Keeping Antigonish Green After St Patrick's Day

Following the St. Patrick’s day festivities, Cleanup Canada hosted a Post-Pats Cleanup. The event provided students an opportunity to help their community.  Cleanup Canada collaborated with ALPACA (the Antigonish League of People Advocating for Climate Action) and the Town of Antigonish donated trash bags and gloves. Despite the snowfall, students were able to get outdoors and pick up over 16 bags of trash and refundables left behind following St. Patrick’s day parties. 

StFX St. Patrick’s day parties are known for gathering large groups of students from StFX and other maritime universities. These events, however, usually leave behind large amounts of garbage — whether that be food wrappers or beverage containers. The cleanup event is trying to minimize litter from remaining on the Town’s streets and instead put it towards supporting the campus community.   

Cleanup Canada, founded by Cameron Preyra — a third-year Public Policy and Governance student — started as a personal project. He created an Instagram page to inspire others to “spend their free time picking up litter,” says Cameron.  Since then, however, the initiative has grown. Previously Cleanup Canada held a Post-HoCo, Post-Halloweekend and a Post-St. Patrick’s day cleanup. The Instagram page also provides a space for those to share progress of their own community cleanups. 

Following the 2025 Homecoming, the Xaverian Leaders’s and Frank McKenna Center’s hosted a cleanup, and in just two hours collected 173lbs of garbage. Cameron participated in this event and believes the Post-Pats Cleanup had the same goal in mind, “to cleanup and do right by our community.” 

In addition to the cleanup event, a bottle drive will be taking place Monday, Mach 16th at 4:00PM. The refundables collected from both the Post-Pats cleanup and bottle drive will be returned to a recycling depot. The money collected will go to supporting the StFX Philosophy Society.  

If students have refundables they would like to contribute to Cleanup Canada, they can message the Instagram page, and a volunteer will pick them up. Below is a link to the Cleanup Canada Instagram page, where you can get information, participate in future cleanups, and schedule a pickup for St. Patrick’s Day refundables.  

Link to Cleanup Canada: https://www.instagram.com/cleanup.canada/ 

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.” 

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.”

StFX Students Sportsbetting on NFL Sunday

“I wish that was two minutes later, now the odds just dropped,’’ says an anonymous Third Year Business student at StFX. Larry, a fake name, is about to make his second bet of the day at 3 in the afternoon. He already has a $20 bet that could win $265. Larry’s bet on the outcome of 6 different games: the  Ravens, the Bears, the Patriots, the Packers, the Chiefs, and the Eagles to win. This form of betting is called a parlay, which bundles different bets together to increase the payout. Yet now that the Kansas City Chiefs are losing, Larry is preparing to make a second one.  

“What play are you talking about?’’ I asked, confused. We’re watching NFL RedZone, a grid screen on the TV broadcasting 4 different games at the same time. Larry ignores mewanting to get his bet in before the odds change again. His new parlay is another $8 for $300 placed on the Baltimore Ravens to win by three points, and for three other teams to just win.  Larry admits to me that he would’ve bet more if he could. “I’m just running out of money, with university expense costs and all that, or I’d have way more parlays.’’ 

Larry makes his bets based “on the momentum I’m seeing in the game.’’ Even when Larry and Harry, also a fake name, take bong hits they stand by the open front door and blow smoke outside to keep watching the games because “the odds change live.’’ Since the Ravens “played so bad so their odds went up,” Larry believes he can make more by doubling down on it. “The advantages of live betting,” he says. 

In his life he estimates he’s bet between $5000 to $10 000 online gambling. Without saying how much, he admits overall he’s lost money. He usually bets on NFL or NBA games but has also wagered on cricket, ping pong, and E-Sports.  Larry draws a distinction between sports betting and other forms of online gambling, like slots or blackjack, because of the “there is some skill to it, where casinos all luck.’’  

