Development in the Schulich School of Law
Transcription
Development in the Schulich School of Law
TABLE OF CONTENTS Position Profile…………………………………………………………………..1 Dalhousie University…………………………………..………….…………....5 Advancement & Alumni Relations at Dalhousie……………………..……6 Towards 2018……………………………………………………………………8 About the Schulich School of Law..…………………………………………9 Development in the Schulich School of Law……………………………..10 School of Law Alumni Maps………...….…………………………………...11 Leadership Biographies…………………………………………….………..13 Living in Halifax………………………………………………………………..15 For more information, please contact KCI (Ketchum Canada) Inc. Search Team Dalhousie@kciphilanthropy.com Please note deadline for candidate submissions is May 25, 2016. Development Officer Schulich School of Law THE OPPORTUNITY Dalhousie University is seeking a new passionate and high-performing fundraising professional to join us in the role of Development Officer to lead a comprehensive fundraising program for the Schulich School of Law. The Officer will formulate and implement fundraising strategies for development priorities and work closely with the annual giving team to organize, plan, and execute a complete and effective fundraising program. Reporting jointly to the Associate Vice President and Dean of the Schulich School of Law, the Development Officer will work in concert with the Dean, Associate Deans, and Advancement leadership to achieve ambitious fundraising goals. The new Development Officer will be a member of a professional team that is supported by and works closely with advancement services, prospect research, communications, and administrative specialists in the University’s central Office of Advancement. POSITION OVERVIEW Reporting jointly to the Assistant Vice President of Development and the Dean, the Development Officer is responsible for developing and implementing fund development strategies for the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. These strategies will be designed to maximize fundraising revenue for priorities of the School, positively position the School within the broader community, and foster an environment that will encourage and enable alumni engagement, volunteerism and support. Working with a high degree of autonomy, the Development Officer will consult with the Dean, other School leaders and senior members of the Office of Advancement (Vice President, AVP/Chief Development Officer, Director of Development), and work closely with the School-based alumni officer to organize, plan and execute a comprehensive fundraising program that will seek to maximize private giving from alumni, external organizations and other communities of interest. Core to the Development Officer’s role is to directly identify, qualify, engage and cultivate prospective donors and to solicit major gifts on behalf of the University and the Schulich School of Law. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The new Development Officer will be responsible for Actively engaging with the Dean and Law School leadership on the School’s new strategic plan, including the Director of the Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq Initiative, and the Director, Dalhousie Legal Aid Service on the establishment of fundraising priorities. Participating in School planning as a member of the Dean’s Senior Leadership Team. -1- Implementing strategies and initiatives consistent with the University’s objectives, both internally and externally, that include building strong relationships with individuals and organizations, such as alumni and law firms, as well as other communities of interest. Maintaining a portfolio of active donors and managing prospects/donors with annual giving leadership capacity, with an emphasis on timely and accurate donor contact and moves, in order to create and maximize revenue through annual giving leadership commitments for the School and for the University as a whole. Planning and coordinating special fundraising projects and class fundraising initiatives for the School. Developing communication material for special projects and class initiatives. Assuming other fundraising-related management responsibilities and ensuring appropriate administration of the processes. More specifically, in order of priority and time spent, the Development Officer will have responsibility and oversight for: Developing and executing a strategic fundraising plan The Development Officer will establish and execute a strategy and operational plan for overall School fundraising and for specific School projects. This includes: Fundraising for priority Schulich School of Law projects as previously established, or as developed as part of the Toward 2018 campaign plan. Contributing to an annual fundraising goal for the University. Working with Advancement senior leadership, the Dean and other University leaders to identify fundraising priorities and set an achievable annual fundraising goal for the School. Designing, implementing, managing and evaluating a campaign to solicit specific major gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations. Personally soliciting the School’s major gift prospects: a major gift prospect is classified as having gift potential for $50,000 and up, but in some cases these prospects would have the potential to give (or have given) much larger six or seven figure gifts. These individuals are often highly prominent senior professionals, business and political leaders, and well-known members of the local, national or international community. Dealing with individuals of this calibre requires careful judgement, discretion and diplomacy. Managing 100 – 150 major gift prospects (individuals, organizations and corporations) annually. The Development Officer will be in regular contact with these