It was an exciting day at St. Francis Xavier University as they hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking event for the new Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Hall.
StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin joined Dr. Victor and Mona Dahdaleh and government officials to mark the occasion. “This will be a place where faculty, students, and health practitioners come together to improve the health and wellness of Nova Scotians,” said Dr. Hakin. “I want to recognize Dr. Victor and Mona Dahdaleh for their generous support, as well as the provincial and federal governments for their investment in supporting health research and rural healthcare,” added Dr. Hakin.
The new building will house the Victor and Mona Dahdaleh Institute for Innovation in Health, a much-anticipated incubator for health research on campus.
“I’m very excited the new Institute is now underway at StFX,” said Dr. Victor Dahdaleh. “Here, students will prepare to be future health providers; while world class researchers will develop solutions to today’s healthcare needs, having a broad impact on health in rural areas of Nova Scotia, Canada, and beyond,” said Dr. Dahdaleh. “I was initially inspired to get involved in this project by the Nova Scotia Government, who face the challenge of healthcare head-on.”
The new facility won’t increase the capacity for students at StFX, however, it is expected to help them attract the best and brightest minds.
“It’s going to make us a more attractive destination for students looking for a program where they’ll be able to participate in research projects at an undergraduate level,” said StFX Vice President of Advancement David Graham.
Graham also says the new facility will centralize various programs associated with healthcare making it so students have to travel less between classes.
The event which was held on Friday, July 5 only served as a ceremonial groundbreaking, with actual construction crews set to begin digging the site later this year.
Assuming there are no delays in that process construction is estimated to take between 18-24 months, which puts the targeted opening sometime in late 2026.
