StFX breaks ground on Mulroney Institute
Project includes new academic programs, centre for innovation
Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th prime minister, along with his wife, Mila Mulroney, and their daughter, Caroline Mulroney Lapham, were at St. Francis Xavier University Wednesday for the official sod turning of Mulroney Hall and Xaverian Commons.
Hundreds gathered to witness the official ground breaking of Mulroney Hall and Xaverian Commons, a $100 million project heralded as the most transformational in StFX’s history.
Mulroney Hall kicks off the Xaverian Commons project, which includes a new academic building to house the Centre for Innovation in Health and refurbishment of Nicholson Tower. Mulroney Hall will be home to the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government which will provide new academic programs and $10 million raised for scholarships and bursaries.
“Today represents the culmination of a dream,” said Mulroney. “StFX students will now benefit from a unique opportunity as the only public policy institute at a Canadian university directed towards undergraduate students.”
Mulroney, a graduate of StFX, noted that this will provide students with remarkable preparation for graduate studies or for careers in the public service of all governments in Canada along with
agencies ranging from the Bank of Canada to the United Nations.
“This event today is a result of the unparalleled generosity and support of benefactors in the private sector here and elsewhere across the globe. It simply would not have been possible without them,” Mulroney said. He also underlined the tremendous help received for the greater Xaverian Commons project from the provincial and federal governments, which have contributed $5 million and $30 million respectively.
StFX President Dr. Kent MacDonald said changes will go far beyond a beautiful new 95,000 square foot building for Mulroney
Hall. It will transform the student experience at StFX as well as positively impacting the surrounding region.
“This is what it means to leave a legacy. The Mulroney legacy is one we will always be indebted to here at StFX.”
In the afternoon, Mulroney spoke with political science students and held a Q&A session. Earlier in the day, Caroline Mulroney Lapham and Mila Mulroney joined with StFX Chancellor Dr. Susan Crocker and StFX VP and Coady International Director Dr. June Webber to speak with female student leaders on the topic of Women in Leadership.