prospects. Judging where the key opportunities lie in order to maximize the amount raised for the School, based on a continual flow of new information about prospective donors (primarily generated by the Development Officer, with support from the Advancement research team). Implementing a comprehensive and strategic donor / major gift stewardship plan (acknowledgement, naming, and recognition) in order to maximize a donor’s future giving. This means ensuring that a highly personal approach is taken with every contact made with a donor or prospect by the University. This work will be done in consultation with the Donor Relations team. Building the strategy for a Planned Giving program for the School, in consultation with the Director, Planned Giving and the Dean. Soliciting new planned gifts for the School. Providing ongoing stewardship for donors who have already made a gift to the School. Fundraising as part of the larger multi-million - multi-year, comprehensive campaign for Dalhousie University. -2- Providing fundraising leadership The Development Officer will provide internal and external leadership for the fundraising process. includes: This Coaching and collaborating with the Dean, other leaders within the School, and other School members, regarding fundraising strategies to support the execution of fundraising calls and solicitations. Making strategic recommendations, based on careful research and analysis, as to how to maximize a prospect’s giving. This strategic positioning includes factors such as determining best overall approach, appropriate level of ask, timing of ask and who to involve. Identifying, recruiting, managing and motivating a team of external volunteers (often individuals in senior positions in the community) to support the execution of fundraising calls and solicitations. Continually act as an advocate and ambassador for the University and the School. This entails representing the University and the School externally and at University events held locally, nationally and internationally. Managing fundraising process The Development Officer will ensure appropriate administration of the fundraising-management process and assume other responsibilities as needed. This includes: Directing support staff in the delegation of administrative activities. Documenting, tracking and reporting on activities to appropriate internal stakeholders. Managing the flow of information, expectations and results on a continual basis. Following Advancement policies and procedures, and where appropriate, contributing to the improvement of University-wide development policies and procedures with Advancement leadership. Contributing to the management of existing School-specific endowments, while establishing new endowments for the School. Establishing and managing proposal-related budgets, as well as annual travel expense budgets. Developing an annual performance plan which is reviewed against results. Participating in the interviewing / staff recruitment process. Engaging support from other specialized areas The Development Officer will work with others in the Advancement office and elsewhere in the University to build a comprehensive fundraising program. This includes: Developing strategies and plans to increase leadership gifts and overall alumni giving to the School in cooperation with the Annual Fund team. Liaising with the School’s Director of Alumni Relations as needed (e.g. assisting with events development, management and execution). Liaising with Director of Government Relations on funding initiatives related to particular School projects. Keeping abreast of strategic and comprehensive partnering opportunities with other University service providers, including (but not limited to) Research, Industrial Liaison, Continuing Education, Conference Services, Purchasing, and Employment, etc. -3- DESIRED QUALITIES To be successful in this role, the Development Officer will possess the following traits: Passion, energy and optimism Intelligence and curiosity Professional and personable Ambitious and forward-looking; goal-oriented, and goal driven intellectual and social curiosity Strategic in thought and activity Behavioural and linguistic flexibility; adaptable to changing circumstance Excellent information distillation and translational abilities Highly organized Ability to travel on a regular basis Collaborative change agent Calm and unflappable QUALIFICATIONS Significant progressive experience in a fundraising, business development, professional sales or related environment, preferably in a post-secondary education setting. Demonstrated sales or business development, leadership and strategic planning skills are required. Business acumen, maturity and diplomacy in dealing with donors, and senior level faculty and administrative personnel required. Diplomacy and sensitivity to the needs and interests of other departments, divisions and units with competing development objectives are also critical skills. Excellent communications abilities; articulate and a good listener, and excellent writer. Professional expertise in business development, fundraising, proactive leadership skills and superb communication and interpersonal skills are also integral. Ideally, knowledge of University policies and procedures, professional development focused on trends in fundraising, highly technical components of planned giving tools such as gifts of appreciated securities, gifts-in-kind, charitable remainder trusts, establishing endowments and any changes in Revenue Canada guidelines surrounding charitable giving. Knowledge of the corporate and philanthropic communities – locally, nationally and internationally. Exceptional written, oral and interpersonal communication skills are essential. FOR MORE INFORMATION KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.) has been engaged by Dalhousie University to lead the recruitment of this fundraising leadership role at the Schulich School of Law. Interested candidates are invited to contact the KCI Search team by email at Dalhousie@KCIphilanthropy.com. All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence. Candidates who wish to apply for this position should ensure that a resume and letter of interest are sent to the above email address by May 25, 2016. Dalhousie University is committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. The University encourages applications from qualified Aboriginal people, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, women, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and all qualified candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit www.dal.ca/respect. -4- Dalhousie University Dalhousie University is a leading research-intensive Canadian post-secondary institution, combining the prestige of a big-name school with the charm of life on Canada's east coast. Dalhousie's influence extends throughout Nova Scotia, Canada and beyond. The University, poised to celebrate 200 years of academic excellence in 2018, is united in a purpose-driven quest to make a lasting impact on the world. Our vision is that Dalhousie is a leading innovative, research-intensive university, inspiring our diverse scholarly community to serve Nova Scotia, our region, our nation and the world. Dalhousie’s mission is three-fold: To foster an environment of teaching and learning excellence, built on innovation, collaboration and respect; To create a hub of world-leading research and innovation, adding to the intellectual, social and economic capital of our communities; and To facilitate opportunities for our students, staff and faculty to connect with and serve our local, national and global communities. Dalhousie University is a vibrant community of 13 faculties, 6,000 faculty and staff, and 18,500 students from Canada, and more than 110 other countries around the globe. Students benefit from personal education in an attractive environment, nationally and internationally-recognized faculty, and exceptional educational, cultural and recreational advantages. In addition to teaching and research facilities, Dalhousie has a system of libraries, student residences of many kinds, an Arts Centre and Art Gallery, Student Union building, and athletic and recreational services. Dalhousie has campuses in Halifax and Truro, and a satellite of its Medical School in Saint John, New Brunswick. Dalhousie’s newest campus in Truro, Nova Scotia is the home to the University’s Faculty of Agriculture. Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, offered in partnership with the government of New Brunswick and the University of New Brunswick, is an innovative program that gives New Brunswick students the opportunity to attend medical school in their home province. -5- An influential driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development, Dalhousie is Atlantic Canada's leading research institute, attracting more than $140 million annually in research grants and international development awards. Major teaching hospitals, federal and provincial research laboratories and the provincial archives are all close at hand, enhancing many research partnerships. Along with professional schools that educate lawyers, doctors, health professionals and dentists, Dalhousie delivers advanced technical education through the Faculties of Architecture and Planning, Computer Science and Engineering. This further enhances the University's leadership in education, research and technology transfer. The University is home to world experts in oceanography, health research and life sciences research. Dalhousie University is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, Atlantic Association of Universities, Association of Commonwealth Universities and G13. Inspiration and Impact: Dalhousie Strategic Direction 2014-18 provides an updated vision and mission statements for the University, along with key strategic priorities. Our five broad themes are to: Enhance the transformative power of teaching and learning; Expand opportunities for research, scholarly and artistic work; Catalyze the intellectual, social and economic development of our communities; Take our place nationally and internationally; and Build our institutional capacities. For more information about Dalhousie University, please visit http://www.dal.ca. Advancement and Alumni Relations at Dalhousie University The Office of Advancement at Dalhousie brings together Alumni Relations and Development and their supporting areas to increase understanding and support among our key constituents. Led by Peter Fardy, Vice President, Advancement, the office’s vision is a high performance University Advancement team that achieves outstanding results by inspiring others to provide Dalhousie University with the means to meet and exceed its goals. University Advancement will “deepen the University’s affinity with its alumni and friends through compelling communication and proactive engagement, motivating them to invest in Dalhousie’s vision of the future.” The University is proud of its students and its more than 125,000 alumni, who play leadership roles across Canada and around the globe. 