It was a celebratory day on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University as Dr. Mila Mulroney began her tenure as the 11th Chancellor of StFX. An honorary degree was also presented to the "Godfather of Canadian Hip-Hop" Mr. Wesley (Wes) Williams during Fall Convocation 2024, as nearly 250 graduates received diplomas and degrees, while faculty and staff were also recognized at the Charles V. Keating Centre.
Installation of 11th Chancellor
"This is an historic day for our university," StFX President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Andy Hakin said as he welcomed all to the ceremony.
It is with great pride that StFX welcomes this "remarkable and inspiring woman, a true friend of StFX."
Dr. Mulroney, he said, shares the same values of community, excellence and service to society that StFX does. "I'm honoured to welcome her as our next chancellor. We are deeply grateful she accepted this important leadership role."
Dr. Mulroney will bring a unique perspective to enrich our community and also to inspire it. She also has a special, unbreakable connection with StFX, through her late husband, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, StFX alumnus and Canada's 18th Prime Minister.
"He was a great Xaverian. His legacy of leadership, public service, and betterment of our country remains an inspiration. "We know you will strengthen the bonds of StFX and the larger world just as he did.
"We are excited to begin this new chapter with you."
"I am honoured that the President and Board of Governors confirmed and selected me as Chancellor," said Chancellor Mila Mulroney. "I would like to begin with paying tribute to my predecessor John Peacock for serving this university with distinction and to whom I have profound respect. I'm happy to call him a friend. John and his wife Adrienne have left an indelible mark on St. Francis Xavier University," said Chancellor Mulroney. "This is a fabulous institution and a much-loved institution of higher learning."
"I lived a very exciting life and sometimes a challenging one. I've probably seen a lot more than you give me credit for and more than I want to admit to so I'm so looking forward to being your chancellor," she added. "I spent a large part of my life listening to young people, learning from them and where their journeys take them," she added. One thing they love is attending university, like StFX, it is where they make lifelong friends and learn who they are and who they are going forward, she said. "Teamwork is dreamwork as the expression goes. I look forward to working with all of you."
"Brian and I had the good fortune to travel the world many times over and as far as we travelled we always found our way back to Nova Scotia, back to StFX to the people we love and to this place we hold dear. Thank you for this honour."
Kerry Prosper, StFX Elder in Residence, presented Chancellor Mulroney with a special blanket symbolizing the care she will take over StFX and its students. "Mila is a woman who saw many things in her life. Today we are honoured to have her as our Chancellor," said Mr. Prosper. Mr. Dennis Flood, Chair of the StFX Board of Governors, also offered kind words to Chancellor Mulroney recognizing her achievements and significant new role.
Video tributes were presented by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Senator Mary Coyle, Hon Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities of Canada and MP for Central Nova, as well as many other government officials. Congratulations also came from faculty, staff, and the Chancellor's sons Ben and Mark Mulroney.
Fall Convocation
StFX Chancellor Mila Mulroney opened Fall Convocation 2024 and conferred diplomas and degrees to nearly 250 graduates offering her congratulations. In an address to the graduates, Chancellor Mulroney spoke of her husband's efforts during apartheid in South Africa and how each graduate can stand up for injustices as well as how one ripple of hope can create change.
"Grads this is your day and the day of your families to celebrate your hard work," said Dr. Andy Hakin, StFX President and Vice-Chancellor. Education is a path you take on that great journey. Today's ceremony recognizes your growth. Step into the world with confidence and meaningful impact. "We need to help make change in our society, we need to do better," added Dr. Hakin who also thanked faculty and staff for supporting the graduate's efforts. "Xaverians have a superpower which is kindness and to use that kindness in all aspects of their lives. The university will always be here for you."
Known to many as Maestro Fresh Wes, he has been recognized for changing the course of music history in Canada. Dr. Wesley Williams was recognized for his outstanding career and his philanthropy. "It is an absolute thrill to be here at StFX. Nova Scotia means a lot to me," said Dr. Williams. While playing a role in Mr. D the name of the high school was Xavier Academy, Dr. Williams said jokingly "See how things happen."
Dr. Willaims gave an inspiring speech to graduates about continuing to follow their dreams regardless of pitfalls. "You students have fallen down and gotten back up to get to your destination. Once you reach your destination more is expected of you." He added, "My mom always wanted me to be a doctor so I guess I'm doing something right."
Faculty/Staff Awards
Dr. Laura Estill, a StFX English professor and Canada Research Chair in Digital Humanities, was recognized for being appointed to the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, an honour recognizing her outstanding work. The StFX Outreach Award was presented to Murray Gibson, a faculty member in the StFX Department of Art, who embodies the spirit of outreach and community engagement through his work with L'Arche Antigonish. The Outstanding Staff Teaching Award was given to Laura Reid in Human Nutrition.
Bios are below:
Honorary Degree Recipient Wesley (Wes) Williams
Born Wesley Williams in 1968 in Scarborough, ON, Maestro Fresh Wes, the "Godfather of Canadian Hip-Hop," has had a 40-year career that changed the course of music history in this country.
