2025
Terra Duncan
Terra Duncan, BJ(Hons)’06, MFA’15, was the first member of her family to attend university and found the transition from high school to university daunting and confusing. However, by her second year, she had figured out the student aid system, had read the course calendar cover to cover and realized she was acting as an unofficial advisor to her friends.
“I realized I wasn’t alone and that everyone kind of struggled,” she says. “This is when my advising days really began.”
Two decades later, she thinks back to her younger self and tries to be the person she needed back then— someone with a listening ear, a friendly smile and answers to queries such as how to transfer credits, declare a major or a combination major, and apply for bursaries and scholarships.
Duncan was the first person in King’s history to complete a combined honours degree in journalism and early modern studies. Her contributions to governance and student life during her undergraduate years earned her the Margaret J. Marriner Award for most outstanding residence student in 2005, the Warrena Power Award for most outstanding graduating female student in 2006, a Gold and Silver K, and a Distinction Award in 2006—the KSU’s highest honour, awarded to graduating students who have contributed deeply to life at the college.
Of all her student achievements, working with Inglis Professor Dr. William Barker and Dean Leslie Davis on the Presidential Advisory Committee to change the residence structure to coed had the most significant impact on the future of the college, ensuring all genders have equal access to housing options.
While working in the Registrar’s office, Duncan’s contributions to the college were profound. She inspired thousands of students to apply to King’s and under her leadership, enrollment and retention numbers achieved record heights. In the spring of 2013, former President George Cooper announced that King’s would welcome the largest incoming FYP class in the history of the college, in part because of Duncan’s strategic vision and leadership.
Duncan was instrumental in overseeing the admission and administrative processes needed to get the MFA in Creative Nonfiction operational and ready for the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission’s approval. Going above and beyond the scope of her duties, she even designed the gown worn by MFA graduates during Encaenia. Then, she enrolled as a member of the inaugural MFA class, lending extra administrative support during the program’s infancy while pursuing her love of writing. She’s a poet and author of the memoir The Robin’s Egg.
As a Student Success Advisor at Dalhousie’s Bissett Student Success Centre, Duncan helps prepare students for careers in STEM fields. She keeps a King’s sweater in her office to wear whenever she advises King’s students to make them feel welcome and at home. She is a go-to for those declaring minors in King’s subjects, and for helping faculty, staff and students alike understand the special relationship between Dalhousie and King’s.
2024
Paul MacKay
When Paul MacKay was hired to manage the King’s Co-op Bookstore in 2018, the store was on the brink of financial collapse. MacKay recognized that the King’s Co-op Bookstore, and the King’s community in general, was very special. Leaving a stable management job at Chapters, MacKay came to King’s to see if he could make a difference.
Within three years MacKay had all former debts settled and the accounting back on track. Building on the strong connections he had with publishing houses across Canada and the United States, he put the King’s Co-op Bookstore on the map, turning it into a nationally and internationally recognized and respected independent bookstore in the eyes of authors, publishing houses and consumers alike. He ships books to alumni around the world and has secured loyal repeat customers within the greater Halifax community and beyond. This is in part because of his personal touch. Every book he ships is accompanied by a receipt with a hand-written expression of gratitude from Paul.
In addition to his business savvy and strong relationship building skills, MacKay understands the power of social media. His funny, clever, and interesting posts have attracted followers from around the world, including some famous followers such as John Lurie. Beyond the impact on the bookstore itself, this power to reach greater audiences has made a valuable contribution to King’s brand awareness as a whole. Prospective students and their families on a campus tour often seek Paul out to meet the person behind the posts.
MacKay’s contribution to King’s goes further still. He has leveraged his role to promote equity, diversity and inclusion, routinely promoting books written by underrepresented authors and supporting local writers such as El Jones and Daniel Paul, alongside international superstars like Angela Davis and Desmond Cole.
MacKay is well loved by King’s students and he, in turn, sees and understands them exceptionally well, caring for them with the heart and passion of a student services professional. The books he stocks are a true representation of the variety of lived experiences on campus, and the events he hosts and promotes reflect the values the students hold dear. When the global pandemic hit, the King’s Co-op Bookstore was the only bookstore that remained open during those first months. He delivered course books and gift-wrapped birthday presents from families to lonely students in their greatest time of need. He did this on his bicycle, attracting media attention and putting King’s on the map yet again. Using every ounce of his time and savvy, he kept that bookstore thriving and audiences engaged during a time of incredible economic and social devastation.
MacKay, like the Ancient Commoner himself, is a silent partner in the success of the College. Always listening from the sidelines, he supports and elevates the causes and values of the King’s community.