70% of our alumni are in Canada, with most (35%) here in Nova Scotia, and a further 15% in Ontario. More than 5,000 alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students donate to Dalhousie each year, and 32% of our giving comes from Dal alumni. Collectively, these gifts empower our students and faculty to make Dalhousie stronger and more relevant. We are proud of our results to date and ambitious for the future. In fiscal 2014-2015, over $26 million was raised to support Dalhousie. In the most recent 2015- 2016 year, donations and pledges have surpassed $32 million. Also, the market value of the University’s endowment assets reached $537.8 million at the end of fiscal 2015. -6- As the University moves toward 2018, our 200th anniversary, our goal is to grow our fundraising revenues to $50 million per year. Priority projects vary by Faculty and unit, and will often include: Student experience: Enriching the student experience is vital to cultivating tomorrow’s greatest leaders. There are three keys support areas that ensure Dalhousie students have the best possible experience on and off campus. Academic enhancement – Supporting the creation of innovative programs, academic chairs or technologically rich learning environments expands the breadth and depth of our academic offerings. Campus renewal – Revitalizing existing buildings to create dynamic learning spaces or constructing new facilities. Off-campus opportunities – Establishing professional internships, international exchanges and national competitions. It is these experiences that contribute to personal growth and development. Scholarships and bursaries: Strong scholarships and bursaries are critical to Dalhousie for many reasons. It gives us a competitive edge in attracting the best and the brightest students. It allows us to support students from other countries, adding to the University’s rich diversity. It provides opportunity for students working to rise above social barriers and severe financial constraints. It ensures our students are empowered to make decisions that are right for them. Unrestricted: Also known as Area of Greatest Need, these gifts give senior administration the flexibility to address the most pressing needs of the Faculty or University at a particular point in time. They may be used to update equipment, towards large capital projects or seize an opportunity to enhance the educational experience of students. In recent years we have been the recipients of many generous gifts, which include: The School is named for Seymour Schulich, whose transformative $20 million gift in 2009 funds 40 new annual scholarships, creating greater student accessibility, and supports student internship and faculty research opportunities. The generous support of Dr. Margaret McCain and her late husband. Dr. Wallace McCain provided $8 million to fund development and construction of the Wallace McCain Learning Commons, Dalhousie’s newest student space. In February 2015, the Directors of the MacEachen Institute for Policy and Government announced a $2.25 million donation to Dalhousie University for the establishment of a public policy and governance institute at Dalhousie in the name of the Honorable Allan J. MacEachen. Building on their longstanding relationship with Dal’s Faculty of Agriculture, CASE IH announced they will continue providing new equipment to the Agricultural Campus. As part of the new five-plus-five agreement, the Faculty will have the use of about 16 pieces of CASE IH equipment each year, for the next five years. Thanks to a generous gift from the Aurum Group, Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry’s clinic renewal project will feature Aurum Hall, a new state-of-the art lecture room for dental students. -7- -8- Schulich School of Law The Schulich School of Law plays an integral role in the fabric of Canadian legal education. We are the most nationally representative law school in the country, with a large number of students drawn from and returning to every region. We graduate leaders, with alumni holding every form of government office, teaching in most Canadian law schools, innovating in the provision of private and public sector legal services, advancing policy in the executive branch of government, rendering decisions on courts across the country, and offering service to non-governmental bodies and non-profit and community organizations. We have always been marked by our commitment to unselfish public service, in the Weldon tradition. Our bright, motivated students are drawn from across Canada. They are well represented in clerkships at every level of the Canadian judiciary, and hired by major firms in Canada and around the globe. The Juris Doctor (JD) program is a first degree in law that gives students a solid preparation for the practice of law, as well as a respect for and participation in public life. The full-time JD program at Dalhousie requires three years of study. We also have an active graduate program that offers both the Master of Laws (LLM) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. The School offers supervision across a broad area of legal scholarship, with theses ranging from nuclear disarmament, international human rights, criminal corporate responsibility, trade unions and tax avoidance to marine boundary management, arbitration, Aboriginal treaty rights, patient safety, and judicial reform. Our faculty are internationally respected leaders in academia, practice, and policy-making. Distinguished fulltime and adjunct faculty bring expert legal, judicial, and legislative experience and are passionate teachers, driven to deliver the best possible legal education for our students. Our 7,000-strong alumni cover the globe and make remarkable contributions to public life. They include three prime ministers and many premiers, party leaders, cabinet ministers, senators, and elected officials; over 300 judicial appointments to every level of court in every province of Canada, including the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Honourable Justice Bertha Wilson and the first woman to be appointed as a Chief Justice in Canada, the Honourable Constance Glube; and Canadian Business Hall of Famers