外流影片

 

By Suzanne Robicheau

Imagine a modern woodshop, where instead of hammers and saws the tools are 3-D printers, laser cutters, and specialty software. Acadia imagined just such a place. The R. Howard Webster Foundation helped make it a reality.

鈥淭he R. Howard Webster Foundation has a long history of supporting projects that benefit 外流影片 and our students,鈥� says Nancy Handrigan (鈥�92),

Acadia鈥檚 Executive Director, Philanthropy. 鈥淭he Foundation stepped forward again during Campaign for Acadiawith a gift to help us create Steamspace, a renovated area in Raymond House that now houses the tools for 21^st-century digital design and prototyping.鈥�

The back story to this forward-looking philanthropy begins with the Foundation鈥檚 founder, the late R. Howard Webster, O.C., an ambitious yet humble Montrealer who had the Midas touch with respect to business and a heart of gold when it came to community. After providing decades of generous support for everything from neurological research and medical equipment to Boys and Girls Clubs and bilingualism, R. Howard Webster passed away in 1990, leaving everything to his Foundation.

Norman Webster took over as President of the R. Howard Webster Foundation in 1991. A respected journalist and former editor-in-chief of both The Globe and Mail and the Montreal Gazette, he has worked diligently to support Canadian charities and has helped disburse many gifts for educational institutions, including 外流影片. Distinction as a Member of the Order of Canada speaks to Norman鈥檚 exceptional dedication to service.

After 20 years as President, Norman passed the mantle to the Foundation鈥檚 long-time treasurer, Howard Davidson. During his 40-year involvement with the Webster Foundation, Howard has guided Board members in designating a variety of gifts to Acadia. The impact of this generosity has been felt in support for the library, electronic classrooms, instructional materials, program development, and the Webster Undergraduate Research Awards, three awards of almost $6,000 each year to support promising undergraduate Honours students in unique areas of research.

For alumnus Cooper Coats (BScH 鈥�18) 鈥� pictured above, standing second from left 鈥� who recently qualified for the Olympics as a member of Rugby Canada鈥檚 National Senior Men鈥檚 7s Team, a Webster Undergraduate Research Award made it possible to experience a summer of full-time research into compounds that could ameliorate the toxic side effects that chemotherapy has on the heart. Now pursuing his Master of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Victoria with the goal of becoming a doctor, Cooper describes the R. Howard Webster Foundation and Foundation Chair Peter Webster (pictured seated above) as two of the main reasons his honours project and the final year of his undergraduate degree were so successful. Having met Peter in his final year at Acadia, Cooper says, 鈥淚 feel very thankful to have received an award from a Foundation that has such an important connection with Acadia and truly cares about the students they support.鈥�

That strong connection is evident in the R. Howard Webster Foundation鈥檚 Campaign contribution of $500,000 for Steamspace, the first university makerspace in Atlantic Canada to welcome everyone 鈥� from students, faculty and staff to alumni, school groups, and members of the surrounding community.

  Support for innovation is exemplified as well in gifts that helped drive the Acadia Advantage, an academic initiative that    integrated mobile technology into the undergraduate curriculum. In addition to funding 22 electronic classrooms and equipping them with the latest in multi-media tools, the Foundation made it possible for Acadia to provide fibre optic links to the Internet at every desk 鈥� a wonderful gift even by today鈥檚 standards, and one that put Acadia on the map in the late 1990s as a technology innovator.

鈥淚n fact, the Foundation was among the earliest of leadership donors to the Acadia Advantage capital campaign,鈥� says Harvey Gilmour (鈥�66), Acadia鈥檚 former Director of Development. 鈥淔oundation directors grasped the significance of linking students to the world-wide web at a time when the issue was in great debate.鈥�

Gilmour credits the long-time relationship with the R. Howard Webster Foundation, developed during the tenure of Bill Parker (鈥�56, Hon 鈥�98) as Acadia鈥檚 Vice-President External Relations, with bringing enormous benefit to the University. 鈥淭his is one of Canada鈥檚 greatest foundations,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he Board鈥檚 generosity and Peter Webster鈥檚 advocacy and service as a member of the University鈥檚 Board of Governors have been critical in supporting Acadia鈥檚 mission.鈥�

According to Howard Davidson, the beauty and success of the R. Howard Webster Foundation comes down to the active role played by members of the Webster family, nine of whom sit on the 12-person Board. 鈥淕rant-making is very important to them,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey really roll up their sleeves and participate.鈥