Tim Houston Cuts the Arts and Community Budget: Nova Scotia Speaks Out.

On Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, students and townsfolk alike met outside of MLA Michelle Thompson’s office on Main Street to rally against Tim Houston’s recent budget slashes to the arts and cultural preservation in Nova Scotia. This was just one protest of many happening across Nova Scotia.

As someone who is on the final stretch of his history degree here at StFX, writing a thesis on the industrial history of Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia, I am deeply disturbed by the so-called “Red Tory” philosophy of Premier Houston’s cuts to art and culture budgets.

I was happy to see a sizable crowd at the rally last Wednesday to protest these erroneous cuts. Many of my fellow students took time out of their busy schedules to join local artists, academics, and regular folk in sending a clear message that I think is best summarized by the protest phrase shown on a number of signs:

Houston, we have a problem: It’s you.

Throughout the event, there were several speakers, one of which was Dr. Melissa Kuipers, a professor here at StFX who emphasized the massive role that the arts play in Antigonish. It is true that both within our university community and across the town of Antigonish that artistic pursuits such as music, poetry, and the visual arts have played a substantial role in this community. Anyone who has taken a quick Friday night trip to Candid Brewery or dropped by the StFX music department’s jazz ensemble shows are cognizant of how important musicians are to this community. We are also home to writers and poets, many of whom are featured in the regular releases of the Antigonish review. The town has seen developments in arts and community decline in certain sectors prior to Houston’s cuts already: since the Casket shut down, the Xaverian Weekly is now the only local paper. Thankfully, Antigonish is still home to two radio stations, 98.9 XFM and 93.3 CFXU The Fox. My hope is that these stations can continue to be maintained in the future.

Of course, there is the cultural value of art itself: Andrea Boyd, the Artistic Director for Theatre Antigonish, asked us to imagine a world without art. To my mind, this recalls the imagery that George Orwell so harrowingly depicted in his famous novel 1984, or perhaps the depressing world presented by Margaret Atwood in The Handmaid’s Tale. Regardless, the idea of a world without art is sickening. Boyd also noted that the arts bring a lot of money into our province. CBC News reported that the arts bring in a GDP of 2.6 billion to Nova Scotia, also providing 22,000 jobs. These are not insubstantial figures.

Dr. Barry MacKenzie, Canadian historian, curator for the Antigonish Heritage Museum and part-time professor at StFX, explained how the budget cuts are devastating and harm the cultural upkeep for all demographics in Nova Scotia. We reached out to him for a statement, and he provided the following:

“As a historian and the curator of the Antigonish Heritage Museum, I was disappointed to learn of the cuts to arts, heritage, and culture in the recent provincial budget. While the Antigonish Heritage Museum is one of the luckier community museums in the province (we have stable funding from the Town and County of Antigonish as well as a grant from the province), I am genuinely concerned for the precedent that it could set for the future. Our economy has embraced heritage tourism with gusto for more than a century, and I do worry how much momentum many heritage organizations will lose during these austere times.”

Dr. MacKenzie makes an excellent point around the uncertain precedent this sets. Defunding arts and culture draws a frightening correlation to the anti-intellectual movement currently occurring in the United States.

These cuts risk jobs across the province, especially student grants at museums and similar venues of culture. Many of the places facing cuts are upheld by volunteer work as well, work that these cuts are adamant to destroy. Community sports events are also at risk.

We are not without hope. While Houston remains adamant in his rampage against arts and culture, protest have been happening all over the province. The rally in Antigonish brought in a few hundred participants, while the one in Halifax reportedly saw over 2000 show up to make it clear to the premier that defunding the arts is not the way.

I beg this of anyone who reads this article: If you’re Nova Scotian, write to, email, or call your MLA and tell them about the harm Premier Houston is causing to the province. If you’re a student from beyond the shores of Nova Scotia, get in touch with Antigonish MLA Michelle Thompson’s office. We need to make it clear to the Premier that we will not stand for erroneous cuts in the face of Houston’s economic mismanagement. The provincial debt, in fact, is $10,000,000 higher since he took office in 2021. Arts and culture should not have to suffer because of the Progressive Conservative Party’s failures.

You Can't Spell Improve Without Improv

While Justin Gregg is an animal psychology professor, his true passion comes from something outside of the world of academia. It is this passion that in turn hones his skills for teaching and overall makes him a better professor. He started improv on a whim after moving to Antigonish ten years ago. Yet what he discovered was a psychological resilience he developed through pushing his mental limits and self-consciousness.  

Although improv can be “terrible and not particularly funny”, Gregg claims it’s this very unpredictability that creates more depth than just simple comedy. While you may discard improv as a skill, it is a harmless opportunity to free you from your inhibitions.  

Gregg finds improv is especially capable of improving both social and business skills. Issues like loneliness and social anxiety that prevent you from meeting people could be eradicated by the opportunity to pretend to be someone else. After an exciting conversation, it appears that it’s a common misconception that it takes a great extrovert to perform in front of people. But it just might be social anxieties that make a superb improvisor. 

 The list of core skills applicable through improv goes on and on. Whether it’s saying “yes, and” to new ideas, feeling freedom through failure, or being honest about not knowing things, it is almost impossible to gain nothing from trying improv. Professor Gregg explains that humans like to keep life predictable; they avoid change. The natural pressure that comes with improv forces participants to be unafraid of failure. It’s common to try something and be humiliated if it doesn’t work. But, after a while, your brain stops noticing your failures and instead starts thinking of ways to carry on. 

As a professor, Gregg says improv “makes me braver.” He explains that most professors are actually introverts. But what he discovered is that teaching itself is a form of improvisation. “You are a version of yourself when teaching and doing improv, both performing for a crowd” he explains. 

Gregg explains that his improv group of seven or so struggles to find a routine place where they can practice. Even without a dedicated meeting spot, this group maintains their commitment to their craft. Hopefully, an influx of students trying out improv for self-betterment can transform improv into a prominent art form within the Antigonish community.  

Whether it’s “yes, and” or a game where you can only speak languages limited to five words, improv works with your cognitive flexibility. Being impervious to embarrassment is an asset to making connections and being social. Gregg explains that as a professor, he loves when students shamelessly ask questions. From experiencing social anxiety himself to watching his students experience it, it strengthens his stance: improv can change your life. 

My Beef with the Mulroney Bathrooms

Last week I was going to class at Mulroney Hall when, in the throes of flu season, I had to blow my nose. Because there’s only hand dryers in Mulroney washrooms I had to use toilet paper as Kleenex, but before I could do that I had to wait for a stall to open. As I was washing my hands I noticed another guy waiting to blow his nose too. Can’t there be a better way? I thought. This is pretty gross.

You may have heard that hand dryers are not more sanitary than paper towels, in fact, there seems to be a consensus that they are worse in regard to cleanliness. Air based hand-dryers cover the user’s hands with anything that could be in the surrounding air. Thousands of students on campus spreading germs and viruses makes sanitation crucially important for university health. Particles which should only be found in the bathroom can instead be found on the hands of students, increasing the risk of disease and illness.

It is unfortunate that in one of our campus’ nicest buildings people cannot blow their nose, clean a spill, or wipe off a space, unless they are bringing their own supplies. Every other bathroom on campus is stocked with paper-towels with some even having Kleenex. James Bruce Brown, Annex, and MSB, some of the school’s oldest buildings have clean, reliable and stocked washrooms. It is weird that it’s some of the newest buildings who lack paper-towels. It is embarrassing to rush into the stall after someone. I just want to blow my nose without waiting for someone to leave the stall. It is also inconvenient to have to choose between unsanitary air-dryers and going to class with wet hands. I know that this is not an issue which bothers every student but it is a needless inconvenience and the Mulroney experience would be better without it.

I do not want to give the impression that bathrooms are a students biggest concern. Tuition is too high, we are facing funding cuts from Premier Tim Houston (see the News Section for further information), and entire faculties are struggling from hiring shortages. This new complaint is not meant to distract you from larger concerns. This is a small problem; that’s part of the reason I’m complaining. A box of Kleenex or a role of hand towels in the Mulroney washroom would solve this micro-problem. I do not want you to be angrier about wet hands than about your tuition, the price of text-books or any other major issues. I just want to note that if you’re in Mulroney and you knock a water bottle over, the nearest paper towel could be a bit too far away.

