Quarter‑century club

Ann Vessey and Alice Ridgway attended the long-service tea at the President's House. (Abriel photo)

A quarter-century ago, Bette Davis Eyes was at the top of the charts, ET was in theatres, and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was sitting down with Queen Elizabeth to sign the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

At Dalhousie University, the School of Occupation Therapy was opened, and Dalhousie Memorial Arena was brand new. In the pre-email era, Ann Vessey was typing memos as an administrative assistant at the Dalhousie Arts Centre, Patrick MacIsaac started as night manager at Fenwick Place, and Martin Gibling was the newest professor in the Earth Sciences department.

ÒBeing at Dalhousie, youÕre always learning new things Ñ from professors, technicians, engineers Ñ and I think thatÕs why itÕs such a great place to work,” says Mr. MacIsaac, now a project leader with Facilities Management, while attending an afternoon tea for long-serving Dalhousie employees.

Graphic artist Gail LeBlanc has worked under the tenure of three presidents (Andrew MacKay, Howard C. Clark, Tom Traves) and seen buildings go up (Computer Science, McCain, Rowe) and buildings go down (Sir James Dunn Law Library by fire).

ÒWeÕre always moving forward at Dalhousie to become one of the best schools in the country, and thatÕs an exciting thing to be a part of,” says Ms. LeBlanc. ÒThe beautiful campus, the people who work here, the prestige of the schoolÉ you just canÕt beat it.”

As a geologist, Dr. Gibling was drawn to Dalhousie and the Atlantic coast Òbecause Nova Scotia has the rocks I need,” he says with a laugh. Now the chair of the Earth Sciences department, he says the collegiality among faculty members and students thirsty to learn make coming to work a pleasure. The department has been re-energized by the addition of new faculty members, who are keen to collaborate and enthusiastic in the classroom.

ÒIn the Ô90s, money was tight and we lost many people to retirement and there were no new people coming in. So this has been a wonderful change.”