2022

St. Thomas University honoured three alumni who have excelled in human rights, journalism, and law at its Gala Dinner on Saturday, October 22, 2022. The dinner, which supports student bursaries and activities, celebrated the achievements of and Child and Youth Advocate and Seniors' Advocate Norman Bossé, award-winning journalist Harry Forestell, and Provincial Court Judge the Hon. Nicole Angers with the Carolyn Layden-Stevenson Distinguished Alumni Award.

Norman J. Bossé, QC (BA'76, BEd'77) 

As Child and Youth Advocate and Seniors' Advocate, Norman Bossé, QC, has defended the human rights of the most vulnerable people in New Brunswick. Prior to this role, he has had an extensive legal career with nearly 30 years as a practicing lawyer in Saint John, NB with the firms of Clark Drummie (1984-2010) and McInnes Cooper (2010-2013). He received his designation as Queen’s Counsel from the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick in 2008. He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and Law Society of New Brunswick, where he served as Chair of the Complaints Committee. Bossé has also served as an Honorary Solicitor and President of the New Brunswick Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, and as a member of the National Board of Directors of the Canadian Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute. He was awarded an Honorary Life Membership from the Canadian Cancer Society in 2001. Before his legal career, Bossé taught junior high school in Sussex, New Brunswick. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from St. Thomas University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Brunswick. Bossé and his wife, Moira, reside in Saint John, and have four daughters (three of which are STU alumni!) and eleven grandchildren.

Harry Forestell (BA'84) 

In a career spanning more than 30 years, Harry Forestell has had a front row seat to the news and the newsmakers as he reported from Europe, the UK and North America. He began as a freelance reporter for local CBC Radio and regional newspapers in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa. After a decade as a  producer for CBC morning shows in Saint John, Ottawa, Windsor and Toronto, Forestell moved to London, England where he established himself as a science and medicine correspondent for broadcasters including BBC World Service, Radio Deutsche Welle and NPR. After serving as CBC TV's European Business Correspondent, he returned to Canada in 1999 where he was business editor for CBC television's national morning show and business correspondent for The National covering the tech boom and collapse and the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. He returned to London in 2005 as European correspondent for CBC Newsworld's morning show.  In 2010 Forestell became anchor of CBC News New Brunswick and during this period, the program has twice been recognized as the top show in its category in Atlantic Canada. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University and a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University’s School of Journalism.  

Nicole Angers (BA'96)  

Nicole Angers has been a defence lawyer, a Crown prosecutor, and is now a Provincial Court Judge. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University and a law degree at the Université de Moncton. From 2002 to 2011, she worked for the Office of the Attorney General of New Brunswick, and for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada from 2012 until her appointment to the provincial court in 2019. She is also involved in her community by serving on several volunteer boards, mentoring law students, and coaching minor basketball. The common thread in her career has been dedication to her craft and continuous improvement. Her sense of humor has served her well to confront the challenges that she faced daily in her work as a prosecutor. As a judge, she strives to serve the interests of the citizens in a fair and just manner and be a positive role model for young lawyers.