Motionball StFX: Uniting in the Spirit of Sport

St. Francis Xavier University students and Special Olympics athletes came together on March 8th for the annual Motionball Marathon of Sport, raising a record-breaking $40,000 in support of Special Olympics Canada. Motionball is a national non-profit that promotes leadership and inclusive social and sporting events in support of Special Olympics Canada, creating opportunities for Canadians of all ages living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Motionball Marathon of Sport brings together students and local Special Olympics athletes for a day of teamwork, friendship, and sport.

Participants kicked off the day with a warm-up led by the StFX dance team before moving into organized games. The event concluded with a sponsored lunch from Kenny’s Pizza, followed by special recognitions and closing remarks.

This year marked the fifth Motionball Marathon of Sport held at StFX. Once again, student volunteers and participants broke the national fundraising record for a single Marathon of Sport event. The $40,000 raised contributes to the over $22 million that has been donated by motionball to the Special Olympics Canada Foundation since the organization’s inception in 2002. Special recognition was given to Sophie Brimacombe, Hannah Groves, and Brendan Ingle, who were recognized as the top three fundraisers for this year’s event, with Brimacombe raising a total of $2,025.

Participants Katie Wilson and Valerie von Mueldorfer shared the importance of this event and what it means for them to be a part of the cause. “Marathon of Sport is one of my favourite days of the year”, said Wilson. “I love meeting new athletes and coming together for a great cause with my friends!” Von Mueldorfer emphasized the importance of the fundraising component of the event, “Marathon of Sport is a great way to fundraise for Motionball and Special Olympics! Yes it is a great day and so much fun, but it’s important to remember that a big part is raising money so there can be bigger and better events all over the country!”

The Motionball Marathon of Sport is expected to return to StFX next spring. For updates and more information, follow Motionball StFX on Instagram @motionballstfx.

Changing the Conversation Around Men’s Mental Health Beyond the Game

At StFX, football players are often recognized for what they do on the field. What isn’t always visible is what happens off the field: the pressure to perform, the weight of expectations, and the personal struggles that do not pause for game day.

For fifth-year football player Nathan Cayouette, men’s mental health advocacy grew out of his own experience navigating those pressures. “What inspired me was, in my second year, I was going through mental health struggles,” Cayouette explained. “Being a student athlete, just learning about that experience, and then talking to other athletes and other people around me, I realized they were struggling too. But looking online, looking elsewhere, there weren’t really conversations about it.”

Instead of waiting for someone else to start it, Cayouette decided he would. “I decided that if I could be a voice for mental health, for advocating for men’s mental health and student athlete mental health, then I was willing to do it. I wanted to do it.”

His second year at StFX was marked by more than the usual pressures of balancing academics and athletics. “Kind of everything hit me at once,” he said. “And I tried to do it alone. I just kept everything in. But in reality, it just hurts you more.”

At a heavily football-centred school like StFX, athletes often operate in a very public space. It is a tight-knit campus community, where everyone is interconnected. “For my experience, it feels like when I’m walking around, I get evaluated,” he said. “My whole life, I’ve been in high-performance sports. I have to make sure I’m up to standards, representing the school, being the best person I can be, on the field and off the field.” Layered on top of that pressure is a broader social expectation and stigma placed on men. “Society shows us that if you speak up about mental health struggles, you’re weak,” he said. “There’s this perception that men have to be tough, strong 24/7. They can’t show any weakness. But if you try to be strong nonstop all the time, it’s going to hurt you eventually.”

Through advocacy and awareness, Cayouette looks to change that narrative. “It’s okay to not be okay,” he said. “If you’re feeling sad, you don’t have to hide it. You can talk to someone about it. You can show it. If someone judges you for that, that’s on them, not you.”

Looking on his past five years at StFX, Cayouette reflects on how he balanced being a student-athlete with a busy schedule and high expectations. “When I was in my early years, I had older guys I could go up to and talk about life,” he said. “Now I feel like I’m in the position where I’m the older guy. If anyone’s ever struggling, I can help them go through it.”

For first-year students and student athletes stepping onto campus for the first time, his advice is to not keep these struggles in. “If you feel anxious or sad about something, be vocal about it. Being vulnerable is scary, but if you can show vulnerability to someone, it’s going to be way better for your mental health.”

In talking about his future, Cayouette hopes to launch a podcast to create space for people of all ages and backgrounds to share their mental health stories. “Ever since I started talking about mental health, I’ve had conversations with 13-year-old boys and with 40-year-olds,” he said. “It’s not just athletes. It’s not just males. Everyone struggles.”

Frosted with History: Revive or Reinvent the Winter Ball?

Over 15 years later, the “Winter Ball”, once a staple in StFX’s event calendar, was brought back to students. On Friday, Feb 27th, 2026, the Golden X Inn featured a red carpet lined entrance, white and blue balloons on the walls, and crisp white tablecloths over the booths. When it comes to events, StFX Students’ Union is not new to planning something extravagant. This was shown with the events entertainment, featuring None the Wiser in their first appearance at the Inn. A crowd favourite, they played everything from Footloose to Mr. Brightside and kept the spirit of the crowd up.  

It seems once again the trends are repeating themselves. Recent theme nights at the Inn  have featured events such as “2016 Re-Wind” and now the return of the “Winter Ball”. I attended the event on Friday, looking to see if it was a tradition that should permanently come back. Here’s the recap.  

As promised, the event was as semi-formal winter wonderland. The decorations were sparkly, candles lined tables and everyone was in collared shirts and dresses. Tickets were available at the door, prices scaled back to nostalgic 2000s levels at 10 dollars a pop. Yet there was no line out of the door, unusual for larger events such as this one. If you have ever seen None the Wiser at their monthly appearance at Candid, the place is jammed with people. Despite the lack of a crowd, the event was fun, people sang along to the band (who played amazing) and overall, it was a good excuse to wear your best and dance your heart out. 

But the lower turn-out begs the question: are students looking for the past to be relived? Or are students looking to make new events and traditions, instead of bringing back the old? One can walk around StFX and quickly understand that heritage and tradition is a key part of our school pride. It’s obvious from the buildings, the memorials- it’s everywhere you look. Yet so often it can feel like the events around campus are trying to relive to ‘glory days’. The Winter Ball, which was a great idea, is bringing back something that most students today didn’t even know existed. I believe that for a better turn out, it either takes some significant marketing to get the word out about the event, or, alternately, students are looking to make their own traditions and follow along with more current trends of today. When students go out in Antigonish, they are looking for where everyone else is, and that has to be where things are new; exciting. The question for the Inn is – what draws people? And I believe the answer is events that bring new life to the student body. 

The Winter Ball at the Golden X Inn was everything it said it would be- amazing band, great decorations and a dress code that impresses. But as nostalgia seems to be taking over most aspects of the media right now, it seems the Inn is following. But instead of looking backward, I’m excited for the Inn to take a new step forards- towards events that bring back the past in a way that is fitting for the present. 

Interview with a StFX Nursing Graduate

Interview with a 2025 StFX Nursing Grad 

To start with, what made you want to apply to the nursing program at StFX? 

I was debating picking between Dalhousie or StFX, but I heard StFX had a more hands-on program; it was more clinically oriented... I liked that it was in a small town. I always liked Wolfville and I wanted to go somewhere similar, I actually wanted to go to Acadia but they didn’t have a nursing program.  

What was the program like? What did you expect, not expect? 

It was very challenging, I had to do a lot of bookwork and writing papers. In general, the first year was solely focused on typical Bachelor of Science stuff, I was expecting to do more nursing stuff first year and I didn’t have a single nursing course... Once you start second year it’s crazy how much they give you- it's not an easy way that they put you into it. You’re doing your head-to-toe assessment within your first month. Everything is just very fast paced when you start second year... Third and fourth years are also really stressful but it’s easier to manage.  

