Community Report 2020–2021
President’s Message
A community is more than simply the space we share together.
It’s about common values, mutual priorities and a spirit of collaboration that acknowledges how our fates are intertwined.
This is true of Dalhousie and our communities across this province and region as we’ve grown together over the past two centuries. And it’s true within our Dal community itself, which has certainly looked a little different this past year.
While a small number of our students, faculty and staff have been on campus, many have been conducting their work remotely, distributed across Canada and around the world. It has been difficult, to say the least, but I am so inspired by what our community has accomplished this year. The experience of this COVID-19 pandemic has proven that we can work through great challenges and emerge stronger.
Now, as we plan our return to campus and refocus our energies towards a common vision for Dalhousie’s future, our commitment to our communities remains steadfast. It is our social duty to be a leading instrument of strengthening our province and our region, and our strategy and ambitions for global impact must simultaneously elevate social, environmental and economic prosperity here at home.
As always, this important work is driven by our people, and it’s their stories we seek to share each year in this Community Report. You will read about our continuing work to forge stronger partnerships with African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaq communities; ongoing efforts to bring world-leading research and innovation to Nova Scotia; the exceptional community contributions of our outstanding students; local health leadership that has helped pull our province through this current pandemic, and so much more.
Guided by our new strategic plan, set to be shared this spring, you can expect more of these kinds of stories from Dalhousie in the years to come, and we hope you will join us in our excitement for what is ahead — for Dalhousie, for our communities, and our shared future in achieving positive impact together.
Deep Saini
President and vice-chancellor
