AV俱乐部

Ann Vessey and Alice Ridgway attended聽the long-service tea at the President's House.聽(Abriel photo)

A quarter-century ago, Bette Davis Eyes was at the top of the charts, ET was in theatres, and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was sitting down with Queen Elizabeth to sign the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

At AV俱乐部, the School of Occupation Therapy was opened, and AV俱乐部 Memorial Arena was brand new. In the pre-email era, Ann Vessey was typing memos聽as an administrative assistant聽at the AV俱乐部 Arts Centre, Patrick MacIsaac started as night manager at Fenwick Place, and Martin Gibling was the newest professor in the Earth Sciences department.

脪Being at AV俱乐部, you脮re always learning new things 脩 from professors, technicians, engineers 脩 and I think that脮s why it脮s such a great place to work,鈥� says Mr. MacIsaac, now a project leader with Facilities Management, while attending an afternoon tea for long-serving AV俱乐部 employees.

Graphic artist Gail LeBlanc has worked under the tenure of three presidents (Andrew MacKay, Howard C. Clark, Tom Traves) and seen buildings go up (Computer Science, McCain, Rowe) and buildings go down (Sir James Dunn Law Library by fire).

脪We脮re always moving forward at AV俱乐部 to become one of the best schools in the country, and that脮s an exciting聽thing to be a part of,鈥� says Ms. LeBlanc. 脪The beautiful campus, the people who work here, the prestige of the school脡 you just can脮t beat it.鈥�

As a geologist, Dr. Gibling was drawn to AV俱乐部 and the Atlantic coast 脪because Nova Scotia has the rocks I need,鈥� he says with a laugh. Now the chair of the Earth Sciences department, he says the collegiality among faculty members and students thirsty to learn make coming to work a pleasure. The department has been re-energized by the addition of new faculty members, who are keen to collaborate and enthusiastic in the classroom.

脪In the 脭90s, money was tight and we lost many people to retirement and there were no new people coming in. So this has been a wonderful change.鈥