In December 2025, St. Mary’s University embarked on its largest and most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. The Building for Purpose campaign is a bold vision for the future of St. Mary’s University. This transformational campaign will reshape our campus through spaces that strengthen academic excellence and student life, expand access to a distinctive St. Mary’s education, and deepen our connection with the community.
Broken into two phases, phase one set out three priorities:
- Build the University’s first on-campus gymnasium and recreation facility.
- Establish our first on-campus residence.
- Expand access to education with $1.8M scholarship and bursary fund.
Our community believed in our vision for St. Mary’s, and in less than six months, we completed phase one—raising $19M, exceeding our $15M goal.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Martin and Groch families, St. Mary’s University will finally have a home for our athletes, residence facilities that will open our doors to students from across the country, and funding to reduce the financial barriers to higher education for those who need it.
Bringing the Lighting Home
Until now, our St. Mary’s Athletics—the Lightning—have practiced, trained, and competed at facilities across the city. This meant athletes spent valuable time traveling to games and practices. Soon, athletes will be able to walk across campus to the MARTINDOME and for the first time, our athletes and students can experience the true feeling of a home game.
When reflecting on why they decided to give, Joanne Martin attributed it to their love of sports and pride in their Catholic faith. Opening the MARTINDOME to the public is another way St. Mary’s can serve its community, filling a serious need for additional recreation space in south Calgary. Joanne saying “It’s not only the university, but the community around that will benefit from having a place for sports.”
A Home for Students: Opening our Doors
Community is a large part of what this campaign, and with the addition of a student residence, students will have a place to gather, connect, learn, and grow. The Groch family’s donation will fund the renovation of the current Father Lacombe Care Centre, who will be moving out of the facility into a new building of their own. The facility will hold 100 beds, a dining hall, chapel, additional classrooms, and offices.
For Steve and Irene Groch, having a place that will help students thrive will contribute to a dynamic campus life. “Here students will find a welcoming residence where they can belong, build lasting friendships, grow in community and pursue a university education grounded in Christian faith.” says Steve Groch.
Phase Two: Pathways for Growth
But there is more work to do. After the successful completion of phase one, St. Mary’s launched phase two of the campaign during a donor event on September 23. The $50M phase two of the campaign will fund the construction of a new Academic Hall that will house classrooms, a flexible theatre and lecture hall, a new library, spaces for students to meet and gather, a home for our Bachelor of Education, and additional room for our expanding Arts and Sciences programs.
St. Mary’s continues to grow, recording 11% growth in enrollment last year, and a projected 13% growth this year. For President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Scott Morrison, this campaign isn’t for prestige, it’s to ensure the university can accommodate and support continued growth. “As we grow, it’s important for us to maintain the things that make our university special; small class sizes, and a personal education where your professors know you, and are invested in your success. Having more space for students to learn will help us ensure that.”
The campaign also addresses St. Mary’s University’s strategic mission to become the preeminent Catholic university in Canada. “In order to become the preeminent Catholic University in Canada, we need to become a preeminent university. Phase 2 of our Building for Purpose campaign will put us on that path.” says Dr. Scott Morrison.
Newly installed Dr. Morrison assumed leadership during a sharp period of growth, and with over a decade of experience in executive educational leadership, he possesses the passion and experience to lead the university through this campaign. Prior to his permanent appointment, Dr. Morrison helped St. Mary’s build out its Bachelor of Education program and establish the University’s first graduate program, a Master of Education with a Specialization in Catholic Leadership.
Dr. Morrison encourages more people get involved, “we invite everyone to join us to accomplish incredible things with this campaign—join in on our mission for Catholic education in our city, an education that will develop students who will go out into the word and do good for others and their communities.”
For more information, and how you can get involved, visit https://stmu.ca/bfp/.
