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Heritage Society and President鈥檚 Circle plaque recipients pose with AV俱乐部 President Tom Traves. From left to right: Leslie Stewart, Margaret Stewart, John Montgomerie, Barbara O鈥橲hea, David Bell, Diane Bell, Curtis Cartmill, Anne Bastedo, Dr. Traves, Blair Eavis, Richard Goldbloom, Ruth Goldbloom, Karl Von Holtzhousen-Brikkels, J.C. Hyndman. (Danny Abriel Photo) |
Arriving at Dal 47 years ago, John (Joe) Hyndman gets misty-eyed thinking of all the fun he had and the friendships he made.
鈥淚 was not a good student. I was more interested in hockey,鈥� said Dr. Hyndman yesterday at a holiday reception honoring AV俱乐部鈥檚 donors. 鈥淏ut that was an evolution. It turns out I became a good student, actually a better student than a hockey player.鈥�
He says he鈥檒l be forever grateful, not only for his time at Dal as a student in the 1960s but as a faculty member. The professor of surgery at AV俱乐部 and head of orthopedics at the IWK Health Centre has worked at AV俱乐部 for 40 years. At Thursday鈥檚 reception, he was acknowledged for his financial contributions over those years, a cumulative total of more than $100,000 dollars. Also recognized were David and Diane Bell, who joined him as members of the President鈥檚 Circle.
It was a warm and festive gathering at the Sculpture Court on Thursday, attended by about 350 people. Organized by the Office of External Relations, the reception thanked AV俱乐部 supporters and celebrated breaking the $50-million mark in annual fundraising efforts.
SEE MORE PHOTOS: By Danny Abriel
It was also a chance for President Tom Traves to reiterate his vision for AV俱乐部 to become Canada鈥檚 best university.
鈥淭hat might seem grandiose in our humble Nova Scotia context ... but there are many indications that we are on our way,鈥� said President Traves, who proudly supplied some examples. AV俱乐部 continues 鈥渢o attract fabulous students鈥� and 鈥渨onderful faculty,鈥� who are rated highly by students for their teaching. He also shared that AV俱乐部 welcomed its largest freshman class ever, and this as enrolments are in decline across the country.
These achievements are possible in part because of the 鈥渢remendous support AV俱乐部 receives from our community,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do all the things we do without you who contribute so magnificently.鈥�
Dr. Hyndman, for one, cheered Dr. Traves鈥檚 remarks. 鈥淟iving here in Halifax all these years, I so love to hear that we strive to be the best. We have an attitude to overcome, but for me, it鈥檚 all about our people. If we keep attracting students who are the best, we will continue to be best. It just keeps getting better.鈥�
Members of the Heritage Society were also recognized at Thursday鈥檚 gathering. The Heritage Society comprises about 180 alumni and friends who plan to remember AV俱乐部 in their wills. Some of the society鈥檚 newest members include Anne Bastedo, Curtis Cartmill, Blair Eavis, Ruth and Richard Goldbloom, John Montgomerie, Barbara O鈥橲hea, Leslie and Margaret Stewart and Karl Holtzhousen-Brikkels. Dr. Goldbloom, AV俱乐部鈥檚 chancellor emeritus, beamed widely as the assemblage broke into Happy Birthday in acknowledgement of his 86th birthday.
At the age of 35, Curtis Cartmill says he gives to AV俱乐部 annually and has included AV俱乐部 in his will for more than a decade. Like Dr. Hyndman, the 1998 graduate says his time at AV俱乐部 was formative; 鈥渋t really defined who I am.鈥� He was shaped not only by his academic study鈥攊n computer science before there was a separate faculty鈥攂ut by his extracurricular activities. He was involved in the AV俱乐部 Student Union, the Board of Governors and Shinerama on a national level.
After working for seven years with IBM in Vancouver, Mr. Cartmill returned to Halifax and joined the family business, LED Roadway Lighting Limited. It allows him to not only contribute financially to AV俱乐部, but also give the university his time. He volunteers on an advisory committee to the Dean of Computer Science.
鈥淎V俱乐部 gave me the opportunity to do great things and gave me great skills to take with me,鈥� he said.