Laurel Smith, Student Life Assistant in the Faculty of Fine Arts, wrote CTR to describe a heartwarming effort in the holiday spirit.

Having approached the Chaplaincy office to find a student in need over the holidays, she was told of a single student mother of three who was faced with a dental emergency for one of her children that was going to make a big dent in the family finances.

Fine Arts staff, faculty and students rose to occasion by raising $280 in cash, $400 in groceries, and a flood of gifts for each family member — art supplies, dolls, puzzles, books, CDs, scarves, hats, mitts, socks, jewelry, jewelry box, photo albums, bath soaps, stuffed animals, family games, candy, a table centrepiece, wine, and even babysitting services. They also collected donations of clothing.

The student mother responded, “Please tell everyone involved that we send our greatest heartfelt gratitude out to you because without you Christmas would have been very bleak for us this year.”
“A lot of thoughtfulness went into each contribution,” Smith reported. “This initiative was so successful that we will be inviting other faculties to participate with us next year.”

Filling empty bowls for Dans la Rue

Students, faculty and technicians in the ceramics unit of the Department of Studio Arts pitched in to raise money for street kids just before the holiday break.

Handmade ceramic bowls were on sale on the mezzanine of the Hall Building at lunchtime.
For $12, customers could buy a one-of-a-kind bowl, plus another bowl of hot soup to eat on the spot. Empty Bowls, as the project was called, raised about $1,600 for Dans la Rue.

Concordia hosts cocktail party in Paris

On December 3, Concordia, together with Clément Duhaime, Délegué général du Québec à Paris, hosted a cocktail reception at the Quebec Delegation’s offices.

More than 500 invitations were mailed and the event was “sold out” within two weeks.
Over 100 alumni as well as former exchange students, MBA students studying in Paris and Quebec delegates attended. As a result of the success of the event, Corinne Abitbol-Bourgine (BA’ 87) is helping to establish a France Alumni Exchange Student Chapter.

The enthusiasm and nostalgia for Concordia were palpable throughout the evening. When Dr. Lowy mentioned that Claudette Fortier from the International Students Office sent her regards, joyful whispers of recollection ran through the crowd.

A Power Point presentation in the lobby showed the guests Concordia’s plans for construction on both campuses. Dr. Lowy and Vice-Rector Marcel Danis were captive all evening with people wanting to speak to them about the past, present and the future of Concordia.

Dean of the John Molson School of Business Jerry Tomberlin and Bill Taylor, who were interviewing candidates for the Executive MBA programme in Paris, joined the event.
With students from over 120 countries on our campus, the outreach to former students helps keep Concordia’s name fresh and international.

These efforts have multiple goals and benefits for the University, including, but not limited to, keeping connected with our alumni, recruiting new students, and promoting the excellent programs and services at Concordia.

Dr. Lowy and Marcel Danis also took the opportunity to meet with Ian McLean from the Canadian Embassy in Paris (Ministre Plénipotentiaire, Chargé d’affaires) and Emmanuel Davidenkoff, a journalist for the newspaper Libération and the France Info radio station.

-Elaine Arsenault