The types of courses they focused on I didn’t really like. Our 308, 208 courses, we’re kind of useless. A lot of the theory courses were not as important , I wish we did more clinical case studies than the theory ones.  

Now that you’re working as a Registered Nurse, what that you learned at StFX have you been able to apply most directly to your employment? 

I find what helped me the most would be when I was doing my labs they would do pass or fail assessments. At Dal, they show you how to do a technique or a skill and then they let you do it as many times until you get it right, but StFX only gives two chances to pass it, and you only have 40 minutes while they record you. I remember I hated it second year I was like, ‘Why do we have to do this and then Dal they don’t have to do any pass or fail assessments?’’ but it actually makes you learn it so much better because you’re not just memorizing it it’s instilled in your brain... you don’t have to do a full head to toe on every patient but if they have a chest tube you know how to  a lung assessment or if they have GI issue you know exactly how to do that assessment. Where at Dal I heard they only have to do it for like a week, we did a whole term of just head to toe assessment, which was a lot. But it was good.  

I also liked how our groups were very small. When we were doing our classroom work, it was a lot easier to talk to the profs. It was more 1 on 1 vs a whole lecture. If you didn’t understand something, they would stop and explain it. We couldn’t do that if we had 150 people in a room.  

What have you had to learn on the job? 

A lot of documentation, I think that’s the biggest thing. Any time a nurse switches hospitals, even if you’ve been there 20 years, you still need to orientate to that hospital. It’s different at every spot... [StFX] taught us a little bit of documentation, generalized, but it’s a really big thing in nursing, being able to chart.  

Has working directly in Nova Scotia’s health care system changed how you view or understand it? 

Yeah, I would say Nova Scotia is a little more chaotic when it comes to the healthcare system, we don't have very good policies and rules on things. In some places in the States they have rule that limits nurse’s to 4 patients, you’re not allowed more. Whereas here they don’t have that in the system, you can have 8 or 9 patients and lose your license for these reasons. If i have a bunch of patients and i need to do something for all of them all at the same time, the system doesn’t care, their like you didn’t do it, it could be neglect.  

Follow up: Is staff to patient ratios an issue at work? 

I think it’s biggestt issue in our healthcare system right now, staffing. Because we aren't able to do our care to the best of our abilities. Just the other day I only had 3 patients because I was charge nurse, and it was so easy to do my full assessment on each one, really look into their chart, what behind the scenes is going on, what could happen the next day, whereas if i have 7 patients I can’t check on them as often as I’d want to, I can’t go through their chart as much... [over-burdening nurses] could lead to neglect and potential risks for the patient... . If one person calls in sick it can screw up the whole floor. My unit has a full staff maybe 1 in every 5 times I’m there.  

What advice would you give current and future StFX nursing students?  

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A lot of times where I’ve seen people fail is they get confident or think it’s stupid that they’re asking a question. If you don’t ask the question, you’ll never know. Also, you got to find the happy medium between doing your work and taking a break for yourself and relaxing.  

Pucks for Purpose: More Than a Game

For its third year, small-town institution St. Francis Xavier University aims to have another successful season fueled by passion, drive, and commitment to giving back through a student-led non-profit. The Pucks for Purpose Classic is back, and bigger than ever. A rivalry hockey game between Business and Art & Science students will take place at the Keating Centre, with both teams competing in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd.

“Pucks for Purpose is about more than just a game. It unites our tight-knit community in support of our two incredible charities. At X, we love to have a good time, but we’re also all about supporting those around us. My favourite part about P4P is how it does exactly that. We’re able to come together, have a ton of fun, and make a huge impact within our community. For me, Pucks for Purpose has been the highlight of my time at X. I absolutely love how passionate each and every one involved is about the cause and the impact we’re creating together. Looking ahead to March, we’re super excited to once again pack the Keating Centre in a clash of the faculties, and see which side comes out on top”. - Kaleb Boats

Over the past two years, Pucks for Purpose (P4P) has raised more than $185,000 for two meaningful charities: the Canadian Cancer Society and Motionball for Special Olympics. In its first year in 2024, the event raised $55,000, bringing together the community, campus life and valued partners for a meaningful cause. The following year, the executive team set out with a clear mission, bigger and better. In 2025, St. Francis Xavier University became the first Canadian university to introduce a women’s charity hockey game. P4P more than doubled its initial total, raising an impressive $130,000.

“Being a player on Women’s Business has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my athletic career and my time at StFX. Not only does the women’s game do wonders for the female athletes that step on the ice to an arena full of their classmates cheering them on, but it also shows young girls in the community that women’s sports are something to be celebrated. I decided to join the women’s business team because I’ve seen firsthand the impact sports can make in making someone feel welcomed and a part of a community, and Pucks for Purpose has done exactly that”. - Kate Parker

The teams have already begun practicing and preparing for a game you won’t want to miss. The full roster for the women’s and men’s teams from both Business and Art-Sci have been selected to represent their faculties. The women will lace up their skates on March 18th, with the men following on March 20th.

The Men’s Business and Women’s Art-Science teams look to defend their championship titles from last year, while their opponents aim to dethrone the 2025 champions in an event that has already sold over 2,000 tickets.

Third Spaces on Campus: Snow Day Special

University campuses are communities within communities, the spaces within them serving a variety of purposes. Spaces to work, study, live, learn, socialize, and more. When you live on campus, it can feel like your entire world exists within the bounds of the university. When you live off campus, it can feel like you spend more time at school than you do at home. What happens when those spaces are unexpectedly closed?  

 Winter in the Maritimes can be difficult. The short days play with emotions, the cold weather can make anyone miserable, and the snow is a nightmare to trek through. Going to school here comes with the expectation that there will be missed classes because of the weather. Although typically having the email that the university will be closed is the highlight of anyone’s day, it also has its drawbacks. With the winter weather and the additional school closure, students are stuck at home. For those living on campus, this means stuck in their residence buildings. Stuck with their roommates or remaining in isolation. For certain residence buildings, this leads to a higher rate of damages and drinking. For others, it can mean students who are already struggling with their mental health spend more time inside and alone. Some are frustrated that they don’t have anywhere to study.  

As the only spaces that remain open during a complete university closure are Morrison Hall and Starbucks, students are limited when it comes to a space outside of their residence building. This can also put a strain on those working in residence and those living off campus. Working and living in residence can be difficult – especially with multiple snow days – as the students you’re looking after may need someone to talk to more than usual or may be busier and louder. Community Advisor and X-Patrol Lead Mia Reich explained that “it can be hard as a CA to relax and get any work done [on snow days] when I’m stuck in residence. It feels like I’m constantly working, and although I love my residents so much, it can start to feel like I can’t take a break or focus on anything else when I’m in the building.”  

Students living off campus can also find it hard to focus. It can be just as frustrating to have a campus closure when you have a strong divide between “home” and “school”. Students who aren’t used to working from home, who have loud roommates, who can only focus under specific circumstances, who also deal with the struggles isolation brings also have a hard time when the university is fully closed.  

StFX is never truly closed. There are still people working who have to be physically on campus during the snow days. Safety and Security is one of them. As long as there are two members of Security who can make it to campus, Security is working. If Security is working, then, why can’t StFX have a couple of their academic buildings open? Students would have a third space to study – and yes, socialize – that is outside of residence. This would reduce the strain and additional expectations placed on CA’s on snow days and would help many students tremendously.  

Most students just want a space to get out of their house, mainly to get some work and studying done. Additionally, how is having the main spaces of certain academic buildings open different than a regular school day? Keep the classrooms locked, and students can work in the main areas and hallways, like those in Mulroney Hall or the Nasso Family Science Centre. Students should be able to access these spaces when the university is closed. Mia, who works in MacIsaac Hall, believes that most students would benefit from more spaces being open: “When we have snow days, most of the kids see that as an excuse to get drunk and drink. But a lot of the other students would rather take that opportunity to study. And because we have all of these students who decide to use it as a day to party, those students who do just want to study don't really have a place to go. Because it’s loud, it's obnoxious. You know, it's MacIsaac. So having another space for them would be really, really good.” 