According to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Williams was inspired to begin rapping at age 11 after listening to his father's recording of "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang. By 15, he was performing under the name Melody MC. In 1988, he transformed himself into "Maestro Fresh Wes" (or "Maestro") and began recording and releasing independent demos with his manager Farley "Flex Fridal". One of those recordings was Let your Backbone Slide which went on to become one of the most successful and influential Canadian songs of all time. That year he became the first Canadian rapper to have a Billboard Top 40 hit. His debut album Symphony in Effect became the first Canadian hip-hop single to chart in the Top 40 and became the first Canadian rap album to receive platinum certification.
In 1990, Let your Backbone Slide was nominated for its first JUNO, a year in which there was no dedicated rap music category. The song was nominated under Best Dance Recording. Because of Maestro Fresh Wes, the JUNOS established the Best Rap Recording category and in 1991 Maestro made Canadian music history as the first person to receive the award.
Maestro went on to earn more JUNO award nominations, releasing five albums in the 1990s alone, promoting and featuring many up-and-coming hip-hop artists. In the 2000s he expanded his artistic endeavours into the world of acting. In 2009, he earned a Gemini Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work on the series The Line. He became a regular on the CBC comedy series Mr. D, playing a high school teacher, and hosted the hit reality show Race Against the Tide. He also co-authored, along with his wife Tamara Hendricks-Williams, a self-help memoir entitled Stick to Your Vision: How to Get Past the Hurdles & Haters to Get Where You Want to Be, along with a children's story titled Young Maestro Goes to School, which inspired two JUNO Award-nominated Albums in the Children's Album of the Year Category.
Nearly 35 years later, he is still making history as a Canadian icon. In 2019, he was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. In 2024, he became the first hip-hop/rap recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement. Considered to be Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, it recognizes artists who have inspired and enriched the cultural life of the country. In 2024, he became the first hip-hop artist inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Maestro has always given back to his community, supporting Sick Kids Hospital, Covenant House, the Special Olympics among other organizations. In 2020, Maestro became a Maritimer, moving to Saint John NB. He established the Maestro Fresh Wes scholarship at the Nova Scotia Community College to support Black youth interested in skilled trades. As he told CBC's David Common, "I don't think we have a shortage of rappers, but we definitely have a shortage of Black youth interested in learning skilled trades." He explained that after being able to build "the Black music community in Canada to some capacity" it is now time "to at least try to inspire young Black builders."
Murray Gibson
Outreach Award
Murray Gibson, a faculty member in the StFX Department of Art, embodies the spirit of outreach and community engagement through his work with L'Arche Antigonish. For 16 years now, Mr. Gibson has enriched the lives of intellectually disabled individuals at L'Arche Antigonish and has instilled in StFX students social responsibility, compassion, and lifelong commitment to community engagement. Starting in 2008, Mr. Gibson introduced Service Learning in his Weaving Studio class. He partnered students with L'Arche Antigonish members to work on joint weaving projects. For one hour per week, for six semesters, the StFX students and L'Arche members co-created art and learned from each other. Students who got to know L'Arche through his class went on to further volunteer work with L'Arche. Some became employees. Many continued commitments to non-profit organizations. Mr. Gibson's volunteer contributions to L'Arche, and through it, to the community at large, continued well after his students participated in Service Learning. He does most of L'Arche's graphic design, is hands-on with their art program, and helps with theater productions. His design of the annual L'Arche Art Calendar has raised money to support programming. His commitment enhances L'Arche's ability to educate the community about the needs and strengths of those who live with intellectual disability. The tapestry he created that hangs in the People's Place Library is an example. Mr. Gibson incorporated art from six L'Arche artists to create a unified piece that reminds how difference can work together to create something beautiful. L'Arche members and their families have attested to his impact, drawing the circle wider. A former student sums up the transformative experience, on the power of art to build bridges: "Murray's course was not just about teaching students the technicalities of weaving; it was about weaving connections between people, fostering inclusion, and building a more compassionate society." In September 2024, Mr. Gibson received a King Charles III Coronation Medal for his service as an artist to L'Arche.
Laura Reid
Outstanding Staff Teaching Award
Laura Reid joined StFX's Department of Human Nutrition as a dietetic educator in 2011 after a successful dietetics career in the New Brunswick health care system, as well as in her own private nutrition counseling practice. At StFX, she prepares students for professional careers in dietetics. This involves teaching at least three courses each year relating to dietetic practice and coordinating the Integrated Dietetic Internship Program (IDI), a competitive 42 week practicum program in which senior students and recent graduates complete three practica in clinical, management and community settings. Completion of this accredited program enables them to write the national entry-to-practice exam to become registered dietitians. This is a major draw for students and requires considerable coordination. Student and faculty nominators spoke of Ms. Reid's unfailing support of students and her professionalism. "Laura's commitment and dedication to the Integrated Dietetic Internship program at StFX is unmatched. She has the unique ability to guide and support not only interns, but future interns, and students of all years to succeed in their goals," one wrote. Ms. Reid's role begins when students enter year one as she ensures students take the required courses and fulfill necessary volunteer and practical requirements. She also prepares students who wish to pursue graduate internship programs elsewhere. In recent years, StFX students have achieved close to 100 per cent success rate in obtaining an internship or graduate program of choice. The success rate in the professional standards component of the national entry to practice exam is also notably high. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic presented ongoing challenges as placements were canceled at last minute, sites closed, services switched to online, travel impacted, and student roles often shifted to support pandemic priorities. Ms. Reid had to ensure students were ready. This required new ways of assessing student learning and creating innovative placements. Throughout, student feedback about her support has been stellar.
