By RON FANFAIR
Minding his business on the family verandah in Fortlands, St. Kitts in the early 1970s, Rustum Southwell overheard his name in a conversation.
Cuthbert ‘Cutie’ Sebastian, the twin-islands’ second Governor General, was trying to convince close friend Paul Southwell, who became prime minister in 1978, that he should send his son to Dalhousie University for his undergraduate studies.
Sebastian was very familiar with Canada and Nova Scotia.
After training in Canada as a rear gunner towards the end of the Second World War in 1945, he won an entrance scholarship to Mount Allison University in New Brunswick where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree. He graduated with a medical degree from Dalhousie five years later.
On a science career path after excelling in physics and chemistry in high school, Sebastian thought Dalhousie would be a good fit for young Southwell.
“They were quietly talking about what we should do with Rustum,” he recalled.
Southwell, who had just returned to St. Kitts after spending a transitional year in Barbados pursuing pre-science studies at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus, is certain that chat resulted in him coming to Atlantic Canada in 1972.
A few months after his arrival, he got lucky. The Liberal government, led by Pierre Elliott Trudeau, introduced the Adjustment of Status Program that allowed persons who resided in Canada continuously since November 30, 1972, to apply within a 60-day period for permanent residence.
Southwell was among the nearly 39,000 people who obtained landed immigration status under the amnesty that the major political parties supported.
If his name was not pulled in that lottery, he would have returned to St. Kitts and, most likely, become a politician like his Dominican-born father who died suddenly in May 1979 in St. Lucia while attending a West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers conference.
Fifty years after enrolling in Dalhousie, Southwell is returning to one of Canada’s top medical doctoral institutions as its ninth Chancellor and first person of African descent to hold the ceremonial role.
“This came as a total shock,” he said. “Having just retired for the second time, the first person that came to my mind was my wife Gracey and how she would react. However, she and other family members are very proud of this honour bestowed on me. Dalhousie has an important mandate in education and community, and I am eager to play a part in moving that forward.”
The Board of Governors approved the appointment on June 27.
“Rustum has spent his life and career helping lift people up so they can grow, thrive and succeed,” Board Chair Cheryl Fraser said. “We are proud to welcome his generous spirit and inspiring leadership to the Chancellor’s role.”
Acting President & Vice-Chancellor Frank Harvey said Southwell has been a long-time advocate for the transformative power of education and a great friend and supporter of Dalhousie.
“He knows what it means to help build a supportive community that empowers possibility and that allows everyone the opportunity to participate to their full potential,” he said. “Dalhousie is honoured to have him as our next Chancellor.”
Though Southwell’s university studies were cut short after he chose to seek employment to support his family while his wife completed her undergraduate education, he has fond memories of his time at Dalhousie.
“I hung out in the cafeteria with other students and was a member of the soccer team,” he said.
While at Dalhousie which recognized him with an honorary doctorate in 2018, Southwell worked part-time at a CARA food outlet in Dartmouth’s Mic Mal Mall. It was during that time that he developed a keen interest in business and became one of the first Black franchisees in Nova Scotia as the owner-operator of a Harvey’s restaurant in Halifax.
When the federal and Nova Scotia governments established the Halifax-based Black Business Initiative (BBI) in 1996, Southwell became the first staff member as the chief executive officer.
Created to address the unique needs confronting the province’s Black community, the BBI is committed to growing the Black presence in a diverse range of business sectors, including technology, manufacturing, tourism and culture.
Retiring in 2012 after taking the BBI from a fledgling organization to an integral part of the economic and entrepreneurial landscape of the province, Southwell spent six months as the United Way of Halifax’s interim president and chief executive officer.
He also was the volunteer Chair of Hope Blooms Inc.’s Board of Directors before returning to the BBI in 2016 on an interim basis when Michael Wyse stepped down.
With Southwell at the helm, the BBI created over 1,100 jobs and trained about 1,500 people that are now key players in some of Canada’s top performing companies. In addition, the combined sales of Black-owned companies have contributed more than $1 billion to the economy.
The former Caribbean Association of Nova Scotia Vice-Chair retired from the BBI for a second time last May.
Dr. Afua Cooper, who chaired the ‘Scholarly Panel to Examine Lord Dalhousie’s History on Slavery and Race’ that resulted in the university issuing an apology in 2019 to Black Nova Scotians for its founder’s racist actions, said Southwell is an excellent choice.
“He is smart, intelligent and personable,” she said. “His contributions in the area of business are vast and the university should be commended for appointing him to be its titular head.”
Black Business & Professional Association’s (BBPA) chief executive officer Nadine Spencer also hailed the appointment.
“It is a historic moment in academia, signalling a firm commitment to diversity and inclusive leadership,” she said. “As a tireless advocate for the Black community, his dedication to empowering underrepresented groups and driving positive change is truly inspiring. We eagerly anticipate the transformative impact he will make at Dalhousie, inspiring students and professionals.”
A firm believer in the value of education, Southwell helped create scholarship programs in Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management, advised and fundraised for the James R. Johnston Chair in Black Studies set up in 1991 and served on the Board of the Nova Scotia Community College that awarded him an honorary diploma in 2012.
The recipient of a Harry Jerome Award for Lifetime Achievement will be installed during the fall convocation in November.