EverWind: Fueling Nova Scotia’s Clean Energy Debate

It isn’t news that the global transition away from fossil fuels is becoming a topic of increasing urgency. The Canadian government has supported various industries that produce renewable energy over recent years including green hydrogen and ammonia, which can be produced using renewable energy to create a carbon-free fuel. Yet as good as it sounds, the process is far from black and white in terms of economic and environmental benefits. As a recent event at StFX helped demonstrate, one company’s vision is the topic  of an ongoing debate. 

EverWind Fuels is an American-owned company that is developing wind farms across Nova Scotia to power a facility in Point Tupper, Richmond County, which will produce green ammonium to export to Germany. Germany is currently investing heavily in green hydrogen and ammonia and has established a partnership with Canada to support major exports from Atlantic Canada. The project is currently in Phase 1 of 2, including construction of four windfarms and the ammonia facility, with operations aimed to begin in 2028.  

On January 22, the StFX German Society hosted a presentation on campus where executives from EverWind were invited to present the project to students and members of the community. The event was organized by Allie Fennell and Lucy Henkel, co-presidents of StFX’s Germany Society, with the aim of giving students an opportunity to engage with a project of both local and international significance. Yet Marlis Lade, StFX’s German program coordinator, received numerous complaints about the event beforehand, regarding the consequences of EverWind’s projects for Nova Scotians and the province’s natural spaces. Fennell and Henkel recognized the importance of involving these voices, and pushed for the inclusion of a Q&A period at the end of the evening, asking students in German course labs to submit questions beforehand. 

Green Nova Scotia First (GNSF) is one local group that has been voicing opposition to EverWind’s projects, urging the province to focus on a complete transition to renewable energy before considering export to other countries. Jason Hurst, a member of GNSF who attended the event, explained the group's primary grievances with the project. One of their principal concerns is that energy is lost during the process of converting wind energy into ammonia and shipping it overseas. They argue that this energy could be used more efficiently to power, and thus directly benefit, communities in Nova Scotia. 

Jeff Bonazza, Director of Permitting at EverWind and a 2010 StFX biology graduate, presented at the StFX event. “Even though there are some efficiencies, which we would acknowledge,” he said, “it’s replacing ammonia that is currently being generated by the use of fossil fuels, so we see it as still having a net benefit.” He went on to explain that the Phase 1 projects, which are connected to the provincial grid, can still be used to provide energy to Nova Scotians: “At periods of high [energy] demand, we can curtail production of green hydrogen/ammonia and it can go to users from the grid.” As Claire Parsons, EverWind’s Director of Communications, described, the wind generation will “strengthen the grid, improve reliability, and create flexibility that does not exist today.” 

However, GNSF remains critical of the amount of energy this project would actually provide  Nova Scotians. “[EverWind has] bought three projects that were destined for the grid and they’ll be using those for Phase 1,” said Jason, “but what’s really most concerning is their Phase 2 projects, which are entirely located in Guysborough… [They’re] not going to be tied to the grid at all.” The Phase 2 projects will be directly connected to the Point Tupper ammonia production facility via an independent transmission line, meaning that energy produced from these farms will not directly benefit Nova Scotians. 

 In terms of economic stimulus, Hurst recognized that Everwind’s projects will bring jobs to communities in Nova Scotia, but has also stated that “that benefit doesn’t offset the net negatives.” Bonazza, however, spoke to benefits aside from employment opportunities: “for municipalities… in proximity to the wind projects, there are community vibrancy funds, proximity payments, bursaries…and ultimately big investment dollars that are spent in rural Nova Scotia.” EverWind will additionally be carrying out wind farm development in partnership with several Mi’kmaq communities, including Memertou First Nation, which owns 51% of the wind farm project in Upper Afton. 

GNSF is additionally concerned with the environmental impacts of wind farm development. While one wind farm might have a minimal ecological footprint, the cumulative effect of over half a dozen spread across the province could have an unforeseen toll on wildlife corridors, recreational land use, and biodiversity, especially as these windfarms will be larger and more dense than others previously established in the province. “Obviously,” said Hurst, “the more dense that turbine project is, the worse it is for the environment.” 

In terms of the environmental impact of establishing wind farms, Bonazza explained that “there is a lot that goes into the siting to reduce environmental impact,” including measures to abide by the province's wetland policy and environmental assessment process. GNSF, however, still has qualms. “It’s very corporate-friendly, and it’s very one-sided,” Hurst said of the environmental assessment process. While companies can take years to conduct research and compile the necessary documents, once submitted to the Nova Scotia government there is only a short window of time before projects can be rejected or approved, which GNSF is concerned can lead to rushed decision-making. Despite this, the Point Tupper project is, as Parsons stated, in compliance with the EU’s standards for renewable fuels, "reinforcing EverWind’s commitment to delivering green fuels that align with modern international standards.” 

Ultimately, the Point Tupper project has ignited heated debates around the province, revealing an underlying complexity to what upon first glance may appear to be an unimpeachable business venture. As Parson stated, EverWind is confident that Nova Scotia “can reduce emissions at home while also building a new clean export industry that helps displace fossil fuels globally,” but many groups remain strongly opposed. While both EverWind and groups like Green Nova Scotia First may ultimately support a clean energy transition, conversations about what that transition should look like and who will benefit are continuing to unfold. Evidently, events like the panel hosted at StFX are valuable opportunities for disagreeing parties to engage with one another, and ongoing dialogue will be essential to ensure that all voices continue to be fairly represented.  “I think the controversy made the event more important,” Fennell noted. “It’s really good to see the community really critically thinking and engaging with it.” 

10 Things I Have Learned from my First Month Abroad

Time is a funny concept. A year ago, I sent in my application for my semester abroad. 4 months ago, I received my acceptance letter from the University of Exeter confirming I was enrolled as an international exchange student for the 2026 winter term. Nearly a month and a half ago was the last time I saw my friends, and a month ago my mother and I exchanged tears and hugs in the Halifax Airport. Yet suddenly, in a single breath, a month in England has passed. It is surreal to think about how quickly time passes, and how suddenly over a year’s worth of planning, appointments, payments, and emails have catapulted me into complete unfamiliarity. This month has been challenging, scary, chaotic, incredible, and full of lessons. And what better way to commemorate my month abroad than by reflecting on ten things I have learned from my time thus far.

1)    The first step of doing things alone is often the hardest. Getting on that plane was the scariest and most exhilarating thing I have done in a long time. A few tears were shed as I watched the familiar ground of Canada recede to a tiny pinprick, and I pictured what my family and friends were doing in the exact moment I was flying 4000kms away from them for the next 5 months. It seemed impossible to picture a life without them by my side, and even more so to imagine how I would find my way in a country in which I was utterly, completely alone. Yet pushing through those tears was the best thing I could have ever done for myself.

2)    Sadness and loss are allowed to exist within gratitude. I have traveled around England, met so many interesting people, and am planning weeks of vacations around Europe during the spring. I have so much to feel grateful for, and I feel this gratitude every day. Yet the emotional whirlwind of this exchange has been like nothing I have ever felt before. After days of emotional highs come hard lows and periods of extreme heartache. I miss my friends and my family dearly, and it can be extremely difficult to follow their lives in Antigonish without feeling the immense pain of my separation. Yet this emotional challenge has taught me so much about myself and my social and emotional needs. I have grown so much within this short period of time, and it feels rewarding to note these changes.

3)    Do not wish the time away. The first few weeks were long and difficult. I spent many hours navigating a new social world while missing my former life dearly. I found myself wishing that the weeks would move a little quicker and I was looking forward to my reunion with my loved ones. And suddenly I blinked, and a month had passed. It is terrifying to think about how quickly time moves, and how one day I will wake up and look back on this time nostalgically. Truthfully, it is scary to consider how soon this will all be over. This tug-o-war of time has forced me to slow down and enjoy every second out here, even the days spent doing nothing but schoolwork. Time will pass whether I want it to or not.