2020
The Ancient Commoner sits in the cupola overlooking the quad, self-isolating as he has done for years. The campus is empty these days but the old student who, according to lore climbed to his perch to keep a watchful eye on King’s and to guard its traditions, knows the spirit of the College is as vibrant as ever. And as he does every year when the spring flowers bloom in the quad he chooses up to three members of the world-wide King’s community to be inducted into the Order of the Ancient Commoner. They are people who go above and beyond to support King’s or the Alumni Association.
With physical distancing it would have been easier for the Ancient Commoner to spot these three, but they would stand out in any crowd.
Kate MacKeigan
Kate MacKeigan, BA’09, took full advantage of all King’s had to offer her as a student and now, as an alum, she is paying it forward.
MacKeigan was an athlete–playing on both the women’s rugby and badminton teams. She was also a member of the Haliburton Society and a volunteer with King’s Tutoring Program at St. Agnes Junior High.
Volunteerism must be encoded in MacKeigan’s DNA. When she moved to Ottawa in 2013 MacKeigan volunteered her time as secretary to the Ottawa Branch of the King’s Alumni Association. She and fellow committee members reached out to alumni living in Ottawa to help foster the ties begun at King’s. MacKeigan was also one of the co-organizers and the King’s representative for the Atlantic University Pub Night events held annually in Canada’s capital.
If all that wasn’t enough MacKeigan worked to encourage the next generation of King’s students. She attended the Ottawa King’s Faculty Lecture Tours and Meet & Greets. She mixed and mingled with prospective students and their parents while sharing stories of her time at King’s to help with the vital job of recruitment.
When she moved back to Halifax MacKeigan continued her commitment to King’s. She organized a Worldwide Alumni Celebration (WAC) event in her home in 2018 and again in 2019. MacKeigan continues to be involved with recruitment efforts attending the Halifax Meet & Greets.
John Adams
It’s a good question—does King’s attract volunteers or create them? It is probably both. Like Kate, John Adams, BA (Hons)’10, is a tireless promoter and volunteer on behalf of the university.
As an undergrad Adams played significant roles on campus. He sat on Student Council and he was a member the King’s Theatrical Society (KTS). Wanting to help his fellow students stay active and get involved Adams was the CUBE (intramurals) Coordinator. He was a good athlete himself, winning Rookie of the Year award on the Blue Devils rugby team.
Adams graduated in 2010 but his time with King’s was far from over. He came back to work for the King’s Student Union (KSU) as Internal Coordinator—a venerable guardian of all things King’s … and also highly critical of King’s activities. Both are attributes of the Ancient Commoner.
With his playing days behind him, Adams coached the men’s rugby team, receiving the Rod Shoveller Award (Coach of the Year) in 2013. He was also voted Honorary Class President by the graduating class of 2013.
Adams went to Ottawa to purse an MBA, and then moved to Vancouver to work for MetaLab. Despite how busy his job keeps him, working with top tier companies such as Apple, Disney and Google, Adams still finds time to volunteer for King’s. He was instrumental in starting the Vancouver Alumni Branch, has hosted three WAC events. He attends King’s Faculty Lecture Tour and Meet & Greet events in Vancouver–supporting recruitment efforts of the university, sharing stories of his time at King’s and encouraging other young people as they consider coming to King’s.
Céline Beland
There is more than one generation of King’s students who considered Céline Beland their mom-away-from-home.
Beland came to King’s in 2004 as General Manager with Sodexo. When Chartwells was awarded the food service in 2017, much to King’s delight, Beland and many of her staff decided to stay at King’s.
Beland’s dedication to and compassion for King’s students is legendary. From accommodating dietary needs and restrictions to sleeping in her office to ensure uninterrupted service on a storm day, Beland and her staff always had the students needs top of mind.
Beland spent countless volunteer hours and her own resources to bring just the right touch to important special occasions at King’s: from black-tie dinners at Encaenia, presidential installations to multi-day celebrations such as King’s 225th Anniversary. During the 225th weekend celebration Beland was on hand at King’s largest alumni gathering welcoming hundreds of graduates back to campus, greeting them by name. She was instrumental in helping to create an atmosphere that encouraged alumni to celebrate their university days, reconnect with old classmates, and create new friendships and memories.
Her time at King’s has been filled with growth, friendships and a sense of community. Beland’s thoughtfulness and personal flair were always apparent. Her cheerful, friendly and warm-hearted disposition made her a priceless asset to the King’s community.
Beland retired as Food Services Director in April 2020. A job well done, a retirement well earned.