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Traditions

You’re a part of our future – and our past. While things have changed over the years, we still hold on strong to a lot of our old traditions while making new ones. So while you're screaming your lungs out during Orientation Cheer-off, taking in a varsity Tiger game, or participating in the Induction Ceremony, you'll feel the history and spirit of this wonderful place.

The Faculty of Agriculture Ring

In March 2010, Dal launched an official ring designed exclusively for the Faculty of Agriculture students and alumni. The design features a textured pattern of barley around the band. Each ring is handmade by local artisan, Donna Hiebert. 

Close up of the texture of the Faculty of Agriculture official ring

The New Dawn Staff of Place and Belonging

Dalhousie's New Dawn Staff of Place and Belonging was first introduced into use at Convocation in the Spring of 2019, replacing the University Mace as the ceremonial object used to open and close each ceremony. Like the Mace before it, the New Dawn Staff is carried into the ceremony by the University Beadle at the head of the graduate procession and placed onstage to signal the start of the celebration and carried back out to mark the end.

The New Dawn Staff was designed and created by artists Alan Syliboy of Millbrook First Nation and Mark Austin of Colchester County, with guidance from the university and in collaboration with a team of artists and craftspeople from diverse communities across Nova Scotia.

Artists Syliboy and Austin with the New Dawn Staff
Dalhousie is one of the first universities in North America to replace its traditional mace with a new ceremonial object. Through its mix of symbols, materials, and textures, the New Dawn Staff reflects the rich diversity of individuals who make up the Dalhousie community today and their collective history in this place that we share together.

Dig up the past in the Library Archives

On the 5th floor of the Killam Library, there's a huge collection of interesting research material in the Library archives including major research collections, university records, and a Maritime history archive. You can also check out great online archives, including some digitalized copies of Dal yearbooks, old issues of the Dalhousie Gazette, and university calendars.  

Visit in-person Visit online