Memorial University has an immense impact on this province

We just celebrated convocation for the first time in person in two years. It’s the culmination of years of work and what many people think of when they think of universities, but our impact goes far beyond. Memorial uplifts communities throughout the province through locally relevant research and our deeply held commitment to communities.

Support for the tourism industry isn’t the first things that comes to mind when thinking about Memorial University.

But consider this. During the 26 days it was open this season, Bonne Bay Marine Station and Aquarium welcomed approximately 4,000 visitors (the number for the last PRE-COVID summer in 2019 was 14,000). While in Norris Point, tourists can take advantage of educational boat and kayaking tours offered in partnership with local companies.

At the Nurse Myra Bennett Centre for the Performing Arts, the new theatre in Cow Head, 90 per cent of the acting company is comprised of Grenfell Campus graduates.

At the Colony of Avalon in Ferryland, a university/community partnership has been drawing tourists for 30 years with more than 4,300 checking out the archeological dig this summer.

These are just a few examples of the intangible impacts Memorial has on communities throughout the province.

As part of its unique mandate in service to the province, Memorial plays an outsized role in supporting the endurance and evolution of small towns, rural communities and regions in flux across the province. In this role, Memorial directly engages with communities to envision their future, and to allow communities to draw on the resources of Memorial to turn ideas into reality.

For example, communities in the Baccalieu Trail region were interested in preserving their cultural heritage. Through the engagement program Thriving Regions, the Harris Centre assembled a team of graduate students and connected them with Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Foundation to record stories and photographs of traditional knowledge keepers.

Memorial also collaborates with social enterprises that support local regions. For example, the award-winning Smartice is the first climate change adaptation tool that integrates traditional knowledge of sea ice with remote monitoring technology. It also operates as a not-forprofit social enterprise, employing Inuit youth in Nain to support the manufacturing of SMARTBUOY monitoring devices.

Also in Labrador is the Pye Centre for Northern Boreal Food Systems that is affiliated with the Labrador Institute. It is a social enterprise that will serve as a centre of research, education and training excellence to support, promote and enhance food security, production and distribution in Labrador.

Two students employed by Agriculture and Agri-foods Canada worked there this summer. One is setting up a digital program that will help the Pye Farm log data they collect over the years using a GIS mapping format. The other is collecting information on organic fertilizers, as an alternative to using chemical fertilizers.

Memorial also contributes to the continuity of rural communities in less tangible ways.

Graduates of the Marine Institute work on ships all over the world, but for many their homes are small communities throughout out province. They shop in local stores. Their children go to school. They volunteer with community organizations. In short, many Memorial alumni bring social capital to the towns they call home.

I noted in my letter last week that our graduates are a deep pool of talent who make organizations and communities stronger.

But their commitment to communities starts long before they cross the stage at convocation.

At our last volunteer awards ceremony, 123 students were recognized. In total they volunteered 6,862 hours in which they gained new skills and gave back to the community.

We might be nearing our 100th anniversary, but we’re bursting with energy and new ideas all of which will be guided by our strategic plan, “Transforming Our Horizons.” We are committed to working with all partners for Newfoundland and Labrador’s social and cultural prosperity.

And following convocation this week, our graduates are heading out to communities big and small — I can’t wait to see what they’ll do next.