Dear students, faculty, staff and alumni,
On January 31, 1951 – 75 years ago this coming Saturday – a fire ripped through the only building on the Mount Saint Vincent campus at the time. Accounts from those who were there describe an exceptionally cold night and a really fast-moving fire.
More than 400 students, teachers and Sisters of Charity (our founders) fled the building in the wee hours. Miraculously, no one was hurt. However, despite the best efforts of fire fighters, the building was a complete loss, together with many irreplaceable artifacts and documents of importance to the Sisters. Sometimes I think about how different our campus would look today if that original Victorian building was still standing along the Bedford Highway.
What happened next is quintessentially Haligonian. Without hesitation, the people of Halifax opened their hearts and doors to support students displaced by the fire. From Halifax to Hubbards, students were given places to stay and new temporary classrooms in which to learn. As a way to repay that incredible kindness, the Sisters of Charity Halifax soon after established Caritas Day. Caritas is Latin for “charity.”
- Watch a brief video about the fire and the history of Caritas Day
- Listen to Sister Sheila Moore’s first-hand account of the fire as a grade 8 student at the time
The essence of Caritas – caring for others – is at the core of who we are at MSVU. And Caritas Day is still celebrated at the university on the last Wednesday of January (January 28 this year). No classes are held that day, and members of the MSVU community engage in charitable acts of all kinds – from random acts of kindness, to giving gifts of time, talent, and other resources. Over the years, students, faculty, staff, and alumni have volunteered at numerous organizations throughout their communities. Random acts of kindness have been particularly popular among MSVU community members on Caritas Day – from phone calls to say thanks to a collaborator to cookie drop-offs at neighbours.
Caritas Day is an excellent reminder about the importance of gratitude. Taking a moment to acknowledge someone who has made a difference in your life can be powerful. In fact, research suggests that cultivating gratitude is tied to improved mental well-being.
Heather Strickey (BAH ’95) is the President of the Mount Saint Vincent Alumni Association. One of her daughters also attended MSVU. In the spirit of Caritas Day, she shared her story of gratitude for the people who made a difference when she was a student – the people who helped her to persist in her studies when things got tough. You can read Heather’s story here.
This Caritas Day, I encourage you to reflect on who has made a difference in your life – and give them a call if that’s possible. Write a note of appreciation, offer to help a friend or colleague, share a skill, or lend some time to a community organization. However you choose to mark the day, I hope it brings a renewed sense of gratitude and a reminder of the importance of caring for one another.
Happy Caritas Day!
Joël
Dr. Joël Dickinson
President and Vice-Chancellor
Mount Saint Vincent University