’ll AlumniNews is published by St. Francis Xavier “exceptional war services dur- “I’m Joe,” he says. “Hi Joe, I’m and received his X-Ring that year, new tradition we think is here to stay. Another exciting make plans to experience what promises to be another University Alumni Affairs and Communications ing operations”, and although Emily.” We chat and I find out he Barbara graduated and earned her three times annually for alumni and friends of development this year was the enthusiasm and strong magical weekend back home at StFX. the university. Views expressed are those of this was several years removed graduated in ’88. As Joe finished ring in 1948. The two fell in love and turnout for our 10-year reunion. the individual contributors or sources quoted. Donald L. Anderson ’38 from his time at StFX, alumni his transaction, his friend walks in. married in 1950. In the 1950s while We’re also very pleased to see more and more alumni Hail and Health, Contents, copyright © 2008 by St. Francis Xavier directory (Rev.) F.J. Smyth sent “Check out this girl’s ring!” he says. living in Trinidad, Barbara’s X-Ring University. Subscriptions to AlumniNews are come back to Homecoming regardless of whether they Helen Murphy ‘08 available to the public for $21 a year, single copies Dear Ms. Murphy, a kind letter of congratulations, I quickly celebrate yet again our was lost. Bill’s ring lasted 60 years, are celebrating a milestone reunion year or not. This Director, Alumni Affairs $7. Letters to the editor are welcome. Address My father, Donald L. Ander- writing “it came as no surprise loyalty to our school. As the two but finally wore thin, possibly due correspondence to: son, was a 1938 graduate of to me that Donald’s work was friends chat I make my way over to to the handling of so many rocks AlumniNews StFX. He passed away in August outstanding, because he was a the clerk. His response is not good. in his career (Bill is a retired StFX St. Francis Xavier University and I wanted the StFX commu- superior man here at StFX where I began to panic: “What Do I Do!?” geology faculty member). This PO Box 5000 nity to know how much his time I knew him well.” Display with Pride Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5 there meant to him. Dad was proud to have at- Degree and photo frames Email: [email protected] He always spoke fondly of tended StFX, writing that StFX May StFX always offer such a positive, Phone: 902-867-2186 StFX and all that he gained aca- was, and is, a prestigious institu- Display your StFX diploma and grad photos and those of your Xaverian Personal Information: St.