Our high tides, salty air and rocky coasts are just a few of the things that distinguish Nova Scotia — and Dalhousie University — from other places in Canada. It was only natural for this year’s Homecoming lecture to highlight what marine animal tracking initiatives at Dal can teach us about oceans and ocean climate change.

The Sunday night rain didn’t stop the Women’s Division of the Dalhousie Alumni Association (WDDAA) from hosting a wonderful evening in the Victorian Lounge at Shirreff Hall on September 30. Last month, a brand new ebony Yamaha grand piano was delivered to Shirreff and the WDDAA saw it fitting to host a celebratory recital and reception.

The annual Dalhousie Alumni Association Awards honour notable achievements and recognize the diverse ways that alumni contribute to the university and to society. This year’s recipients include a former Dalhousie president, a long-serving member of Dalhousie’s Board, a law alumnus making a difference in the lives of military families, and one of Canada’s top foreign policy thinkers.

When Danielle Dubé (BMgmt’10) qualified last January for the upcoming summer Olympics, it marked a pinnacle in a sailing career that she’d once believed was over. The 25-year-old became the first Nova Scotian to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games during a World Cup event in Miami.

When Rose Cousins (BScK’99) writes a song, it’s a solitary process: alone, with her guitar, pulling chords and phrases out of the ether to communicate an idea from the heart. To make it truly sing, though, takes a community.