Child and Youth Study at the Mount

Only 5 spots remain ... 🌊♻️ The students of CHYS 3333 invite you to join them on Wednesday, June 10th for an Ocean Week Cleanup at Sambro Island (a National Historic Site)! Together, we can take a small step toward a big change by helping protect our coastlines and keep our oceans clean for future generations. 💙🌎

🕙 Start Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Sambro Public Wharf
👥 Up to 20 volunteers (on a first come basis, to register please contact: Shane Theunissen [email protected])

Please bring:
✔️ Close-toed shoes/boots
✔️ Lunch & water bottle
✔️ Extra lifejackets if you have any
Gloves and garbage bags will be provided.
Let’s work together for a healthier ocean — one piece of litter at a time! 🌊🩵

London Bridge is entering an exciting new chapter—and we’re looking for a thoughtful, values-driven leader to help guide the way.
As one of the largest early years organizations in the region, our team of over 500 employees supports approximately 1,200 families across London, Middlesex, Huron, and Lambton. Together, we are committed to nurturing curious minds and kind hearts—not only in children, but in the educators and teams who support them.

We believe meaningful learning happens in environments where people feel valued, heard, and inspired to grow. Our culture is collaborative and reflective, grounded in continuous learning and courageous leadership. Guided by Ontario’s early years framework and a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, we strive to create spaces where everyone can thrive.
Our commitment to equity, social justice, and environmental responsibility is not an add-on to our work—it is part of how we make decisions every day. We are actively working toward decolonization and embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging into our practices, relationships, and systems. This work is ongoing and, at times, challenging.

We are looking for a leader who is willing to stay engaged in that work—someone who approaches it with humility, courage, and a genuine commitment to learning and unlearning alongside our community.

Today we celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our undergraduate and graduate students in the Child and Youth Study program at Mount Saint Vincent University! 🎓

Your dedication, compassion, and commitment to children, youth, families, and communities have brought you to this exciting milestone. We are so proud of all that you have achieved and cannot wait to see the difference you will continue to make in the world.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 — your future is bright! 💙

OF BACHELOR OF ARTS (CHILD AND YOUTH STUDY)

Ariel Beals Dartmouth, NS 🎓
Autumn Starr Hemmings Amherst, NS 🎓
Brooke Katelyn Nowlan Grand-Barachois, NB 🎓
Chelsey Rachelle MacLean Lawrencetown, (with distinction) 🎓
Cheska Yvannah Villar Halifax, NS 🎓
Daler Kaur Halifax, NS 🎓
Elizabeth Edith Berry Advocate Harbour, NS 🎓
Emma Alexandria Hatfield Eastern Passage, NS 🎓
Emma Rose Cassidy Lower Sackville, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Evelyn Ekstrom Mount Uniacke, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Haley Audrey MacKenzie Salmon River, NS 🎓
Hanna Ray Dickson Halifax, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Hayley Jean Wallace Eastern Passage, NS (with distinction & highest aggregate) 🎓
Jennah Lee Michelle Mahoney Halifax, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Jeongsu Han Seoul, South Korea 🎓
Jillian Kreps Hubbards, NS 🎓
Julie Diane Pellerine Timberlea, NS 🎓
Kaitlin Rebecca Ellis-Moore Dartmouth, NS 🎓
Katherine Anna Fahey Halifax, NS 🎓
Kathleen Meehan Brooklyn, NS 🎓
Katlyn Marie Gammon Sheet Harbour, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Keely Dixon Baddeck, NS 🎓
Laura Claire Mansvelt Oakfield, NS 🎓
Lauren Ashley Wayne Dartmouth, NS 🎓
Lillian Doris Johansson Dartmouth, NS 🎓
Macayla Cote North River, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Meghan Allen Halifax, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Melissa Paula Branton St John's, NL (with distinction) 🎓
Michael Foster Halifax, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Nicole Kathleen Lenihan New Ross, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Sydney Mae Dean Antigonish, NS (with distinction) 🎓
Sylvia Amarachi Ike Ikechukwu Victoria, BC 🎓
Tammy Lynn Barkhouse South Scots Bay, NS 🎓

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS (CHILD AND YOUTH STUDY) HONOURS
MaryAnna MacNeil Caribou Marsh, NS (with first-class honours & highest aggregate) 🎓
Olivia Ruth Wolter-Cook Truro, NS (with first-class honours) 🎓

DEGREE OF MASTER OF CHILD AND YOUTH STUDY
Susanna Marion Jane Adams Eastern Passage, NS 🎓
Jessica Amoako Halifax, NS🎓
Lotoya Talekia Forde Kingston, Jamaica🎓
Mahedir Teketsel Gebreyesus Addis Ababa, Ethiopia🎓
Joy Omoaluse Irubor Halifax, NS🎓
Carrie Lynn Smith Upper Sackville, NS🎓

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (CHILD AND YOUTH STUDY)
Bharghavi Gopakumar Tamilnadu, India 🎓
Orinari Francis Wokoma Rivers State, Nigeria 🎓

Congratulations to our very own MACYS student Orinari Wokoma who was named valedictorian for the upcoming convocation ceremony on the morning of May 14. We are so proud of you! 👏

🐴 Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary has a Canada Student job grant for a Post Secondary student for the 8 weeks of May/June, June/July. and July/August for 35 hrs / week at $18. If you are interested in Agriculture, Animal Science, or Human Resources, there is a paycheque for you. One requirement of the grant is that you are returning to school. Need someone to start immediately as our May/June candidate is now unable to come. Please send your resume to [email protected].

🎉 Congratulations to BA(CYS) Student Michael (Mike) Foster! 🎉
Mike has been selected as the recipient of the 2025–26 Excellence in Mandarin Studies Award. This outstanding achievement reflects his dedication and hard work. Well done, Mike! 👏

Check out this new piece by Taylor Hansen, one of our part-time faculty members. Taylor offers thoughtful, real‑world insight that strongly connects with the themes and values at the heart of Child and Youth Study.

📖

liberatingchildhood.org

🌟 Celebrating Our CYS Students – World Champions! 🌟

We are thrilled to share some incredible news from the Department of Child and Youth Study!

Congratulations to Hailey Labrador and Charley Turner, who proudly represented Team Canada at the International Cheer Union competition in Florida — and brought home the gold! 🥇🇨🇦

Alongside their team, they have earned the title of World Champions — an outstanding achievement that reflects their dedication, talent, and hard work.

We are so proud to have Hailey and Charley as part of our CYS community. Please join us in celebrating their success!

👏 Way to go, Hailey and Charley — you’ve made us all proud! 👏

We’re excited to share a beautiful new blog from our own Part-Time Faculty member, Taylor Hansen: “The Ripples of Wonder: Moving in Connection with Difference.” 🌊✨

In this thoughtful piece, Taylor invites us to reflect on how connection, curiosity, and wonder shape our experiences with difference — and ultimately deepen our work with children, youth, and communities.

Take a moment to read and be inspired:
👉 https://www.cayc.ca/blogs/news/the-ripples-of-wonder-moving-in-connection-with-difference

Let us know what resonated with you! 💬📖

The Ripples of Wonder: Moving in connection with difference Photo by Richie Roberts on Unsplash By Taylor Hansen I know and love a child who experiences the world in ways distinct from many. Moving through the world with them has deepened my belief in the transformative power of witnessing and experiencing the truth of difference with an open and curious hea...