“I’ve been banned from 2 [sportsbooks]. One for being underage and one for not obliging to their Responsible Gambling tools.” The most recent suspension is for Bet 365, which is the “best sportsbook in Nova Scotia.’’ He doesn’t believe he should’ve been banned; “I didn't think the quiz would ban me... I guess I should’ve thought if I said ‘Yes, I feel I’m addicted to gambling’ I would be.’’ 

He views gambling as “just a fun hobby, I don’t have that much of an emotional connection to losing.  Larry bets because he enjoys “the risk of it. Risk for reward.’’ He’s considered going to counselling for gambling addiction but knows he doesn’t “need it, personally.’’ 

 The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Dallas Cowboys, sinking both of Larry’s parlays. He tells me “Online gambling is a cancer in society right now, especially for young boys. And it’s marketed tremendously through sports and online influencers.’’ Celebrities from Wayne Gretzky, Jamie Foxx and Vanessa Hudgens have advertised sports betting platforms. He alleges online casinos pay online influencers to show fake or rare wins so “these big streamers, who are always winning money, can get their viewers to gamble.’’  

A report by Greo Evidence Insights, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, and Mental Health Research Canada, released on November 12, 2025, “Highlights how young people in Canada, aged 18 to 29, are at higher risk of suffering from high levels of gambling-related harms, including financial, emotional, psychological and relationship harms.’’ Close to a third (32%) reported gambling online. 23.5% of those who do reported experiencing a high level of gambling-related harms.  

Larry locks in his final bet of the day, $21 to win $212. It’s a five-way parlay on the three NBA and two NFL games. The NBA games went his way but the Arizona Cardinals lost by three points when he needed them to lose by two or less. Larry remains unbothered. It’s not a great day but he knows that anything he bets he could lose. I ask if he’ll bet again next Sunday.  “Of course,’’ he smiles, “love for the game.’’  

Harry’s had better luck than Larry on NFL Sunday. He only made one bet, $17 that won $82 on specific prop bets. Harry isn’t wagering on the winner or loser of the game: instead he’s betting on individual players and plays. He needed the Arizona Cardinals and the Jacksonville Jaguars to score a field goal, Arizona’s quarterback needed to complete 19 passes, and Jacksonville Jaguars’ running back Travis Etienne needed over 13 rush attempts and 33.5 yards. Jacksonville ended up beating Arizona in overtime 27-24.  

He made these bets because they seemed likely “based on what’s happened in earlier games.’’  

Winning “feels rewarding. I feel smart about my football knowledge. But honestly more relieved than anything else.’’ 

“Relieved?’’ I ask. 

“Relieved I didn’t lose the money, and the money covers some of what I spent over the weekend on food and sangria.’’ 

If you feel you have an issue gambling you can call Nova Scotia’s Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line at 1-888-429-8167 or reach out for counselling at Bloomfield.  

A Closer Look At Sexual Violence Policies at StFX – Residence Life and StFX Athletics

In 2019, an independent review was conducted of StFX’s sexual violence policy and was re-examined in 2023. The Watershed Report, as it is commonly known, gave 32 recommendations that StFX should consider implementing to support survivors and reduce the culture that perpetuates sexual violence. The Report was broken down into three areas that have the largest impacts on the culture of sexual violence on this campus: Athletics, Residence, and the Sexual Violence Policy itself.  

In writing this article, I interviewed several football players and current and former Community Advisors. They all wished to remain anonymous. All of the names used are fake. 

Community Advisors have been hired by the university to be the frontline support for first-year students. They are upper year students who live in residence and act as mentors, therapists, and emergency responders. Think back on your own first year – I’m willing to bet that you had at least one major event happen that has continued to impact your time at StFX. It happens to everyone, but most first years are particularly vulnerable compared to the rest of the student body. This is their first time living away from home, their first time having complete freedom. It doesn’t always lead to the best decisions, but it’s an important milestone and experience, which is why CAs are so important. CAs are the people who are there for students, who help you through your first year. You may not have known your CAs very well or you may have made a lasting relationship with them, but either way, they were there to offer help and support.  

