On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, Mount Saint Vincent University celebrated a new group of honourees who had recently been installed on the Riva Spatz Women's Wall of Honour.
The only one of its kind in Canada, the Riva Spatz Women's Wall of Honour (WWOH) at MSVU is a celebration of extraordinary women from all walks of life. The name of each honouree is engraved on a leaf on the wall as a lasting tribute to inspiring women who have made a difference across family, community, and profession. Today, the wall bears the names of approximately 600 women.
The whole installation is named in honour of lead donor Jim Spatz's late mother, Riva. As a young woman, Riva survived the Holocaust when she and her younger sister and brother were sent by their parents to join a partisan group and become resistance fighters against the Nazis.
Among this year's honourees were 14 women dedicated by the Sisters of Mercy Newfoundland, as well as cherished mothers, daughters, grandmothers, valued professors, researchers, staff, and alumnae. Donna Redmond Gates (an MSVU alumna and WWOH honouree) spoke of her devoted mom whom she honoured on the wall some time ago. When Donna and her sister turned 50 recently, their mom surprised them by adding their names to the wall.
As part of this unique tribute, honourees are also highlighted on the virtual Women's Wall of Honour, a platform which provides an opportunity for people from all over the world to join in the experience.
Each of the women celebrated on the WWOH is given a leaf pin to wear. Through the leaf pin, the wall and its importance can be carried with honourees. The pin unites a community of cherished women.
The WWOH is located just outside the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research at MSVU which, fittingly, is the only building on a Canadian university campus dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of women.
2024 Riva Spatz Women's Wall of Honour Honourees:
- Joan Marie Aylward
- Sister Kathrine Bellamy
- Olive Comeau Buffett
- Mary Craig
- Katherine Daley
- Edythe Davidson
- Sister Elizabeth Davis
- Lucy Dobbin
- Patricia Donnelly
- Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal
- Sister M. Bernard Gladney
- Anne Carew Hallisey
- Barbara Hawley
- Margaret Dora Henneberry
- Sister M. Fabian Hennebury
- Rosemary Heslin
- Rita Janes
- Sister M. Nolasco Mulcahy
- Laurie Anne O'Brien
- Sister M. Perpetua O'Callaghan
- Donna Redmond Gates
- Kelly Redmond Evans
- Irma Sophia Maria (Fry) Sauer
- Margaret Savage
