2024 Annual Fall Gathering of Alumni and Friends honours Distinguished Alumni, STM Medal recipient

By Paul Sinkewicz, St. Thomas More College

The halls of St. Thomas More College (STM) were once again filled with the best kinds of sounds on Saturday, Oct. 5 – animated conversation and joyful laughter.

The third annual edition of the St. Thomas College Annual Fall Gathering of Alumni and Friends held that evening, is dedicated to welcoming back alumni and supporters, and celebrating the newest additions to the list of Distinguished Alumni as well as celebrating the STM Medal recipient.

Photo gallery:  SLIDESHOW of photos by Paul Sinkewicz, STM College (LINK)

Ashley Smith, K.C., was named Distinguished Alumna and Dr. Robert Audette was honoured as the Distinguished Alumnus, while Dan Perrins was feted for a lifetime of public service with the presentation of the  STM Medal.

The evening began with a celebration of faith in the STM Chapel, with Fr. Ron Griffin presiding. Guests were invited to tour the college and take in the current exhibit in the STM Gallery before gathering in the cafeteria for dinner and the official awards program.

As President Carl Still noted, STM is proud to celebrate “how our graduates have been going out into the world and providing leadership informed by faith, reason and justice, while also generously serving others, in their own professions and according to their God-given gifts.”

Next year’s St. Thomas More College Annual Fall Gathering of Alumni and Friends will be held Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.

Award recipients:

Distinguished Alumna Ashley Smith’s connection with St. Thomas More College dates to the early 2000s when she entered the Pre-Law track as an STM student.

She was a very involved student leader, serving as a mentor for the STM Pre-Law Club; STMSU President; Member of University Council; STMSU Representative on Faculty Council, the Scholarship Committee, and the Student Appeals Board; and as a participant in the STM Service and Justice Program. Ashley served on the STM Board of Governors from 2014-2020, taking on the role of Chair from 2016-2019.

She also made significant contributions to the College during her time on Corporation, using her legal skills to serve on the Bylaws Committee and Standing Committee for the Appointment of the President. She was recently appointed to King’s Council and continues to serve as the Director of Legal Services for the Saskatoon Police Service. She is an active member of the St. Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild.

Distinguished Alumnus Robert Audette has made a sustained and lasting impact on the world that resonates with the College’s Mission of creative discovery of truth and its open dissemination leading to the betterment of all.

Following his graduation from STM in 1967 and earning his BSc Honours, Chemistry from the University of Saskatchewan (USask), he completed a PhD in Chemistry, also from USask. He went on to a Postdoctoral fellowship at McMaster and completed a year as an Assistant Professor in Chemistry at USask, before settling in Edmonton in 1973.

His career has included work as a Forensic Chemist in the RCMP National Forensic Lab, Provincial Analyst, Alberta Agriculture, and appointments at the University of Alberta. Retiring in 2001, Audette continued his energetic contributions to the science community through his company, Audette Consulting, where he continued his efforts into promotion of excellent science and quality management systems.

STM Medal: After graduating from STM College in 1966, and later from the University of Regina School of Social Work, Dan Perrins began a distinguished 36-year career in public service, starting as a front-line social worker.

He progressed through several increasingly senior positions, including Associate Deputy Minister of Health, Deputy Minister of Education, Deputy Minister of Postsecondary Education and Skills Training, and Deputy Minister of Social Services.

In 2001, he was appointed Deputy to the Premier and Head of the Public Services, the top public servant position in the province. Later, Perrins was appointed as an Executive in Residence and Director of Outreach and Training at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

He has lectured extensively on public administration, social policy, and governance in the public and not for profit sectors.

A recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, and the Public Administration of Canada’s Lieutenant Governor General’s Medal for Distinguished Public Service, Perrins has remained active in the community, sharing his time, knowledge and advice generously, including serving as Chair of the Board of Governors for STM from 2012-2014.