Multiple recommendations in the Watershed Report focused on how more resources should be put in place to support CAs – including increasing staff and mental health supports. While these are positive and necessary changes, the Watershed Report is working under the assumption that every CA takes the position and performs it to the best of their ability and with the best intentions. This doesn’t always hold true.  

There may be people remembering stories of CAs who were not the positive influences they should have been. This article does not aim to circulate more gossip or target anyone in particular – but rather, I wish to highlight the fact that CA’s and their influence can be overlooked when discussing who on campus perpetrates sexual violence.  

Athletes don’t have the best reputation on this campus when it comes to sexual violence. There are plenty of stories – true or rumoured – that feature the sports teams. Even the Watershed Report pointed out that athletes are often “put on a pedestal” and have significant “social capital” which translates to a level of authority over other students. Athletes are prominent figures at StFX, meaning that if they do something wrong, everyone will know about it by the end of the week. While CA’s are not quite as prominent as the athletes, they are the largest group of student leaders on campus. Where StFX athletes have social power and influence, CA’s have legitimate authority over students.  

While the athletes and the athletics department at StFX are far from perfect, sexual violence is taken very seriously. There is a zero-tolerance policy for athletes, which extends beyond sexual violence, but it is a hard line. “In training camp, we have meetings with the athletic directors and coaches, and they go through all the policies. They tell us about the drug policy, about hazing, and most importantly, they harp on sexualized violence towards women and anyone on campus. They tell us how there’s a zero-tolerance policy and if there’s any reports of any athlete doing anything bad to anyone on campus, they will be off the team and there will be severe repercussions that will be dealt to them,” explained Jordan, a current member of the football team.  

“There’s a specific kind of focus on [sexualized violence] when they talk about the severity. They definitely want to get that point across, because we have [those meetings] and then we do further training, like Waves of Change, twice a year. You definitely can tell that they care,” added Shayne, who is also a current football player.  

This zero-tolerance policy extends beyond sexual violence. “Anything that can be seen as hurting someone else, off the field. Anything that can be seen as having a negative impact on someone else will be met with discipline,” Jordan said. While it isn’t a perfect solution, the players are held accountable and the standards for their behaviour are clearly laid out. They’re aware that their actions reflect not only on them, but their entire team, the athletics department, and the university.  

I’m not praising the athletics department or saying that athletes can’t cause harm. They can, they do, and they have. However, the assumption that a player is protected because they are an athlete isn’t always true. I’m also not saying that this has always been the case. What I am saying is that StFX Athletics has standards they hold their players to and a policy in place to ensure that there are consequences when those expectations are not met.  

StFX’s Department of Residence Life has no such policy on student employees. The Watershed Report recommended that StFX move away from having a zero-tolerance policy as, “the problem with expressing this valid commitment through a ‘zero tolerance’ statement is that the aspirational statement is impossible for the University to fulfill” as stated on page 50 of the Watershed Report. This means that currently, there is no additional policy on sexual violence for Residence Life staff. An interesting fact, when Residence Life deals with sexual violence internally, specifically in cases of allegations against employees.  

“I feel that Residence Life operates in a similar way that Athletics does, where there is a very strong image that they want to portray. And very similar to Athletics when allegations come out, they understand that one allegation will represent an entire team. Or an entire group of players. I feel like it's very similar in Residence Life. Very internal and within the department, very, like, they'll let you know that these are your resources if you do want to go outside to the department, but in the same way, very much discourage you from actually seeking those resources if you do need them,” Megan told me, when I asked about what happens when there is an investigation that involves a CA.  

“I think more often you hear of [CAs] being placed on probation, on paper or on a ‘leave’, but they stay exactly where they are. Most situations they stay in their room, they stay in the building, and they're not working, but they're still there,” explained Diane, another former CA who worked in Residence Life for two years.  

Which begs the question: why is there no policy for Residence Life staff, specifically CAs? If the expectations and standards are so clearly laid out by the athletics department, what is stopping Residence Life from doing the same? 

