Ainsley Grant
President of the Healthcare Outreach Club

Biopsychology student Ainsley Grant is the incoming president of ������Ƶ Allison’s Healthcare Outreach Club, which invites students to get involved in community projects. Last year, students hosted fundraising events in support of the Canadian Cancer Society and prepared and delivered to Sackville Memorial Hospital patient care packages filled with books, socks, and other items. 

The club also works with Sackville’s Drew Nursing Home and Nursing Home Without Walls, a provincial initiative that partners with long-term care homes to provide supports and services to older adults still living in their own homes. Student volunteers visit seniors in their homes for tea, coffee, and conversation, as well as organize outings for socialization and physical activity. Grant, who last year led the recruitment of student volunteers, says the experience is beneficial to the health and wellness of both the seniors and the students, creating opportunities to meet wonderful people, learn a lot, and grow as an individual. 

“It is really important when you are at university to immerse yourself in community life,” says Grant.

Lucas Orfanides
MASU Accessibility Coordinator

PPE student Lucas Orfanides is the accessibility coordinator for the ������Ƶ Allison Students’ Union (MASU) — consulting with students on specific concerns, working with MASU executives and University staff on accessibility policy, and sitting on the University Senate disability committee to bring student perspectives into institutional decisions. 

“I am proud to be a part of making our campus a more inclusive and more accessible place,” says Orfanides. “As a student with a disability, I understand how difficult the challenges can be and making sure every student feels welcome at ������Ƶ Allison is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.”

Ava Horwood    
Wellness Centre Intern

This past year, PPE student Ava Horwood was ������Ƶ Allison’s wellness intern. Each year, this student position works with partners across campus and in the community to ensure students are getting vital health and wellness information, resources, and access. The intern manages social media accounts and is involved in Wellness Week, a recurring campus event focussed on health education, stress management, and self-care. 

“I’m passionate about getting people, especially in rural areas, access to adequate health care, and to ensuring students have the resources they need because your health is so important to continuing your academics and achieving your goals,” says Horwood.