Purdy Crawford, the "Dean emeritus of Canada's corporate bar" and Sir Graham Day, knighted for his contributions to British industry. For more information on the School, please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLFCvMKP_F8 -9- Development in the Schulich School of Law Community, engagement and public policy are at the heart of the Schulich School. From our expertise in marine, environmental, health and public law to leading discussions on issues as varied as the right to die, access to justice, tax havens, and the interface of law and policy, we are proudly diverse in expertise and student life. That’s why our advancement and community outreach work is so important to us. We are proud of our 7,000 alumni around the world, and are grateful for the input and support they give us. In fiscal 2015, over $2.6 million was raised to support the Schulich School of Law, up from $1.7 million in 2014. Previous years have seen $1.1 million (in 2012) and $2.1 million (in 2013) raised. So far in 2016, just under $1 million has been raised. $414,000 was raised through the annual fund. As we look toward Dalhousie University’s 200th anniversary in 2018, we are developing our advancement priorities and strategic plan in tandem with this important celebration. We expect that our strategic priorities will include, for example, increased experiential, clinical and internship opportunities for our students, support for our Law and Technology Institute that enables the School’s students and faculty to play a central role in the University’s growing innovation and entrepreneurship activities, and initiatives to support and advance the School’s diverse national and international research networks. We are grateful for the support of our benefactors. Seymour Schulich’s remarkable $20 million gift funds 40 new annual scholarships, supports faculty research activities, and funds local, national and international internship opportunities for our students. In 2011, a $3 million gift from Dr. John McCall MacBain resulted in the establishment of the MacBain Chair in Health Law & Policy, further establishing the School as a national and international leader in health law and policy. More recently, the Palmer Family Foundation gave $3 million to establish the James Palmer Chair in Public Policy and Law, named for James (Jim) Palmer (LLB’52). The Chair will increase the role for both the Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie more generally in furthering public discourse and engaging in sound public policy research. -10- Law School Alumni Maps School of Law – World -11- School of Law - Canada -12- Camille Cameron Dean, Schulich School of Law Camille Cameron joined Dalhousie as Dean of the Schulich School of Law in September 2015. She previously held the same title at the University of Windsor and is an accomplished academic leader, researcher and legal consultant with a rich and diverse professional history. Dean Cameron’s university experience includes senior roles at the University of Melbourne and the City University of Hong Kong. Her international background, success as a consultant and practicing lawyer and deep understanding of academic administration will be key assets in building on the strong foundation at the Schulich School of Law. Dalhousie is the latest adventure in the accomplished, diverse and international career of Camille Cameron, who brings extensive experience as a practicing lawyer, legal consultant and university administrator to her role as Dean of the Schulich School of Law. Dean Cameron comes to Dal from the University of Windsor, where she was Dean of that Ontario institution’s Schulich School of Law. Dalhousie appealed to the Cape Breton-born Cameron because it represented both a homecoming and an exciting new challenge. “The combination of coming home and coming to a great law school like Dalhousie was too good to pass up,” says Cameron, who taught at Dal while practicing law in Halifax in the 1980s. “I’ve always had a connection to the place.” Dean Cameron believes the Schulich School of Law has earned its strong reputation and seeks to build on this profile in her term as dean. “Dal identifies itself as Canada’s national law school and I think that’s a legitimate claim,” she says. “Having students from across the country is good for the students and good for the law school. And within the law school there are some areas of specialty that Dal is known for nationally and internationally, including marine and oceans law and health law. I think it can be built on, in student recruitment, faculty recruitment and making sure faculty research and the reputation for faculty research is national and international.” Dean Cameron believes the leadership skills she’s honed in several senior roles at academic institutions have prepared her to guide Dal’s Schulich School of Law. “I’ve been in academic institutions now for a while, so I know and understand them and I understand academic leadership,” she says. “You talk to people and get their views and then you work together to make good things happen. And I’m a problem solver and an optimist. I think that really helps as well.” Her international experience, including senior positions with the University of Melbourne, the City University of Hong Kong and with a human rights group in Cambodia, have built her capacity for creativity and flexibility – assets she believes are keys for success in the dean’s role. “If you’ve been in a number of different places, you’re not wedded to one way of doing things,” she says. “It helps you to develop an open mind, knowing that there are different ways of effecting change and getting things done.” Dean Cameron has also been successful outside the academic world, both as a practicing lawyer and a consultant