Today@Dal

On Wednesday, August 29, students, faculty and staff from Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry participated in its newly resurrected faculty softball tournament.

Six teams encompassing more than 75 players (and dozens of their biggest fans) took to the nearby Gorsebrook and St. Francis fields for an afternoon of fun in the sun. In the end, the Third-Year Dentistry team (pictured above) prevailed, winning all their games and a tug of war challenge to determine the championship.

The afternoon also included a charity BBQ, organized by Scotiabank, which raised more than $500 for the Faculty of Dentistry’s Oral Health Development Fund.

“I’m really glad to see this tournament back again after a 20-year absence,” said Tom Boran, Dean of the Faculty (who was sidelined with an ankle injury). “It’s been the talk of the building for weeks, and that’s the kind of buzz that we love! The Faculty of Dentistry is committed to health and wellness, and this is just one of the ways that we’re encouraging our faculty, staff and students to live active lifestyles.”

Earlier in the year, 30 members of the faculty participated in a weight loss challenge inspired by TV’s The Biggest Loser. Collectively, the group lost a collective 290 pounds over the first six months of 2012.

So what’s next for the Faculty of Dentistry as it continues its quest for health and wellness?

“Practicing mindfulness during a group skydive,” joked Dr. Boran.

(Photo by Dr. Wayne Garland)