Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love – that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one’s very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. – George Eliot

Hello everyone!

As this week draws to a close, we are again anticipating a glorious weekend. Last weekend, after an intense week with the unexpected announcement from the government about changing COVID protocols (was that only last week??!) and trying to make as much information available as soon as possible for all of you, I was totally drained. If I hadn’t already promised a friend to go for a walk, I think I would have spent the whole weekend unmoving on the couch. Fortunately for me, my friend had planned a trip to Horseshoe Canyon near Drumheller, where we walked, sat amongst the fall flowers for a picnic, and marvelled at the extraordinary geography.

The extended warm weather with the multi-hued leaves still on their trees is a gift. I hope you take some time away from your studies and labours to soak in the glorious autumn.

Library: Masks but no Food/Drink Please!

During this period of time when we need to keep us all safe and drastically bring down COVID numbers, please remember to wear your masks at all times in the Library and refrain from bringing in food or drink. You can eat and drink in the Café/Atrium space in LeFort.

Thanks!

StMU Closed for Sept 30th National Day of Truth & Reconciliation – Join an Online Presentation

St. Mary’s is closing this coming Thursday to provide us all time and space to explore what truth and reconciliation mean to us.

Reflection – Following Former Chief Justice Murray Sinclair’s teaching, we invite reflection on the four critical questions for educators and learners:

where do I come from?
where am I going?
why am I here? And, most importantly,
who am I?

One of the ways you can journey through truth and reconciliation is by joining us for a presentation and Q & A:

Look around campus next week for other ways to engage with these deep questions.

StMU COVID webpage and FAQS

Thanks so much to all the students who sent their questions around COVID to their SLC and ESA reps! Last Friday the Student Town Hall was really well attended and we were able to address your questions with the support of your SLC President, Kessa Stuckert; ESA President, Caij Meloche; Dean of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Karim Dharamsi; Dean of Education, Dr. Sarah Twomey; and Director of Students Affairs, Dr. Pablo Ortiz.

We have followed up on the questions and now have a CVOID webpage with a series of FAQs that we help will address any of your lingering questions: https://stmu.ca/vaccination-faq/

I said at the beginning of the pandemic that my goal was to ensure that no one in our StMU community dies during the pandemic. That remains my goal.

As we respond collectively to the frightening rise in COVID cases, let us care for each other, be kind and generous, as mindful of each other’s safety during CVOID as we are of our own – perhaps even more so. Many of you may feel invincible in your health and youth. Let’s not test that, please.