Campuses Community and Culture Stories
Welcome Ashley Power, NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations new Executive Director
After 18 incredible years at NSCC, please welcome and congratulate Ashley Power as NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations’ Executive Director!
NSCC Sydney Waterfront Campus receives $100K to enhance hearing accessibility
NSCC's Sydney Waterfront Campus receives $100K grant for MobileConnect system, enhancing hearing accessibility in classrooms and labs for students with hearing impairments.
RBC funding powers up wind energy education at NSCC
RBC Foundation funds enhancements to NSCC's Electrical Technician program, focusing on large-scale wind energy. New curriculum and equipment prepare students for Nova Scotia's growing renewable energy sector.
Building tomorrow's workforce: $1.6 million per year in bursaries for skilled trades students at NSCC
NSCC partners with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency to offer 320 bursaries of $5,000 each for skilled trades students, focusing on equity-deserving groups and high-demand construction programs.
$250,000 gift from Horizon Maritime to support Mi’kmaq learners pursuing healthcare careers at NSCC
Horizon Maritime's $250,000 gift to NSCC creates Mi'kmaq Learners Healthcare Bursary, offering five $3,000 renewable bursaries annually to support Mi'kmaq students pursuing healthcare careers in Nova Scotia.
Evolving Together: NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations 2023-24 Annual Report on Giving
Read Evolving Together: NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations’ 2023-24 Annual Report on Giving. Thanks to your generosity, $7.1M was raised to support NSCC students.
Bridging Mi’kmaw culture and early childhood education: Ethan Paul’s story
Ethan Paul, a Mi’kmaw student at NSCC, blends cultural heritage with modern education practices locally and abroad through the Mi'kmaw Early Childhood Education program.
NSCC students bring Mi'kmaq artifacts to life through 3D printing
NSCC students use 3D printing to recreate Mi'kmaq artifacts, bridging technology and tradition. Guided by Dr. Elder Gerald R. Gloade, they preserve Indigenous history and create educational materials.
Sensor Technology challenges NSCC students to champion sustainable solutions
In collaboration with Sensor Technology, the Making Waves Competition at NSCC's Ivany Campus brought excitement and innovation by challenging students to foster sustainable solutions for our communities.
Career fairs, connections and competitions for NSCC students and alumni
Thanks to NSCC's event sponsors and industry partners, the College hosted four events from January to March to help students from various programs prepare for the next steps in their careers.
Fighting food insecurity at NSCC
Food insecurity continues to be a rising issue across the province. But as a community, we come together to make sure that those who need it most can access the resources they need.
NSCC accessibility supports ignites a student’s potential
With accessibility supports, student awards, and perseverance, Judy Lewis thrived at NSCC and created her own award to support students like her.
Celebrating a legacy: Five years of The Sobey Award
On Nov. 7 at NSCC’s Ivany Campus, the NSCC Foundation hosted the Five Years of The Sobey Award Celebration, welcoming students, alumni, volunteers, community partners and College leadership to celebrate the milestone.
Giving Tuesday 2023 – Thank you for giving back
On Giving Tuesday, our community rallied together to support NSCC students. You helped in exceeding our fundraising goal for Rapid Response to fund cost of living bursaries and food security initiatives.
Indigenous Student Support Program helps student reach their dreams
Thanks to the Indigenous Student Support Program, Andrew M. received support from the Indigenous Students Immediate Needs Fund at a critical time for him to pursue his dream work placement.
NSCC Accessibility Supports ignite a student’s potential
With accessibility supports, student awards, and perseverance, Judy Lewis thrived at NSCC and created her own award to support students like her. Read more in the Halifax Chamber of Commerce's Business Voice Magazine.
Awards supporting Mi'kmaq and Indigenous students at NSCC
Thanks to donor support, NSCC offers dedicated awards for Mi'kmaq and Indigenous students, as well as many more open to equity-deserving groups.
Five years of impact and more: Thank you Dr. and Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation
Over the last five years, the Dr. and Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation has made an incredible impact at Cumberland Campus, helping with student issues like food insecurity, cost of living, transportation and more.
