Church Point (NS), April 9, 2019 – Université Sainte-Anne is proud to announce that it will award an Honorary Doctorate in History to Ms. Sally Ross, during the university graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2019.
Born in Halifax (Nova Scotia), Ms. Ross earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts degree from Dalhousie University. She also holds a licence ès lettres (“bachelor of arts”) and a doctorate in French literature from Université de Tours (France). She began her career as a language professor, but then taught the history and culture of Québec and Acadie, which became her major area of expertise during the 1970's.
Since 1983, she has been self-employed and has earned a living as a writer. Her portfolio includes several works, translations, papers and academic publications. Some of her publications include Les écoles acadiennes en Nouvelle-Écosse, 1758-2000, nominated for the Prix France-Acadie, as well as Les Acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse, which she co-authored with Alphonse Deveau and which serves as a textbook for the Acadian studies curriculum in Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) schools.
Besides her research in Acadian history and her literary translations funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, she has fulfilled significant contracts with multiple departments and organizations including Health Canada, Parks Canada, the Nova Scotia Museum, the Musée acadien de l'Université de Moncton (“Université de Moncton Acadian Museum”), the Musée acadien de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard (“Prince Edward Island Acadian Museum”), Acadian Affairs and the Société Promotion Grand-Pré.
For many years she was a member of the organizing committee for Acadian Days at Grand-Pré National Historic Site and wrote a booklet on dykes and aboiteaux for the Société Promotion Grand-Pré.
In 2003, Ms. Ross received a grant from the Nova Scotia Museum to conduct a sociocultural study of Acadian cemeteries established in Nova Scotia after the Deportation. This study was the subject of several academic publications and represents one of her most important research contributions. In 2015, Ms. Ross donated the project's 2000 photos to the Nova Scotia Archives. These photos have been made available to the public on-line.
More recently, as secretary of the group “Les Amis de Grand-Pré”, she played an important role in the preservation of the Sainte-Famille cemetery in Falmouth (formerly Pisiquid). It is estimated that nearly 300 Acadians are buried in this cemetery, which is now recognised as a provincial and municipal heritage property.
As a writer, translator and historian specialized in the history and culture of Nova Scotia's Acadians, Sally Ross has devoted her career to researching, documenting and advocating for this community. Her achievements are not only known and appreciated by all of Nova Scotia's Acadians and francophones, but also by the greater public, which is now aware of this people's history and aspirations.
In recognition of her contribution to the Acadian community's historical record and her impact in raising its profile, Université Sainte-Anne is proud to award an Honorary Doctorate in History to Ms. Sally Ross.
The entire community and all media outlets are welcome to attend this ceremony in honour of our students and Ms. Ross, which will take place at Église Sainte-Marie Church on Saturday, May 11 at 2 pm. For those who are unable to attend, the event will also be webcast.
Photo credit: François Gaudet
About Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne, the only French language post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, offers university and college-level courses as well as a French immersion program and customized training in French as a second language. Recognized for its excellent programs as well as its unique and exceptional living environment, Sainte-Anne offers experiential learning opportunities that promote student engagement and success, and an atmosphere which encourages a culture of excellence in research and development. Solidly established in its community, Université Sainte-Anne is a partner of choice for all those who wish to strengthen the vitality of the regions surrounding its 5 campuses as well as all of Acadie throughout Nova Scotia.
For more information
Rachelle LeBlanc, Director of Communications and Marketing
Université Sainte-Anne
Tel.: 902-769-2114 Extension 7222
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