with expertise in civil justice, dispute resolution, judicial training and court reform. Sharing the knowledge gained outside of academia is something she hopes will benefit faculty members and students. From advancing the Schulich School of Law’s national and international research profile to preparing students for rewarding careers, her goal as Dean is to leave the faculty she leads in even better shape than when she arrived. “Law schools last longer than deans do. Every Dean wants to make a difference for the better, so if at the end of your term you can look back and say you’ve made Dal stronger, that’s what success is.” -13- Peter Fardy - Vice-President, Advancement For Peter Fardy, advancing the goals of Dalhousie is about much more than asking people to open their wallets. Rather, he believes it’s his role – and that of his team in advancement office – to help alumni and other members of the Dalhousie community discover how a gift of time, talent or treasure will fulfill them. Whether it’s funding one student’s studies or enabling an addition to Dal’s facilities, such as a library or lab, Mr. Fardy is committed to giving contributors and understanding of the difference they can make and a sense of achievement when they do. “It’s our job to help them discover what they are truly capable of doing.” As Vice-President, Advancement, Mr. Fardy aims to build an effective operation that integrates sustainable fund development and robust alumni engagement. Internally, he has an “almost always” open-door policy as leader to a team of development professionals who are very focused on individual and team performance. He believes that good performance management practices are critical to individual team members, the unit as a whole and the university. He also meets with deans, AVPs and others across Dal to make sure advancement goals are aligned with those of the university. Mr. Fardy’s work also takes him off campus – elsewhere in Halifax and across the country – to build meaningful relationships with alumni and friends whose support can make a positive impact at Dal. And he always tries to keep in mind that ultimately, the goal of his work is to improve the experience of present and future generations of Dalhousie students. Stephen Harding - Assistant Vice President, Development Stephen Harding is the Assistant Vice President, Development for Dalhousie University. He leads the Development team at Dalhousie, with responsibility for the major gifts, annual fund and planned giving teams. Steve is passionate about donors, and about uncovering unique insights to build natural partnerships between donors and causes. He has over 25 years of progressively senior experience in development, marketing, sales and customer service with Canadian Blood Services, CCL, Bell Aliant, Seagull Pewter and Moosehead Breweries Limited. Steve holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing Management from Mount Allison University and was selected male valedictorian of his MBA class at Dalhousie University, where he graduated with an MBA in International Business. -14- Living in Halifax Region With a population of just over 400,000 Halifax enjoys the advantages of a smaller community with the features and benefits of a larger urban centre. Nestled on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, our small metropolis offers exciting city life, yet it’s only a 20 minute drive to the gorgeous Nova Scotia countryside. As Nova Scotia’s capital, Halifax is the major centre of the Maritimes and the largest city east of Quebec City and north of Boston. One of the oldest cities in Canada, Halifax provides a blend of history, culture and modern amenities. Halifax is the education centre for the Atlantic provinces, with more than 30,000 students choosing to study in one of its seven post-secondary institutions each year. Haligonians enjoy a vibrant music scene, amazing restaurants, and terrific museums and galleries. Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is culturally and geographically diverse, which gives residents the ability to choose high-density urban, suburban or rural lifestyles. It has the highest concentration of artists and cultural producers in the Atlantic region - and 4th in Canada, and consistently ranks as one of Canada’s most sustainable cities. HRM is the commercial, educational, research and technological centre of Atlantic Canada, and its residents are the best educated in Canada. HRH has the youngest and the fastest growing population in Atlantic Canada Dalhousie’s three Halifax campuses are situated in residential areas, within easy walking distance of downtown Halifax. Historic, ivy-covered buildings and well-kept grounds provide a beautiful and inspiring learning environment. Nova Scotia has a temperate climate. Weather in Halifax varies by season, from warm summer days to leisurely falls, crisp-fresh winters, and vibrant springs. The summer months tend to be warm with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 30°C*, cooling off in mid-late September. Throughout the winter months temperatures typically range from -15°C to 2°C* and while it's not uncommon to take shelter from a snow storm, Haligonians also love a number of outdoor winter activities, such as skating, skiing and ice hockey. From sandy beaches and headland cliffs to pristine lakes and lush farmland, Nova Scotia boasts an array of year-round recreational opportunities. Sailing, kayaking, cycling, and hiking are all popular summer activities. When the weather does turn, tunnels connect the buildings on Studley Campus. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the average house price is around $300,000. Due to these low home costs, the cost of living in Halifax is one of the lowest in the country. -15-