Half a Century of Triumph: Celebrating Women in Sport at SMU

Written by Keyara Nelson

Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Nick Pearce at SMU

Fifty years ago, a group of dedicated women at Saint Mary’s University took to the courts and fields, not just to compete, but to shatter barriers and pave the way for generations of women athletes to come. This year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 50 years of women in varsity sport at SMU, highlighted by the creation of a documentary that honours and commemorates this incredible journey. Today, the women athletes at SMU are among the top-ranked teams at both a provincial and national level, but in the 1970s, the first steps of history were only just being taken. From humble beginnings to national triumphs, this year we reflect on the talent, leadership, and perseverance of the past that allows us to perform in the present. 



The Leaders of the Past

Faced with an impossible task and a short time to accomplish it, Kathy Mullane came into SMU and completely rewrote history through her determination and incredible leadership. Mullane was the women’s basketball and field hockey coach when the programs were introduced in 1974. “I was hired to coach basketball, but at that time in the '70s, most women athletes wanted to play both sports," she told CTV News Atlantic during an interview. "They’d play field hockey in the fall and move into basketball," she explained. It was Mullane who insisted on coaching a field hockey team at the varsity level, despite only being hired by Dr. Owen Carrigan (President of Saint Mary’s University at the time) to establish a women's varsity basketball team. Dr. Carrigan recognized the need for a women's athletic program and Bob Hayes, the Athletic Director at the time, agreed. Hayes, the man who practically developed the athletic program here at SMU, can actually be seen in his statue form in the lobby of the Homburg Centre. 


Mullane would continue to coach for the years to come, remaining at the university until 2011. She was the university’s first full-time women coach, and in her 37 years at SMU she held various roles in the Athletic department and led her teams to four AUS (Atlantic University Sport, then Atlantic Universities Athletics Association) titles. She was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1998. According to Mullane, the women athletics programs at SMU have certainly grown over the years, and in my opinion, it can be expected to grow even more in the future. 

The Voices of the Present

The creation of the documentary, aptly titled The First 50: A Half Century of Women in Varsity Athletics at Saint Mary’s University, was first initiated by Dr. Cheryl MacDonald. Dr. MacDonald was the Director of the Saint Mary’s University Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business, and Health, at the time of the production of this documentary, and she is also co-editor of Overcoming the Neutral Zone Trap: Hockey's agents of change. Presently, Dr. MacDonald is CEO of Sport New Brunswick, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of amateur sport in New Brunswick, Canada. Dr. MacDonald appointed Robbie Loughery to film the short documentary, which showcased Saint Mary’s University’s unique history of women’s sports over the past 50 years, highlighting the stories of current and former coaches, athletes, and key contributors who played crucial roles behind the scenes. 


“I believe it’s important to celebrate milestones in order to raise awareness about the progress made in women’s sports,” said Dr. MacDonald in an interview with the SMU Journal, “I wanted to do it in a way that would have more of a lasting effect than an event or poster or social media post, so I chose a short documentary.” When asked to describe the documentary, Dr. MacDonald states, “the documentary presents stories from current and former athletes, coaches, and administrators who have played a role in women’s sports at Saint Mary’s University over the past 50 years. These stories are meant to reflect on the challenges and successes of the past, celebrate the present, and shed light on the possibilities of the future.”

 
 

“While it captures just a snapshot of the remarkable women over the past 50 years, the goal is that the film will resonate as a representation of the impact and legacy of women in varsity sports at SMU,” adds Quinn MacDonald, Operations Support Specialist at the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health, who closely collaborated on the documentary's production. When MacDonald was asked which personal stories or experiences moved her while working on the documentary, she highlighted the efforts of Mullane: “For myself, Kathy Mullane’s determination and vision in advancing women's varsity sports at Saint Mary’s serves as a powerful reminder that meaningful change is attainable, regardless of the initial belief of others or a clearly defined path, and that we all have the ability do our part in promoting equality and support for women athletes at the university.”

The Hope for the Future

The journey that began fifty years ago with a handful of courageous trailblazers at SMU has blossomed into a powerful legacy that continues to grow stronger each year. While the university celebrates its strides toward gender equality in sports, there is a clear recognition that the work is far from complete, and that building on this foundation is essential for future progress. Dr. MacDonald shared her vision to propel the movement forward, saying, “In the future, I would like to see increased institutional investment in full-time coaches for women’s sports teams at Saint Mary’s, as well as a commitment to hiring more women coaches. This would help to ensure that the next 50 years are more equitable and sustainable than the last 50.” Currently, SMU has 12 women coaches across various women’s teams. This includes two assistant coaches on the Women’s Basketball team, two assistant coaches on the Track and Field teams, one assistant coach on the Women's Hockey team, a head coach and three assistant coaches on the Women's Rugby team, a head coach and an assistant coach on the Women's Soccer team, and an assistant coach on the Women's Volleyball team. This count does not include strength and conditioning trainers or other team support professionals.


As the push for equal representation in athletics gains momentum, hopes are high that SMU’s leadership will continue to expand resources for both women athletes and coaches. Currently, there are seven women’s sports teams active at SMU, with a total of 134 women athletes competing. These impressive numbers, particularly for a smaller university, deserve recognition and resources. This vision stretches beyond the courts and fields; with greater alumni involvement and increased media visibility for women’s teams, the potential impact is boundless. MacDonald shares this hopeful outlook, saying, “As for what the future holds, while I can't say for certain, I hope to see women receiving the same opportunities, resources, and support as men in sports, continuing the upward trajectory we are currently experiencing. I am grateful to have contributed, even in a small way, and I eagerly anticipate what the next half-century will bring.” With unwavering commitment and forward-looking vision, SMU is poised to honour its past while making way for an exciting and inclusive future in women’s sports.

Melissa Alvarez Del Angel