Community Engagement is an important pillar of Mount Saint Vincent University’s foundation and a core value of the department of athletics and recreation.

“We strive to make MSVU and the surrounding community a better place through active involvement,” says MSVU athletic director Angela Barrett-Jewers. “Our student-athletes are encouraged to be leaders both on and off the field of play and active engagement is a way to build connections within our individual teams and collectively as Mystics.”

At Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), the last Wednesday of the month of January is Caritas Day – a day without classes to allow members of the MSVU community engage in charitable acts of kindness and volunteerism.

Caritas Day began to commemorate the generosity of the surrounding community who opened their doors to 400 displaced students, teachers and Sisters of Charity after a fire destroyed the only building on the MSVU campus at that time, in the early hours of January 31, 1951.

Fast forward 75 years later and the tradition continues, with many from MSVU giving back to their community, including Mystics student-athletes. With scheduling provided by the MSVU Business and Tourism department, the Mystics spent the morning at the Parker Street Food Bank, Caritas Residence, Sisters of Charity, Hand in Hand, Prescott Group and Adsum House.

Justin Grant, a first-year member of the men’s basketball team, was joined by some of his teammates at the Parker Street Food Bank sorting food and toys. “We just wanted to come in and help out for the day,” said the Caledon, Ontario native. “We don’t have classes today, so we should use the time to do something good.”

Women’s soccer player Beth Padfield volunteered at the Caritas Residence with the Sisters of Charity. They toured the residence and met several of the Sisters, who shared stories about their history and their role in founding MSVU.

“Learning how these women became empowered through education and leadership, and how their work created opportunities that still benefit students today, made the experience especially impactful,” said Padfield. “Hearing firsthand about the MSVU fire from a sister who was a student at the time, made the history behind Caritas Day feel real and personal.”

“Giving back means showing up for our community in small but meaningful ways,” adds Padfield. “We made sandwiches for Hope Cottage in Halifax, where meals are provided each day to people who need them. Since ‘Caritas’ means charity, love and giving, this day is about giving back and continuing a tradition of community support.”

Caritas Day isn’t the only initiative Mystics student-athletes support. Each fall, the Mystics run a campaign to help the Shoebox Project – a Canadian charity that supports women experiencing or who are at risk of homelessness. They collect donations of essential everyday items and small luxuries that a women would love and then come together to fill shoeboxes with items equal to approximately $50 and hand-written notes of support. They are then wrapped and sent off to the local chapter to be distributed to those in need.

This year’s campaign was organized by Victoria Strickland, the Community Outreach Chair of the MSVU Varsity Council and a fifth-year member of the women’s basketball team.

“Homelessness continues to be an urgent issue in our communities,” says Strickland. “I’m grateful that we have been able to make a small difference.”

Thanks to Strickland, her fellow student-athletes, and those who made contributions, the Mystics were able to wrap 40 shoeboxes for women in need ahead of the holiday season.