St. Francis Xavier University announces new scholarship with $8M donation

St. Francis Xavier University is creating new scholarships for aboriginal and African-Nova Scotian students with the largest ever private alumni donation in the university's 163-year history.

The Antigonish university announced Friday it received an $8-million private gift from Jeannine Deveau, who graduated in 1944.

The school will match $5 million of the gift, bringing the Jeannine Deveau Educational Equity Endowment fund to $13 million.

University President Kent MacDonald says the school began working with Deveau's nephew and representative, Bill Gunn, several months ago.

"Fundamentally, we know we have an issue here in Canada — the participation rates are lower in higher education for these two communities, and the success rates are lower," he said.

"St. FX has a long, long history of social justice in trying to make a difference for all Nova Scotians and all Canadians. But it was really through the thoughts and discussions with Bill Gunn and his aunt that it was they who determined where they would put their funds." 

The woman behind the $8 million

After graduating from St. FX, Deveau obtained her masters in nutrition at the Université de Montréal, where she later worked as a professor for over 30 years. In addition to authoring university-level nutrition textbooks, she also became a successful investor. 

Investing in education access for aboriginal and African Nova Scotian communities was a clear choice for Deveau, Gunn says.

"She was particularly moved, saddened by the information coming out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," he said. "She was also saddened by the knowledge of what had gone on in the Dartmouth Home for Colored Children and the broader societal issues that was the background between those two issues." 

MacDonald says the scholarship amounts will be tailored based on the individual's needs.

"We will set some very clear guidelines and criteria over the next coming months so they [scholarships] can become available for next year's incoming students and also this year's students."

'It's something that needs to be done'

The money will also support the school's 50-year-old X-Project — a student society that offers educational and leadership support in five aboriginal and African-Nova Scotian communities in the Antigonish area. 

The university says X-Project is the most successful aboriginal education program in the country. The Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey Regional Education Authority reports 88 to 90 per cent annual high school graduation rates in the communities with which X-Project works.  

Gunn, who's worked overseas as a development economist for the Canadian government in his own career, says being a part of today's announcement holds special weight. 

"I don't think I've never got as much joy or satisfaction as I have out of this project I've been doing for my aunt. It's personal, it's close to home, it's something that needs to be done." 

MacDonald says he's confident the school will raise the additional $5 million before next fall.