24 Memorable King's Moments from 2024

What a year it’s been! As it winds down, we’re taking a moment to celebrate just a handful of the many wonderful gatherings, celebrations and achievements that happened at King’s in 2024

1. As of the winter semester, Indigenous Peoples and Media was introduced as a new course requirement for journalism grads, accelerating King’s work on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 86.
2. In February, King’s hosted a historic ceremony at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia to honour the legendary journalist Sherri Borden Colley, BJ(Hons)’97 with a Doctor of Civil Law.
3. The King’s badminton team continued their winning streak to the ACAA and CCAA Championships. Ritu Shah was named ACAA Player of the Year, CCAA Women’s Player of the Year and brought home a gold medal in Women’s Singles from the CCAA National Championships—for the second year in a row.
4. Assistant Professor Pauline Dakin and Radio Technician Mark Pineo launched the first episode of This is King’s in March, a podcast that explores what it means to be a small liberal arts college in a time of evolving sensibilities.
5. King’s students, staff and faculty showed off their many talents at the annual Big Night 2024.
6. Acclaimed Homeric scholar and translator Dr. Emily Wilson addressed a full house at the 10th Alex Fountain Memorial Lecture.
7. Dr. Alison Li explored the early history of transgender healthcare at the 6th MacLennan Lecture.
8. Associate Professor of Humanities, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Curran delivered the FYP Final Lecture in April called “Back to Front.” It was the beloved professor’s final lecture before retiring and becoming an Inglis Professor.
9. Celebrated investigative reporter Connie Walker and King’s beloved basketball coach Bev Greenlaw were awarded honorary degrees at our 234th Encaenia.
10. The inaugural Peter Mansbridge Investigative Writing Award was presented to Simone Blaise, a student in King’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction.
11. After 33 years, Athletics Director Neil Hooper retired in the wake of the most successful season to date in the history of King’s Athletics.
12. In June, four graduates of the MFA in Creative Nonfiction program were celebrated at the Eighth Donald Sedgwick Reading Series. Gloria Blizzard, Esmeralda Cabral, W.J. Sullivan and Gina Leola Woolsey read from their new books about searching for home, belonging, family and place.
13. Inglis Professor Sylvia D. Hamilton was made a member of the Order of Canada for her outstanding contributions to film, poetry, public history and the visual arts, as well as for her work in arts administration and as a teacher and mentor of generations of students in journalism and other fields.
14. Last summer, King’s once again welcomed academics from around the world to share their views on the history and philosophy of science at the Circulating Knowledge: 20 Years On conference, a follow up to the first conference in 2004.
15. As part of the Circulating Knowledge: 20 Years On conference, Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall spoke on the concept of Etuaptmumk, or “Two-eyed Seeing,” that explores the benefits of observing from multiple perspectives that include the strengths of Indigenous and Western knowledge.
16. In September, King’s and Dal were proud to announce that Dr. Harvey Amani Whitfield, an eminent scholar on the history of Canadian and American slavery, was appointed as the inaugural Centennial Carnegie Chair in the History of Slavery in Canada.
17. The King’s Theatrical Society delivered a “ribbiting” performance of Aristophanes’ The Frogs at Classics in the Quad, a favourite fall tradition.
18. The Mi’kmaw Journalism Initiative, a King’s offering that covers the tuition and incidental fees for up to three Mi’kmaw students per year in the Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) program, was expanded to include students in the One-Year Bachelor of Journalism and Master of Journalism programs.
19. Plans for the building design of the Southeast Corner Project were awarded to Diamond Schmitt Architects in association with Abbott Brown. These plans are for a state-of-the-art multi-use building that will include a new home for the School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing, residences and a modern gymnasium and wellness centre to serve King’s and the greater community.
20. This fall, the Blue Devils Men’s Soccer Team returned to nationals for the second straight season and was the only team to qualify in both years.
21. The Blue Devils Women’s Soccer Team also made it to the ACAA championship final this season.
22. Zadie Smith inspired students to explore their consciousness through writing at the 11th Alex Fountain Memorial Lecture in November.
23. President Lahey hosted the public launch of Welcoming: The Future King’s in the President’s Lodge, a campaign to pave the way to a more inclusive and diverse future.
24. Dr. Neil Cockburn directed his last performances for the King’s Chapel Choir at What Sweeter Music: A King’s Christmas in Halifax and Kentville.

We’re so proud to be part of this dynamic and supportive community for all it does—at King’s and beyond. Here’s to a wonderful year ahead.