4)    Winter in England gets old really fast. During my first few weeks, I was on cloud nine. Winter in January was ten degrees and green, something I had never experienced before. And then the rain came. Every. Day. For a month. Since I have been here, the sun has been out a grand total of five times – most days are a mess of grey skies and a combination of aggressive mist and light rain that has been surprisingly debilitating to daily life. I know you’re rolling your eyes at me, Antigonish, with your snow days and freezing cold temperatures. But I would take a snowy Canadian winter any day (think of all the activities you can do!) over the dreariness of an English grey sky.

5)    How to say yes to more things. Being in an entirely new environment has forced me out of my comfort zone way more than anything at home. The first two weeks were crammed full of social activities for international students, many I would likely not have signed up for were they hosted at StFX. Yet it was by saying yes to more things that I met the  incredible people I am so lucky to call my friends. Two Canadians, three New-Zealanders, many Australians, two Americans, and one Ukrainian, amongst others. It has been wonderful getting to know so many people from all parts of the world, and having people who understand the rollercoaster of being an international student helps create a home away from home.

6)    Friends come in many different forms, and that’s okay. In the weeks prior to my departure, I was worried about making friendships that would feel like those I treasure most. What if I didn’t find people with whom I would feel at home? And to be honest, I didn’t. But I learned that not every friendship needs to feel like the ones you have with your best friends. The friend group we have created here is founded on common interests, a love of travel, and our shared experience of being international students – and it’s been a beautiful thing to watch bloom. It has also challenged me to put in more work into my friendships, forcing me to stimulate conversation and learn what it takes to grow friendships. You can’t have a village without being a villager, and there is no better way to learn this lesson than by starting the village yourself.  

7)    British people love the Canadian accent. It seems silly, but they really do. Students and friends are constantly commenting on my accent and telling me how much they love Canada or things from Canada (Heated Rivalry has been a topic of much discussion). Being in England is a great way to build up your patriotism, in case you were wondering.

8)    Embrace opportunities as they come. Last minute day trips to nearby towns, booking spontaneous flights during “cheap season” (see you soon Copenhagen!!), and saying yes to the little voice in your head that knows you would enjoy something. I have become much more comfortable with spontaneity and have even come to love its unpredictability, so much so that, contrary to my initial plan, I have joined the soccer team in Exeter and have fallen back in love with a sport I thought would never feel the same. When the familiar is scraped away, it leaves room for opportunities I would have only dreamed of in the past. Because when else am I going to be in my 20s in England?

9)    How much I love poutine. Seriously. I crave it every day. If there is one food or item I miss from Canada, it’s poutine. I would do just about anything for that mess of fries, gravy, and cheese. First stop once I’m back in Antigonish: Mezza’s chicken shawarma poutine and my best friends’ couch.

10)  That above all, this experience will mark one of the dearest times in my life. There are difficult days, sure. There have been and will continue to be moments of stress, of sadness, of fear. Yet at the core of this experience lives an unimaginable gratitude and a feeling of living out something that has been a dream of mine for quite some time. It’s a very acute feeling of creating memories and knowing in those exact moments that these memories are ones I will look back fondly on for the rest of my life. This is what I will take away from these few months, and it is what I will miss the most about my time here when it is all over.

Safe Sex, Healthy Relationships, and Bridging the Gaps: Sexual Health Awareness Week at StFX

On Monday February 9th, 2026, the StFX community was invited to take part in Sexual Health Awareness Week. This consisted of engaging and educational events and activities to bring awareness to sexual health and wellness, and the importance of being educated and informed.  

Sexual Health Awareness Week was organized and facilitated by StFX’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response team, alongside Visible at X, a student run support service for the community which provides education on sexual health and sexual violence prevention. 

In an interview with 5th year student and Visible at X peer educator, Emmy Stewart, she spoke about the goal behind Sexual Awareness Week. “The overall goal is to promote safe sex among students. We have done a couple trivia and outreach events on campus, just like ‘hey, here’s where you can go to get STI tested on campus’, or bringing free condoms to campus.”  

The first day of Sexual Health Awareness welcomed everyone to attend a trivia night at Oak Manor, as a fun and engaging way to inform attendees on healthy relationships and STI awareness. Residence outreach also ran from Monday to Wednesday, where the peer educators for Visible at X appeared at each StFX residence to provide helpful resources for students, alongside interactive trivia with prizes. 

Emmy discussed more details regarding residence outreach, explaining, “We usually just set up a table in the evening, and we try and actually time it with when people would be coming back from meal hall for dinner, so that they’re kind of forced to pass us, and there’s different approaches we’ll take. We have one of those wheels we spin, and we’ll usually have candy and condoms and say ‘Hey, want to answer a trivia question?’” 

“When chatting with them we usually have resource pamphlets and stuff. It’s more just ‘We’re here as a resource’ more than anything’’ says Emmy, “Whenever I’ve participated in the outreach, I’ve always had really awesome responses, like people being interested in the trivia questions and the facts we have for them.”  

She continued, “It’s about safe sex but we also have a focus on healthy relationships. So unfortunately, it’s cancelled cause of the snow day, but tonight we were doing an event called ‘Love Me, Love Me Not,’ and we basically do discussions about healthy versus unhealthy relationship behaviors. So that’s the main focus of this week, promoting safe and healthy intimacy and relationships.”  

The event which Emmy is referring to was scheduled for Thursday evening of Sexual Health Awareness Week but was cancelled due to the poor weather conditions. The event was to take place in the Bloomfield HUB and was promoted on the Visible at X Instagram page in a post stating “Let’s stop relying on flower petals—learn how to spot healthy and unhealthy relationship signs to help blossom your connections.”  

When asked about the importance of being informed about sexual health, Emmy replied, “I mean obviously we don’t want STIs running around campus. Also in such a small community, it’s really hard to talk about these things because everybody knows everybody, we’re all into each other's business all the time, so a lot of things kind of get swept under the rug, because no one wants to talk about it. I’ll tell somebody, and they’ll tell somebody, and within those two interactions it’ll get back to who you’re talking about. It can be really inhibitive to be forthcoming with information, so it’s really important that people know about the resources available to them, and are able to spot these behaviors, not just within themselves but also with their friends too.”  

In response to a question regarding the turnout at these events, Emmy said, “We usually have really good turnout, especially with the res outreach stuff, it’s not like people are attending an event, they're just swinging by our table, and if we frame it to people as a competition between residences that really amps people up, so I would say depending on the size of the residence, we could have up to a hundred people come by in a night which is really nice. And the HUB has their regulars come by, which is usually another twenty to thirty people. It all depends which audience we’re targeting.”  

When it comes to focusing on specific audiences, Friday evening’s event, ‘Love Across Borders’, was aimed primarily at international students, though it remained open to all. Hosted by StFX Sexual Violence Prevention Education Coordinator, Gowry Kaliyiluvila Rajesh, the event took place in the fourth-floor DEC Lounge in Bloomfield. In an Instagram post, it was described as “Dating, culture, connection & conversations! Exploring love from around the world.”  

Emmy gave an overview of the event, explaining how “It’s designed for international students. I think it’s really cool. She’s doing an educational workshop with international students, discussing commonly used phrases and stuff people use here to talk about relationships, dating, and hooking up, so that they understand, like if English isn’t your first language you know what you’re agreeing to. It’s talking about things that might not mean the same thing to everybody, so people can be more aware and equipped to navigate relationship terminology.”  

In response to being asked about potential gaps in sexual health education on campus, Emmy said “Absolutely, and I’ll be the first person to admit that I love what we do, I love the events we do and the initiatives we take, but a lot of the time the people that are showing up and getting involved with them are the kind of people who were gung-ho for this already. The people who need this information the most are rarely the people choosing to attend our events.”  

She continued, “I do think that addressing those gaps in trying to host events that are fun and interesting, and not necessarily all about our messaging and more like slipping it in there, but there’s only so much you can do if people aren’t eager to learn and listen.”  

“I think that a lot more people who have a lot of power should use that power to promote what we do. For example, people who are high up in athletics. Yes, athletes have to take the training, but I don’t think there’s enough coaches and staff telling them how important it is that they give a shit.” The training Emmy is referencing is the Waves of Change modules, which are mandatory educational workshops for StFX athletes, and focus on sexual health and sexual violence prevention on campus.  