NSCC awards to celebrate Black and African Nova Scotian community leaders
Thanks to the generosity and endorsement of NSCC’s Black African Nova Scotian Employee Resource Network (BAERN), four new $2,500 awards have been launched to support Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC.
East Coast Credit Union tailors donation to support equity-deserving students
NSCC proudly offers various programs and awards tailored to supporting equity-deserving students. We are dedicated to increasing support for equity-deserving students by partnering with donors like East Coast Credit Union.
Sparking Creativity – Soaring talents and student support
This spring, NSCC hosted Spark Creativity, a soaring success for its inaugural event spending the night celebrating student and alumni talent from NSCC’s Creative Industries programming.
Playing for a better future
The family of D. Stuart MacLeod, known fondly amongst his peers as Mr. Rotary, made a transformational $200,000 donation to Sydney Waterfront Campus.
A winning recipe
Mark and Krista both joined NSCC’s culinary program in 2013. Today, the husband-and-wife team is well-known in Cape Breton for their three culinary businesses.
Reaching new heights through education
Tuma, a multi-award recipient, will graduate from NSCC’s Business Administration program in 2023. Read how scholarships and bursaries made his dreams a reality.
NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations Executive Director moving to a new role this summer
After seven and a half years, Michelle Bussey, Executive Director, NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations, will step into a new role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency on July 31, 2023.
Construction Updates: NSCC Sydney Waterfront Campus
NSCC’s Sydney Waterfront Campus is on track to open for September 2024! The opening date is getting closer and closer, and the construction progress continues to excite the community and supporters.
Admiral provides financial aid to uplift women in trades and technology
On April 25, Admiral announced a generous three-year commitment to support the Women Unlimited program at NSCC to establish the Admiral Women Unlimited Bursary and the Women Unlimited Urgent Aid Fund.
Jeannine Deveau Achievement Fund gift supports $45K in awards for PREP alumni at NSCC
The Jeannine Deveau Achievement Fund's $530,000 gift to the PREP Academy is supporting $45,000 in entrance and graduating awards for PREP alumni at NSCC.
We want to hear from you – inform our new strategic plan
The NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations team invites you to complete a survey for our new strategic plan to positively impact NSCC students and the province.
Empowering Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC
February marked African Heritage Month. Learn more about news we shared of new initiatives and dedicated supports for Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC.
Cheesecakes for Carpentry: Richard Byers Memorial Bursary
During the holiday season, the Byers family hosted a nostalgic cheesecake raffle to fundraise for the Richard Byers Memorial Bursary, an award they established in their dad’s memory to support Carpentry students at NSCC.
Continuing support for Indigenous students at NSCC
Learn how donor funding to the Indigenous Student Support Program helps Indigenous students at NSCC through increased financial aid and on-campus support.
NSCC awards inspired by women, for women
Through the generosity of our donors and partners, NSCC offers a variety of scholarships, bursaries and awards dedicated to helping women pursue post-secondary education.
Awards supporting Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC
Learn more about NSCC’s seven dedicated awards, scholarships and bursaries for Black and African Nova Scotian students funded by our donors and partners and how you can support them.
Jeannine Deveau Achievement Fund gifts $200K to support African Nova Scotian students at NSCC
The estate of Jeannine Deveau, whose philanthropic vision is to make education more accessible for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students, recently gifted $200,000 to the Archy Beals Legacy Award.
NSCC Sydney Waterfront Campus update
Time is flying by with the construction of NSCC's new campus in Downtown Sydney! With the announcement of its new name and a recent campus tour with Engineers Nova Scotia, we are excited to see the changes it'll bring.
NSCC's Strategic Plan
Our time is now is NSCC's new strategic plan that positions the College as a part of the solution to prepare Nova Scotia to prosper in a post-pandemic society.
Emergency Hurricane Fiona Relief Bursaries
The aftermath of Hurricane Fiona left many NSCC students in a vulnerable position. Thankfully, through donor support to Rapid Response, the College was able to jump to action.