CAs are also not given clear guidelines for what boundaries they should have with their residents, beyond that it is “discouraged” from having romantic or sexual relationships with them. “I was always told that [relationships between CA’s and residents] were ‘frowned upon’, but there was never anything put in place in terms of a solid rule,” said Megan, a former CA who worked in Residence Life for almost three years. “It’s mostly left up to the individual teams, and even then, they’re not followed. Someone on one of the teams last year tried to veto the true love clause, but a situation still happened. Because it's not actually binding or anything like that,” Christine, a current CA, explained. The true love clause Christine is referring to is a clause that is typically placed in unofficial team agreements that says you can date a resident if it’s “true love”.  

“I think that a lot of times in training, they just talk about like a gray area, you know? Programming is easy to say, you have to run however many programs, you have to do this number of shifts, but for a gray area, it's very much just your prerogative. I don't want to say how much you care, but it’s how much you want to take on and how much you have the capacity to take on,” added Megan, talking about boundaries with residents in general. 

All of the CAs that I spoke to agreed that there is a clear power dynamic, even if the resident isn’t always aware of it. Christine informed me that, “I think there's also a lot of residents who don't see that position of power. There's a lot of residents right now who will come and chat with me and tell me, ‘You're really chill, I don't feel like you have that position of power over me. I know that you're there if I ever need to talk to you, but I don't feel like there's a power imbalance’. And I'm glad [the residents] don't think that, but I do. And that is something, as a CA, to be aware of, that just because they don't see it, doesn't mean that it's not there.”  

“As much as people hate to say it, especially in the first-year buildings, there is not a big difference between a high schooler and a first-year university student. It's a big transition period and students are already vulnerable. So, when we put people that are untrustworthy in a position of power and keep them there, when they have proven that they can't safely be in that position of power, or are there for the wrong reasons, it's extremely damaging. To an already vulnerable demographic,” commented Tracie, a former CA who worked in Residence Life for three years.  

In contrast, athletes are afraid of failing to meet the expectations placed on them because they know there will be consequences if they do. There are clear policies for them, and if they break the rules, they face being suspended or kicked off their team. “From what I know, if an accusation reaches the coaches, there will immediate effects. Either there is a suspension while the investigation happens, or you’re just kicked off. And not even suspended, it's an indefinite suspension,” Jordan explained. 

“What would happen is once the person gets suspended, they probably wouldn’t want to come back to the team where everyone knows that they probably did something horrible. Either way, you’re basically kicked off the team,” Shayne said about his experience on the football team so far.  

This focal point on Athletics helps point out that although the sports teams are usually brought up and criticized when it comes to sexual violence on campus, there are other groups of students in positions of power who don’t have the same checks and balances that the sports teams do.  

Ideally, there should be a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence within Residence Life. But if that is unrealistic, there should be some sort of policy, standards, or stricter expectations placed on CAs. “I think that, especially, too, if it's outlined more clearly, then if there is a breach, then we can fall back on the conduct book and it's not a gray area anymore. It can be ‘you can do this’, ‘you cannot do this’. Instead of using words like ‘frowned upon’. There should be no gray area, there should be no ‘frowned upon’,” answered Megan when I asked for her thoughts on whether Residence Life should have some sort of policy in place.  

“[Residence Life] only added the sections on ‘what to do if there’s a hurricane’, after the hurricane happened. So, what are they waiting for? Are they waiting for a massive situation to blow up so that they can go, ‘Oh, I guess we'll add a policy for sexual violence’? Is [Residence Life] waiting for something to make it out from under the rug that they've swept it under? If it’s in the handbook, then you can refer back to that handbook when something happens. Or put it in training, or both. [Residence Life] should set those standards of what you can and cannot do. And a lot of the time, not having those standards is used as an excuse when things go wrong,” says Tracie about a potential policy.  

Although Community Advisors aren’t the public figures that athletes are, they are in a position of power where they can do a lot of harm or a lot of good. A sexual violence policy to hold CAs accountable could reduce the risk of some of that harm. Either way, Residence Life lacking clear guidelines or a sexual violence policy seems like a gap that the Watershed Report didn’t recognize.