She continued, stating “Yes, they do show up, but once they leave the session, there’s nobody keeping up and reminding them to do the things we talk about in our training. I’m not asking people to put in a lot of time and effort and show up to every event we throw, but having more people be supportive and recognize the importance of what we do would make a real difference and I think we’d see a real attitude shift.”  

Outside of Sexual Health Awareness Week, Visible at X hosts a variety of other events and workshops throughout the academic year. Emmy described these efforts, saying “We run events, do social media content, and outreach programs and advocacy. A lot of prevention work for sexual violence, but we also do consent awareness and safe sex awareness, healthy relationship stuff, and a lot of promoting the resources we have on campus. A lot of people who unfortunately experienced sexual violence don’t know where to go or what to do.”  

Sexual Health Awareness Week at StFX welcomed all students to attend a variety of engaging and informative events. The efforts organized by the Visible at X team, including peer educators like Emmy, demonstrated the importance of sexual health education, as it promoted student well-being both individually and within their relationships. 

The Xaverian Weekly News Recap: Major Headlines from Canada and the World

Local 

February 7: Elizabeth Spehar, who works as the Assistant Secretary-General Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office at the United Nations, gave a lecture called ‘’The Future of Multilateralism for Peacebuilding’’ at the Coady Institute.  

February 7: X-Women Caroline Ash breaks StFX record in 1000m with time of 2:46.45, beating the previous record by two minutes. Ash also won the SMU Open 600m event. The X-Women and X-Men had a successful weekend, winning the Women’s 600m, 1000m, 1500m and 3000 m and the Men’s 1000m and 1500m.  

February 7: X-Men Hockey beat Moncton 3-2 in shootout. Goaltender Patrick Leaver won the Gabriel Pizza Player of the Game.  

Canada 

Feburary 6: Canada officially opened a consulate in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk.  The new office in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, will assist Canadian citizens in Greenland with Visa and other government services as well as promote Canadian interests abroad. The Canadian government under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had announced the plan back in 2024. The consulate opens amidst over a year of increasingly aggressive threats by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at Greenland and Canada.  

February 5: Mark Carney announced a repeal of the Trudeau-era Electric Vehicle Mandate, which would’ve required all new cars sold in Canada by 2036 be electric. In place will be financial incentives for electric or hybrid cars and tighter emission standards on other automobiles.  

International 

February 9: At the start of Day 3 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Canada is currently tied for 7th place in the medal tally with two bronze medals by Valérie Maltais in Women’s 3000m speedskating and Megan Oldham in Women’s freeski slopestyle. Host nation Italy currently leads with 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 6 Bronze medals. Norway and Switzerland both have 3 Gold Medals.  

Italian protestors have drawn international media attention in Milan where they clashed. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has just opened a terrorism investigation into a series of rail lines were damaged in northern Italy, extending travel time on passenger trains in the area around the Olympics.   

Feb 8: Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, was re-elected with a two thirds super majority in Japan’s parliament. Takaichi, who will govern Japan until 2028, has been keen to take steps towards boosting the country's military.  This could be a break in the decades of Japanese demilitarization since WW2.  

Feb 9: Ghislaine Maxwell pleaded the 5th before a Congressional oversight committee concerning the Epstein Files. Maxwell is already in prison for her role in Epstein’s sex crimes but was moved to a lower security prison by the Trump administration in August 2025. Her lawyer said Maxwell “is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump.” 

Millions of files concerning Jeffrey Epstein were released last week, demonstrating close ties between Epstein and other rich and influential men like Elon Musk, Noam Chomsky, Peter Thiel, Bill Gates and many more.  

Super Bowl LX According to StFX Students

The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX in San Francisco against the New England Patriots 29-13 on February 8. The Patriots weren’t able to score a single point for the first three quarters of the game, coming back a bit in the 4th with two touchdowns but never quite being able to make it a close game.  Kate Macmillan, a third-year Human Kinetics major, found it to be a pretty “boring game” due to the lack of offense. While Sophie Kydd, a fourth-year honours psych student, was “sad” the Patriots lost. Second-year Human Kinetics student Marcy Ives “enjoyed seeing Drake Maye get sacked multiple times”, breaking the NFL postseason record. Harry, an anonymous StFX student, won one of three bets, which earned him just over $60 in profit.  “Only one team played well’’ says Harry. “[Patriots Quarterback] Drake Maye showed himself and the world how not to play in a Super Bowl.” 

Bad Bunny’s halftime performance came a week after his album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, became the first album in Spanish to win the Grammy for Album of the Year. The performance included many symbols and non-sequitur details that showcase Puerto Rican culture and history. Towards the end of performance, Bad Bunny said ‘’God Bless America’’ then proceeded to list every country on the American continent, from Chile to Canada.  

Grace MacNeil, a 4th year psychology student, “got up and danced” during the halftime show, calling Bad Bunny’s performance “electric”. Ryan Hippern, a second-year business student, says he “loves” Bad Bunny’s music as well as the “powerful” message he was sending. 

Kate, on the other hand, wasn’t a big fan of the halftime show, because “I’ve never listened to his music, so I didn’t know the songs.”  Miguel Bowles, a 2nd year Forensic Psych student, also noted that his unfamiliarity with the music made his experience “duller” but he appreciated the “deeper message than what originally meets the eye’’ as well as the visuals.  

Marcy said “even though I don’t speak Spanish I loved his performance. From the music, the dancing and bringing out Lady Gage and other big names, but I especially liked the message behind it... Bad Bunny isn’t just one of the biggest faces in the music industry, he represents our identity and that love is stronger than hate.” She argued that controversy around Bad Bunny only singing in Spanish doesn’t make sense “when in the 90’s they were listening to Macarena, Gasoline in the 2000s and Gagnam Style in the 2010’s.” Despite liking the halftime show, Marcy says “no one will ever top my queen Rihanna.” 

Campus Accessibility During Winter

Have you noticed how much snow is underneath your feet during winter on campus? In a climate like ours, snowfall and storms are an inevitable part of student and faculty life on campus. And while during a storm plowing is difficult to navigate, once the sky is clear there is an assumption that streets and sidewalks will be too.  

However, many students and staff have noticed a less-than effort by StFX to clear the walkways and paths of snow by the time that campus opens after a storm. Roads and parking lots are decently plowed and salted, but sidewalks remain hard to navigate, with dense, packed snow more present than solid ground. Not only is this difficult for able-bodied individuals, but it is also especially difficult for anyone walking on campus with physical disabilities and mobility aids. For this article, I sat down with two disabled StFX students, August Duquette and Ash Jolly, to discuss the current state of accessibility on campus.  

Ash Jolly uses a wheelchair and crutches as mobility aids to maneuver around campus and revealed to me that he has been having issues getting around. On the first major storm day that Antigonish experienced, they were completely unable to leave their dorm due to the condition of the ramp outside MSB. While there were no classes, Ash pays for a meal plan, and due to the snow on ramps and sidewalks, he had to order food from elsewhere to eat that day. This has been a problem since the break, and during the month of January they have paid over $200 for food and missed 5 classes due to improper walking conditions.  

Ash has contacted Facilities Management several times about plowing and salting the ramps and sidewalks, and despite reassurance that they will be able to get around freely on campus there has been little done. He remarked that even when ramps and sidewalks are plowed, oftentimes there is still a layer of snow underneath people’s feet, creating divots and bumps that make it hard to navigate while on wheels or crutches.  

Similar feelings and experiences were shared in my interview with August, who has CMT-1, which mainly affects their balance. This means that stairs with no accessible handrails, and any walkways that have packed snow or bumpy terrain are inaccessible for them. Over the past month, August has been unable to easily walk from their residence to various classes, having to outright miss a class in the Coady Institute due to a lack of plowing and salting on the sidewalks/stairs. They have also experienced several days both this and last semester where they had to pay for food with Morrison Hall being inaccessible.  

