Celia Ross continues to live an active, community-minded life.
The former Algoma University president's newest passion is serving on an advisory board for Harvest Algoma.
Harvest Algoma began as an initiative of the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma to address food insecurity in the community. In 2018, Harvest Algoma transformed the former Canadian Croatian Hall into a Food Resource Centre. The Centre’s coolers and kitchen enables it to rescue perishable food and distribute it to where it is needed most.
Ross joined the Harvest Algoma volunteer team in 2023.
She enjoys not only serving on the organization's advisory council but also in a hands-on way.
“I’m a volunteer in the kitchen. I’ve been doing that since the summer. I love that. There are about 25 people who volunteer here. They’re really sociable. There’s a community forming with the volunteers. We talk, we share, we laugh and we’re doing this wonderful work, preparing food that’s going to help people in need,” Ross told SooToday.
She was recently involved with fellow volunteers in Harvest Algoma’s annual Great Pumpkin Rescue in which thousands of pounds of pumpkins are diverted from the local landfill and turned into bread, soup, and muffins.
“We had hundreds of pumpkins to be used for casseroles and bread. It’s a real privilege to be able to have the health and stamina to work in the kitchen and also to have the knowledge and experience to work on the advisory council.”
Ross is clearly enthusiastic about her work with Harvest Algoma.
“Having food is at the heart of being happy. If we can go around to the grocery stores and bring it in here, store it in our freezers or fridges or warehouse, the agencies that distribute it can come and pick it up and give it out to people. That to me is something we should be doing and it feels good to be doing it. Food is life.”
Born in Guelph, Ross earned an undergraduate degree in French and German language and literature from Queen's University.
“I wanted to study medicine but that didn’t work out. Chemistry defeated me. That wasn't my forte,” she said with a chuckle.
Ross earned her master's degree and PhD in French Literature at the University of Bordeaux in southwestern France.
“What I often told students when I was a professor was pick what you love, pick what you’re good at. I had spoken French since I was a young girl. I was good at languages. I worked in Germany at a children’s hospital for a summer as a volunteer so my German was fairly good too.
"I really enjoyed French literature so when I got a scholarship to study in France that’s what led me to decide to major in French.”
She named Marguerite Duras as her favourite French novelist.
“My father was worried I would spend my whole life abroad and he said 'just apply for one teaching job in Canada.' I got called for an interview at Algoma University College. It was the end of March 1982 and in March the Sault looks pretty mucky. You come to this little city from a big city in France.
"It was a shock. The snow was muddy, it was icy, it was cold and wet, and the taxi took me from the airport to Algoma University College. They took me to the English professors’ office, shared by Tony Sharman and Bob D’Amato. It was a disaster zone. There were books piled all over the place,” Ross recalled with a smile.
Despite that first impression the family atmosphere of the former Algoma University College shined through.
“It was really comfortable. Tony and Bob were very welcoming, as was everybody, and all of a sudden I thought ‘yeah, this is where I want to be.’ It was the building, the people, the warm welcome that totally sold me. I was very happy when I was offered the job.”
As an AUC professor, Ross taught 20 to 30 students in her French language and literature classes.
“It was lovely. It was a great teaching environment.”
Ross has fond memories of the former Algoma University College.
“The good memory that always sticks with me was the basement of Shingwauk Hall. That was the old student lounge. I always remember the atmosphere.
"Students would gather there and they talked about all sorts of things. There were the Thursday night pubs with live music, lots of beer and lots of faculty. The faculty would mix with the students continuing with discussions from class. I remember political discussions. That’s what I remember from that time. It was a good friendly time with lots of conversation which I think university should be about.”
Ross became Algoma University College’s president in 1998.
“That was the same year I got married and a year later I had a child. I did everything all at once. I think that’s the way you live life. You take the plunge and you go with it.”
Ross was Algoma University College's president when it became the fully independent Algoma University in 2008, receiving its charter from the Ontario government and breaking its ties to Sudbury's Laurentian University.
Independence was a long-held dream that came true for the Algoma community.
“It was 10 years of really good stewardship, an operational plan, making sure everybody was on the same path. It was 10 years of slow, steady enrolment growth.
"Every new student coming in seemed like a big achievement. We knew what we needed to offer them. It was watching the budget. It was a lot of communication to the community about what we were doing, a lot of liaising with the politicians at all levels. We had Bud Wildman (former Algoma MPP) as the chair of the board and he was very good at that type of work. We had a really good team working slowly and steadily toward getting independence,” Ross said.
She remembers the Ontario Legislature formally passing the Algoma University Act in 2008.
“It felt good to see all three political parties at Queen’s Park support this relatively small institution in a relatively small isolated community to become Ontario’s 21st university. It was a big achievement not only for us as a university but for our whole community. Not many communities the size of the Sault have both a community college and a university, but we do. That’s a testament to our belief in ourselves and our push forward.”
Ross said she enjoyed sitting at the table in meetings with presidents of larger universities.
She served as Algoma’s president from 1998 to 2010.
“Independence allowed us to have our own identity. We are now Algoma University. Period. Recruitment became a lot easier. We became eligible for research grants. All of that allowed us to build quality education, research and communications because it became clearer who we are. All of that has allowed this growth that we’ve seen. It’s very rewarding to see that growth.”
After leaving the post of president in 2010, Ross continued to teach at Algoma University until her retirement in 2020.
She ran unsuccessfully to be Sault MPP as the NDP’s candidate in the 2011 and 2014 provincial election campaigns.
“It was a really good opportunity to get to know the city in a different way. I’m very, very glad I did that,” Ross said.
“I had finished as Algoma University president in 2010 and door-knocking was interesting to me. It was a real revelation to the level of poverty in the city and as president of the university I hadn’t seen that. Seniors will tell you they can’t afford proper food and medicine.
"You knock on some doors in the downtown core and you think ‘why is the fire department not closing this place down? It’s a fire trap.’ There are houses across the city that aren’t heated properly and the children aren’t getting enough food. It’s very heart wrenching. Running for office was a way of seeing the community in its full nature.”
Ross said she was inspired to run for office by former Algoma MPP Bud Wildman and former Sault MPP (later Sault MP) Tony Martin, both New Democrats.
“It would have been a big responsibility to be an MPP but I was ready for it,” Ross said.
She is currently the Sault Ste. Marie Provincial NDP Riding Association’s president and is actively involved with the Ontario Health Coalition.
As she stays active, Ross shared her advice for the community she has lived in since 1982.
“The Sault needs to have confidence in itself, in what it has achieved and what it can achieve. The Sault is in one of the best geographical positions a city can ever be in. It has an improving partnership between settlers and Anishinaabe people.
"It has a steel plant and other excellent industries. It has wonderful institutions. It has a community college and a university. Its hospital can do all sorts of treatments. It has a music conservatory. We have theatre, we have stores, we have restaurants. We are all set but we tend to think we’re not up to the task, but we are up to the task. Let’s be proud of what we have and move forward in confidence and not self doubt.”