There’s so much to be proud of in the King’s community—here is just a sampling of the many wonderful achievements and celebrations that happened on campus in 2025.
January
1. |
The Early Modern Studies Program celebrated its 25th anniversary at the annual Conference of the Early Modern. |
2. |
This year’s Public Lecture Series, entitled Representations of Disability in Historical, Scientific and Artistic Perspectives, featured renowned disability scholars, researchers, writers, artists and activists speaking on how to think beyond ableist understandings about bodies and minds. |
3. |
The Joyce Family Foundation gifted $1 million to fund the largest renewable bursary at King’s to benefit students who face financial and social barriers that might otherwise prevent them from pursuing post-secondary education. |
February
4. |
MFA student Yuan Wang secured the Peter Mansbridge Investigative Writing Award for her work exploring the controversial elver fishing industry. |
5. |
Former King’s President Dr. George Cooper, CM, KC, DCL’08, and his wife Tia generously gifted $100,000 to the Future King’s Campaign to fund the George and Tia Cooper Scholarship. |
March
6. |
The Blue Devils badminton team earned their 7th consecutive ACAA title and five players medaled at the NCAA National Championships, including Ritu Shah who claimed gold in women’s singles, and was subsequently named to Team Canada for the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games. |
7. |
King’s School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing hosted a roundtable to discuss Public Trust in Journalism in Dark Times, featuring industry leaders Robert Cribb, BA(Hons)’89, Brodie Fenlon, Nicole Feriancek, BJ(Hons)’12, and Karyn Pugliese. |
8. |
Capping off the 100th anniversary celebrations of the partnership between King’s and Dalhousie, President Lahey and Dalhousie President Kim Brooks announced the creation of the Roper-Hannah Chair in the History of Healthcare and Health Equity endowed by AMS Healthcare and J & W Murphy Foundation. |
April
9. |
Alum Margaret Lynch, MFA’20, gave $50,000 to support fellow writers with the Margaret Lynch MFA Award to be given annually to students entering the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction or Fiction. |
May
10. |
At the 235th Encaenia, King’s awarded honorary degrees to former Premier of Nova Scotia Dr. Darrell Dexter, BA’79, BJ’83, DCL’25, and esteemed classics scholar Dr. Emily Wilson, DCL’25. |
11. |
During Alumni Weekend in May, over a hundred writers gathered on campus for King’s first Creative Writing and Storytelling Conference hosted by the Writing & Publishing MFA programs as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the program’s first graduating class. |
June
12. |
King’s launched the African Nova Scotian Journalism Initiative that covers the tuition and incidental fees for up to three African Nova Scotian journalism students per year. |
13. |
Investigative journalist and best-selling author Patrick Radden Keefe visited King’s at an event hosted by the Writing & Publishing MFA programs. |
August
14. |
Assistant Professor of Journalism Brian Daly received an Insight Grant for a five-year Black Media study as part of a team of media educators across Canada working on a national study entitled Ethnic Media in Canada at a Crossroads: Challenges, Opportunities and Contributions to Canadian Society. |
September
15. |
The short film Promise in the Ground developed by Ally Bowes, BJ’25, Ariel MacKenzie, BJ’25, and Linus Mulherin, BJ’25, in King’s Advanced Video Workshop was featured as part of the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF). |
16. |
Students, faculty and staff had the opportunity to speak with His Honour the Honourable Mike Savage, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, and Her Honour Ms. Darlene Savage, BSc’80, who were guests at Formal Meal. |
October
17. |
Master of Journalism student Lu Fan was awarded the prestigious annual Sachedina CTV News Fellowship for her work exploring the mining of critical minerals. |
18. |
The President’s 9th Annual Wilderness Hike, a tradition created by President Lahey, ventured to the Blue Mountain—Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area and was guided by Dr. Chris Miller, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society. |
19. |
A group of students, led by McKenna Blucher-Bunting, resurrected the Record, publishing King’s yearbook for the first time since 2014. |
20. |
The Blue Devils men’s basketball team and King’s Athletics hosted the first annual Hooper Classic, a tournament for students, alumni and community to honour recently retired Athletic Director Neil Hooper. |
November
21. |
King’s unveiled architectural concept designs for the Southeast Corner Project, a new home for the King’s School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing, an updated Athletic Centre with wellness and student services, a new residence and inclusive community spaces. |
22. |
Head coach of the men’s soccer team, Jamie McGinnis, was awarded CCAA Coach of the Year and the team won the 2025 ACAA championship, progressing to nationals for the 3rd consecutive season. |
23. |
King’s first Black Student Ambassador Dáminí Awóyígà organized the first King’s Black Student Association’s student mixer and reception at the President’s Lodge. |
December
24. |
This year’s annual Chapel Choir concert, A King’s Christmas, featured the Chapel Choir and the King’s Chorus in their first-ever performance together. |
25. |
In partnership with the Canadian Association of Journalists and the Canadian Media Lawyers Association, King’s launched Lawyers for Reporters Canada, an initiative that will provide pro bono legal support for newsrooms to help support press freedom. |