August also brought up in their interview the lack of support that physically disabled students have from StFX as a whole. The only service available to contact for campus accessibility issues is Facilities Management, with the other alternative being the Tramble Center whose focus is on academic support. And while contacting Facilities Management should be enough, their responses to both interviewees have been lackluster. They also pointed me to the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act, which states that to have an accessible path snow, water, and ice must all be cleared, with no bumps or slippery surfaces. As StFX has clearly stated they attempt to follow these standards, it is disheartening to see the lack of effort put in to maintain them.  

What many students and staff have witnessed over the past few weeks is that the plowing and salting of roads and parking lots seems to take far more precedence than clearing our walkways, ramps, and stairs. And while both have importance, it’s hard to give StFX grace when you’ve been attempting to walk on packed snow for days while the roads are clear. So, the question remains: how much noise do we have to make for them to see this as an issue? And is it still an accessible campus with how little has been done for the disabled students making that noise? 

Res Life Staff on StFX's Party Culture

“Heavy drinking happens at universities across the board, but StFX is notorious.’’ This is from a MacLean’s article in 2018, the last time they ranked Canada’s top party schools. StFX was first, because if “partying was an endurance sport, St Francis Xavier would take the prize.’’

Quincie Grant, a third year Poli-Sci student and CA at MacIsaac, argues that “party culture should be understood through the style, scope and frequency of the partying.’’ This means recognizing that not all partying is the same. What makes the party then? Grant says, “parties attempt to live up to the expectations, and the expectations cause the parties.” A party on Friday night is built up and created in the conversations, plans, texts, and fit checks all week leading up to it. On a bigger scale, party culture at StFX is a socialization experiment that each student molds through interacting in it. When asked, Grant says he sees an “artificial switch’’, where students are influenced to adopt a party culture they may not otherwise participate in.

Elizabeth Yeo, Vice-President of Students, provided the Weekly with a written statement:

“We know that parties and social gatherings are part of university life, but they don’t define the StFX experience. Our focus is on supporting healthy peer culture — encouraging informed choices, harm reduction, and positive ways for students to connect, whether that’s through residence programming, Mocktail Nights, intramurals, or spending time at the Bloomfield Hub. We also work closely with community partners to support safer celebrations and shared responsibility between students, the University, and our neighbours’’

Savannah Pitman, a second-year student and Bishops Hall CA told me that the staffing issues the Xaverian has previously noted are improving. “They definitely upped the number [of CA’s] this year because of reputations of those buildings” said Pitman. CA’s have reported much less chaos this term than what is usually expected. Pitman said that when a CA sees that they are going to be working in Bishops Hall, for example, their first thought is often “Oh, I wonder what I’m going to deal with.” She later added that Bishops Hall has been “really good this term” and that “[she] wouldn’t say [that it’s] tame, but it’s manageable.” First semester of this term, Bishops Hall was fully staffed. This changed between semesters when one of the CA’s changed their residency; since then, damages have gone up. This could be because there aren’t enough CA’s to monitor the whole building. “There were 3 on weekends, now there’s 2” Pitman explained. These damages are paid for by the students in the residence, even the ones who have done nothing to cause the damages. But Pitman said that they are working to correct this issue and to get the damages under control. She also pointed out that a lot of the weekend parties are going across campus, to MacIsaac Hall.

In the Weekly’s conversation with Quincie Grant, he agreed with Pitman, saying that “during my first year Bishops was the party residence, but this year [unlike] last year and the year before, it’s MacIsaac Hall.” Grant made it clear that they are nonetheless “well staffed” and have “more than enough manpower” to manage the job of keeping things under control. Grant says that a full staff of CA’s at MacIsaac would be 11, and that they are currently at 10, but that “they do a good job filling the gaps [in staffing]”. While it’s evident that party culture is embedded here at StFX, Residence Life feels confident in it’s ability to manage it safely.

The Path Towards Belonging: StFX’s Religious Inclusion Action Plan

On January 2nd, 2026, members of the StFX community were invited via email to participate in consultations, in which one could share personal perspectives, experiences, and general feedback regarding religious, spiritual, and non-faith inclusion operates throughout campus. The consultation period ran from January 2nd to January 15th and was formative in adapting the recently drafted Religious Inclusion Action Plan.

The current draft plan is an extension of StFX’s Anti-Racism Action Plan from the President’s Action Committee on Anti-Racism (PACAR) which was released in April of 2023.

The Religious Inclusion Action Plan primarily aims to address and better understand where and how multi-faith inclusion can be achieved, while also remaining grounded in the Catholic heritage of the university.

In an interview with Elizabeth Yeo, the Vice President of Students and Chair of the Religious Inclusion Working Group (RIWG), she provided an overview as to what this new plan is striving to do.

“StFX is a public university with a Catholic heritage,” Elizabeth explains. “So, there was an interest in having the President’s Action Committee think on how we can extend the work we started around anti-Black racism and anti-Indigenous racism, to people who have a variety of religious and faith backgrounds, but also people who are more aligned to spiritual or philosophical world views. So, they don’t profess to a specific religion, but they are interested in being included.”

Elizabeth continues, expressing the impact of inclusion on community wellbeing. “In student services, we look at this work from both the perspective of inclusion, but also from the perspective of wellness. Our philosophy around health and wellness is that spiritual wellness is one of the dimensions of overall wellness. For example, there’s academic, mental, physical, there’s financial, and there’s spiritual [dimensions of wellness]. So, as we started down this pathway, that was the basis of what we wanted to do.”

The Religious Inclusion Action Plan is being operated and overseen by the RIWG, a subcommittee of PACAR. The group is composed of Elizabeth, the committee Chair, alongside several faculty members. There are also positions for both faculty and students which have yet to be filled.

“We had lots of conversations,” Elizabeth said. “The committee (PACAR) has been researching and looking at what needs to happen for a number of years now. Being able to put the consultation document out to show the work and what we’ve arrived at so far, is an exciting time. It shows a great deal of cohesion.”

The document being referenced can be found here, or is accessible through an email sent to all StFX community members on January 2nd. This document summarizes the action plan and organizes it into four main areas. These are:

1. Teaching, Learning, and Research Environment.

2. Working and Organizational Environment.

3. Living and Social Environment.

4. Community Environment.

In addition to the subcommittee, an external consultant, and former VP of Student Affairs at Mount Allison University, Anne Comfort, was enlisted to conduct the one-on-one consultations with community members.

“Students, faculty, staff, everyone was really invited to take a look at the work so far and advise us on the next steps. We really wanted that voice,” she stated. “The consultation opened January 2nd. It was open for a couple weeks and ended on January 15th,” she explained. “She (Anne) has expertise in terms of facilitation and inclusion. She was on campus for a few days in early January and offered a range of appointment times. Those were all filled”

As well, Anne offered online appointments and general input and feedback from the campus community up until the consultation period concluded on January 15th, which also received a significant turnout.

“I was really pleased with the response, and so was Anne,” said Elizabeth. She continued, “I think we had really good perspective from the whole range of views on the topic. It's gone well, and right now she’s reviewing all of that data, and getting ready to share and inform us with the next steps.”

When asked for any general statements regarding the Religious Inclusion Action Plan, Elizabeth responded, “StFX strives to be a community where everyone feels belonging, where inclusion is the norm, because we believe that is an essential part of the experience here. For StFX to truly be the kind of community we aspire to be, all voices and all perspectives need to be recognized, and free to participate to the fullness of their potential.”

As StFX hosts a diverse and multi-faith campus community, the Religious Inclusion Action Plan is another step toward fostering a campus environment that encompasses the religious, spiritual, and non-faith perspectives that shapes a diverse population where all can be properly embraced, recognized, and respected.

Turning Courage into Change: Brock McGillis presents at StFX Pride Event

On Friday, January 9th, 2026, the StFX campus community welcomed Brock McGillis—Canada’s first openly gay professional hockey player—as the Pride month keynote speaker. Now retired from professional hockey, McGillis has transitioned into a career in public speaking where he focuses on using personal courage to inspire meaningful social change.