Back in community
After two and half years, the NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations team is excited to be back to in-person events! Hear about our recent fundraising events, gift announcements, and alumni engagement events.
Giving back through community
Throughout August, the Foundation held a 25 Books for 25 Years Giveaway for Nova Scotian non-profits through our partnership with Atlantic Book Publisher’s Bound for Good Program.
Archy Beals Legacy Award
Deanna Mohamed and Barbara Roberts created the Archy Beals Legacy Award to honour Archy's legacy and 27 years of service at the College while supporting African Nova Scotia high school students starting at NSCC.
Journalism students learn responsible reporting in Mi'kma'ki
Through donor funding, four second-year Radio Television Journalism students participated in the Reporting in Mi’kma’ki workshop. Students learned in class and in the Mi’kmaw community of Eskasoni to gain cultural competency when telling Indigenous stories.
Heather O’Brien and Kristen Beaton memorial awards – celebrating their care and compassion
Together, the families of Heather O’Brien and Kristen Beaton, the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) and NSCC Alumni Relations are celebrating the lives and legacies of Heather and Kristen by establishing awards in their memory.
Wrapping up NSCC’s 25th anniversary
We surpassed our goals for NSCC’s 25th year and we are excited to spend the next 25 celebrating with you. After this milestone year, we continue to celebrate and reflect on the achievements of NSCC’s community over the past 25 years.
New beginnings for refugee and equity-deserving students at NSCC
Continuing NSCC’s efforts to address financial barriers and increase opportunities for equity-deserving groups, new awards will be offered for the upcoming academic year. One of the newest bursaries being the New Beginnings Bursary for incoming refugee students.
Honda donation to enrich automotive programming at NSCC
Honda’s gift-in-kind of nine vehicles they donated this spring, valued at $128,000, will directly impact student learning at NSCC. The vehicles are a much-needed component of the hands-on learning in the College’s automotive programs.
NSCC and Lysol supporting health and safety across our communities
Through the College’s partnership with Lysol, NSCC paid it forward and worked with the Truro and Ivany Campuses to distribute 80 pallets of the in-demand sanitizing wipes to community organizations across the province.
Lunenburg Campus is bringing quiet spaces to its students
Thanks to donor support, NSCC’s Lunenburg Campus opened a much-needed quiet space on-campus. The space is a safe and quiet environment near campus support offices for students to take a break, whether it’s for personal, medical or religious reasons.
Continuing a legacy in the trades through the Adam Folk Memorial Endowment
The Folk family’s generous $1 million Adam Folk Memorial Endowment is funding its first two scholarships in the spring of 2022. The scholarships will support Plumbing students who embody Adam Folk’s legacy as a plumber and a community leader.
Pathways to Rock – supporting a mother’s passion and perseverance
Chris Murdoch’s Pathways to Rock award is combating stereotypes that Black people face in the Nova Scotia music industry. Breaking barriers for Music Arts students like Thaydra G., a mother driven by her love for music, and especially her son.
Indigenous Student Support Program addresses financial barriers
A new fundraising appeal is part of NSCC’s commitment to reconciliation and supports the Indigenous Student Support Program, which focuses on meeting everyday financial needs that can impact academic success.
NSCC 25th anniversary celebrations in full swing
25 years of NSCC! Join us as we look back and think to the future. Tell your story, enter our contest, explore the history of NSCC, donate to our 25th Anniversary Fund, and more!
Indigenous book bundles donated to campus libraries in recognition of Mi’kmaq History Month
In October, the NSCC Foundation celebrated by contributing book bundles with Indigenous authors and themes to all NSCC campuses.
Ford of Canada partners rev up learning with generous donation
It’s hard to turn a natural disaster into something positive, but that’s precisely what Ford of Canada, Fairley and Stevens Ford, and MacPhee Ford managed to do for NSCC students.
Leading by example – Nicki Backman Taylor
Nicki Backman Taylor is part of a growing list of NSCC employee donors that are making a difference. She is leading a fundraising initiative for the NSCC eCampus College Readiness Fund that will provide eCampus students with access to additional financial supports.
