This year, alumni don鈥檛 have to stroll Dalhousie鈥檚 campuses to celebrate Homecoming. For the first time, events will take place in their communities across Canada and around the world. Each of Dal鈥檚 16 alumni chapters are hosting events 鈥斕齠rom Beijing to the nation's capital.
Each group will put their own 鈥榮pin鈥� on Homecoming 鈥� from pub nights and coffee socials to traditional Thanksgiving dinners, and even celebrating Alexander Keith鈥檚 birthday.
The Honorable Geoff Regan (LLB鈥�83) (right) addresses a crowd of alumni at the Speaker鈥檚 Salon during the Ottawa Chapter鈥檚 Global Homecoming reception on Parliament Hill on Oct. 5.
Strengthening Dal ties in Calgary
鈥淗omecoming is the time each year when we stop and reflect on our time at Dal and everything it has contributed to our lives,鈥� says Joseph Macdonald (MBA鈥�91).听He and Holly Marisco (BSc鈥�05) are co-chairs of the Calgary Chapter. Calgary鈥檚 Global Homecoming celebrations will take on a fun, Maritime flair as they celebrate Alexander Keith鈥檚 birthday. The 鈥榟appy hour鈥� event will feature food, fun, draws and door prizes and takes place at the Bank & Baron Pub.
Joseph says he is looking forward to getting together with friends he hasn鈥檛 seen in awhile, and welcoming new alumni to Calgary. He says events like these are both fun and beneficial for established and recent alumni.
鈥淣ew alumni have immediate access to a valuable professional network for work contacts, housing recommendations and detailed information on the city. Existing alumni can stay in touch with a network of social and professional contacts who have a common bond in their graduation from Dal,鈥� he says.
鈥淭his connection among Calgary alumni strengthens the bond we have between us, and our overall ties to the university.鈥�
A Dal celebration in NYC
鈥淕lobal Homecoming is a fantastic way听for us to make the world smaller,鈥� says Sanjay Gopal (DEngR鈥�91, BSc鈥�91, BEng鈥�94), co-chair of the New York Chapter.
鈥淭he event will give alumni from all regions the chance to communicate and network. It will also provide an opportunity for alumni traveling on business, pleasure or those moving to a new city to reach out to other Dal alumni and connect with听a friendly face.鈥�
The New York Chapter has invited all Dal grads from the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and northeastern Pennsylvania) to meet after work at an Irish pub near Penn Station, 鈥渁n easy place for people to get to and leave from!鈥� Sanjay says.
A Canadian Thanksgiving in Beijing
In Beijing, alumni gathered on Sunday, Oct. 9 for a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving feast.
The event was a treat for homesick North Americans, and also fit perfectly with Chinese culture.
鈥淐hina is very family-oriented,鈥� says Cindy Jensen (BComm鈥�84), chair of the Beijing chapter. 鈥淭he heart of Chinese culture is family, gathering together and food, so we all really enjoyed听this event.鈥�
Cindy says Beijing鈥檚 Global Homecoming celebration built perfectly on the momentum of Dalhousie President Richard Florizone鈥檚 visit to China a few weeks ago. 鈥淒r. Florizone鈥檚 visit was incredibly well-received by our alumni, who want that connection back to the university. It鈥檚 important for our alumni to receive updates and find out what鈥檚 going on back at Dal.鈥�
鈥淕lobal Homecoming connects us.鈥�
Cindy says Global Homecoming is a time to reflect on the history of Dalhousie, which means a lot to alumni and to her, personally. 鈥淚 love the fact that I attended an established school with a long history and legacy behind it 鈥� being on an old campus, having tea with the deans in Sherriff Hall鈥� Global Homecoming connects us back to our time at Dal.鈥�
She says events like these only strengthen ties among alumni who are 鈥榓way鈥� and build momentum and excitement for Dalhousie鈥檚 upcoming 200 year anniversary next year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time to be a graduate, no matter when you graduated. Next year will be a time to pause and consider what it means to be part of the worldwide network of Dal alumni, and what Dalhousie has accomplished over 200 years.鈥�
Find out more
To get involved with your local Dal chapter, visit the Dal Alumni website:
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A message to members of the Dal community heading to China
鈥淭here's a lot happening between Dalhousie and China and many may find themselves travelling here for business,鈥� says Cindy Jensen. 鈥淎ny professor, group or alum is encouraged to get in touch if you鈥檙e travelling to Beijing 鈥� we would love to create an event around your visit. We in China are 鈥榝ar away,鈥� and alumni really appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with the university, especially if they鈥檙e not able to get back to Nova Scotia often.鈥