McGillis opened his talk by reflecting on his childhood and early hockey career. Like many young athletes he spent entire weekends at the rink, with his parents dropping off meals between practices and games. While hockey shaped his identity, McGillis explained that he began to feel isolated as he realized he could not resonate with the big topic of conversations happening in the dressing room: girls. More significantly, he described the impact of casually used homophobic language in hockey culture, which made him feel “bad” and “wrong,” and as though he could not be himself while doing what he loved.

As his career progressed, McGillis said he felt increasing pressure to suppress not only his sexuality but also his personality, believing he had to conform to the stereotypical “hockey bro” image. This contributed to struggles with addiction, self-harm, and declining mental health. On the outside, it looked like he had an awesome life, “getting his friends into clubs VIP at sixteen, with owners coming up with trays of shots.” But on the inside, McGillis said he hated himself and felt trapped in a career path that was slowly unraveling. His lack of self-care eventually led to recurring season-ending injuries, further derailing his career.

After stepping away from professional hockey in Europe, McGillis returned to Canada and began a period of personal change. He went on his first date with a man, formed a close friendship with another openly gay man involved in the hockey world, and later experienced the devastating loss of that friend in a car accident, the only person he had come out to at the time. Following this loss, McGillis decided to come out to his family. He shared that his brother Corey’s response “Yeah? So? You’re Brock and I love you” was exactly what he needed.

Following his retirement, after being involved in professional hockey since 2001, McGillis moved back to Sudbury and began working in off-ice training and skill development with young hockey players. Although he believed he was keeping his sexuality private, he later learned that after a hockey mom attempted to set him up on a date, many of the athletes and parents already knew. This realization led McGillis to conduct what he called his own “sociological experiment”, observing how language and behavior functioned within hockey culture. He described a defining moment that occurred while he was away, when a younger athlete used the phrase “that’s so gay” in response to being assigned extra sprints by a substitute coach. An older player immediately intervened, saying, “We don’t say that here. Drop down and give me 50 push-ups.” According to McGillis, moments like this began to spread across teams and cities, demonstrating how small acts of accountability can lead to cultural change.

McGillis emphasized that everyone has the ability to use their influence and “make the world a bit better for everybody.” In 2016, after attending a Toronto Pride charity event, he partnered with a journalist to publicly come out. Following the article’s publication, McGillis received thousands of messages in support from people around the world, leading to public speaking events and eventually his own television series in the United States.

Reflecting on his journey, McGillis said the most important lesson he has learned is that “each and every one of us in this room has the ability to create a shift.” He added that these shifts create ripple effects that may never be fully visible but are often more powerful than expected.

McGillis concluded by outlining three ways individuals can help create change: humanizing others, being brave in using language that fosters inclusive environments, and breaking conformity. “What if we taught people, it was okay to use their voice?” he asked. “What if it was courageous? What if it was celebrated?” He ended the event by challenging attendees to bring their full selves into every room they occupy, reminding them that “the world deserves to see that.”

Priscilla Queen of the Highlands: A Show Students Won’t Be Forgetting Soon

Last night in the Bloomfield Mackay Room the “best drag show on the East Coast” came to our university. Put on by StFX Gender & Sexual Diversity Advising, it was a great end to our Pride Month here at StFX, and a show that gave students and our community audience an amazing experience. Though a drag show is often a feature of the Freshman Welcome Week, that was only a taste of what Priscilla presented. With local drag queens such as Cookie Cunningham and Briget von Snaps, this was an East Coast special that was unforgettable.  

For those who missed it, here’s a quick recap. With pink and colourful lights, a stage was set for some of the best drag queens on the East Coast. For those who have never been to a drag show before, you could say this was a type of show that would blow your socks off. With expertly performed lip-syncs, incredible dance acts, and comedy to fill in between sets, each drag queen showed up in style to make the night an experience for all those who went. It even featured some burlesque, which was a crowd favorite. 

The event was sponsored by some of our local business like the Tall and Small Café, as well as the Golden X Inn, and in the crowd, you could even find some of our U representative like the VP of Campus Affairs, Mack Murphy. When asked about her experience, she said it was “amazing and a truly safe space for all LGBTQIA+ folks. So much talent and so much love!” Mack couldn’t have summarized it better. The space was welcoming and felt like a truly special place for all those who performed and watched. As my close friend Sheriden Belair put it, “It was so much fun! It was so refreshing to see such good representation here at StFX. Can’t wait for the next show!” It was refreshing and inspiring to see events such as Priscilla here on campus. All in all, I agree with Sheridan: I can’t wait for the next show!  

Super Fire Athletics: Embracing the True Meaning of Sport

For many athletes, success begins and ends with the scoreboard. For Super Fire Athletics, it starts somewhere else entirely. Wins are rare, championships aren’t the goal, and yet their games draw attention for all the right reasons. Step into a gym or field where a Super Fire team is playing, and it quickly becomes clear that the game itself is only part of the story. Between the laughter, post-game interviews, and an organization proudly calling itself “the most serious, unserious team in the league,” Super Fire Athletics has built something that extends far beyond wins and losses.

One day in Mulroney Hall, Super Fire Athletics co-founder, Eric MacGillivary, came up with the idea to start a social media page for their team. Originally started as a joke to celebrate the team’s players, the account quickly gained a following. MacGillivary stated, “originally the account was just gonna be like 30 followers, for this small group of people having fun. It grew way bigger than we ever thought it would be, but people find it entertaining.” Their reach has even extended to faculty members, with some of the players’ professor attending their recent Super Hoopers game, staying not only for the game but also to participate in post-game interviews with the players. Since its inception in 2024, Super Fire Athletics has grown to include three teams: Super Strikers (soccer), Super Spikers (volleyball), and Super Hoopers (basketball), and has gained a following of over 250 people on Instagram. Co-founder Connor Samson expressed his appreciation for their followers, “ I don’t want to think too much of our organization, but the fact that there’s so many dedicated people that are there to support our group and have just as much fun with it, watching the games, as we do playing… it’s good that it just brings people in.”

While Super Fire Athletics may look unconventional from the outside, MacGillivary and Samson say that positivity and togetherness are at the core of everything they do.

“Well, we probably have one of the highest losing records all-time across all of our teams. But we always smile and we always keep it positive no matter what. Something I do is make inspirational videos to hype up the team. I mean it was just for fun at first, but people loved watching them, so I kept doing it. But it’s all about the spirit for us really. We lose so many games, but we still have fun after the game with the interviews and stuff.” – Eric MacGillivary

“I think its all about fun, and teamwork, and the sportsmanship. We’re a very tight-knit group, it’s always fun with the group of students that we have. We’re all very good friends. And like Eric was saying, to have that energy after the game. You could argue that more fun is had with the extra stuff that we do more than the game itself because we really have a good time with that … we just do our best, hope nobody gets hurt, and just have fun out there. That’s what its about.” – Connor Samson

They continued by discussing how their organization really tries to focus on teamwork and enjoying each other’s company while staying active. Their teams have adopted pre-game huddles, post-game interviews, and introduced player of the game recognitions to keep the experience fun and engaging for everyone involved.

This past March, the Super Strikers received the ‘Spirit Award’ from StFX intramurals which is given to the team who best embodies the values of sportsmanship, enthusiasm, and positivity in intramurals. It recognizes the Super Strikers ability to uplift the league with their encouragement and respect for all intramurals participants. MacGillivary says, “We didn’t win on the scoreboard, but we won in spirit, so we got to be [at the Awards banquet] and celebrate the rest of the teams. So that was a pretty proud moment”.

While sitting down with MacGillivary and Samson, both emphasized the impact intramurals have had on their lives as students. Samson described intramurals as a much-needed balance to the academic demands of university life, offering a mental reset and a chance to reconnect with friends outside the classroom: “it’s a good balance… a break from academics… it clears my mind and helps the academic side of things.” MacGillivary added, “I thought my grade twelve gym class was the last time I was ever going to play a sport … so the fact that intramurals is a thing at StFX is one of the greatest perks.”

In a time when many are overwhelmed by academic pressure, Super Fire Athletics continues to embrace the true meaning of sport, proving that success is not always found on the scoreboard, but rather in teamwork, friendship, and being just serious enough to have fun.