AFNWA establishes Nujo’tmu’k Samuqwan Award
The newly established award from Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA), titled Nujo’tmu’k Samuqwan Award (Taking Responsibility for our Water), will give Indigenous students enrolled at NSCC the opportunity to explore careers in the water sector.
Six NSCC grads receive Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Culinary Excellence
This summer, six exceptional NSCC grads were selected to receive the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Culinary Excellence, presented in July by The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, QC, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.
Music Arts students’ song is bringing hope and giving back
In May, a group of students from the NSCC Music Arts class at Marconi Campus released their own single. The song – We’ll be Together Again, echoed our collective hope to return to a time where we can be with friends and family.
A new beginning powered by donor support
It’s hard to believe that a new school year has started with many students returning to Campuses for the first time this fall.
The last few months have been a time of change and growth at the College as we celebrated the official opening of the AVC-COGS campus housing and Innovation Centre, a new Centre of Forest Innovation at Truro Campus, and the opening of a new wing at the Institute of Technology Campus. These changes will create new opportunities for Nova Scotians and point to a bright future for our Province.
In this update, we share news on exciting initiatives that are delivering change, stories of the resiliency and accomplishments of NSCC students, and inspiring stories of giving back. We continually hear from students that donor support is a source of inspiration for their success. Thank you for your continued commitment and encouragement of NSCC students.
- The NSCC Foundation Team
VERB Interactive launches NSCC bursary program for women in technology
Through a partnership with VERB Interactive, the newly launched Women in Tech Award will support more women entering technology professions, including IT, Applied Media and Communications Arts, Digital Marketing, Business Intelligence Analytics, Cyber Security, and Graphic Design.
Recent grads paying it forward to empower future students
The 2020 class from the Irving Pathways to Shipbuilding is paying it forward. Through their newly established award–The Black Empowerment to Success Award, two African Nova Scotian students will have the opportunity to receive much-needed financial support during their program at Akerley Campus. This initiative was born out of the group’s own experience being supported while at NSCC, and their desire to give back in the same vein.
Truth and Reconciliation, and the path forward
On May 27, 2021, the residential school system - a shameful act in Canada - was once again brought into National focus. The bodies of 215 children, some as young as 3, were uncovered at the former site of the Kamloops Residential School, in British Columbia. Here is what NSCC is doing to move towards reconciliation.
Video: Finding community at NSCC
Through the Irving Pathways to Shipbuilding Program, Juno Keizer reconnected with community and is on a new career path.
Hope for a Fresh Start
Pieter Johnstone from Kentville is on a new career and life path thanks to NSCC’s donor-funded Limitless Program.
A season of hope
When we hear the gratitude in our students’ and alumni’s stories and we see the impact that kindness can have on a community, we are reminded once again that there are reasons to remain hopeful. It can feel increasingly challenging to find the good as we are constantly inundated with horrific news and traumas from around the world and right here in Canada. But together, we will continue to advocate and work for positive change. In this update, we share the highlights from the last quarter including new partnerships, student success stories, and to introduce a new fundraising appeal. Thank you for your support, you are leading the way.
Gift of Sikorsky S-76 will boost Aviation Program
Canadian Helicopters and EHS Lifeflight's gift of a retired Lifeflight medevac helicopter to NSCC's Aviation Institute is set to transform how students learn about avionics.
Juno Beals: Finding Meaning in Community
Juno Keizer Beals has had an interest in welding since high school. In 2018, after a ten-year career at a call center, he decided to make some changes. He joined the Irving Pathways to Shipbuilding Program and it changed his life.
Former staffer brings passion to Board
Education is one of Pamela Reid's life passions. That's one of the reasons the former NSCC staffer has joined the Foundation's Board of Directors.
Q & A with Linda and Jim Ross
Catch up with Linda and Jim Ross, graduates of NSCC's predecessor school, the Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute, about what they've been up to since graduation and why they plan to be legacy donors to NSCC.