Where we've been
Our journey began in Bridgewater in December 2024. More visits are on the way as we work together to build a stronger, more vibrant Nova Scotia.
Expanded mental health services: Dr. Shannon Johnson and Dr. Alissa Pencer, Directors of the Centre for Psychological Health, met with not-for-profit leaders to learn more about mental health services in Bridgewater and surrounding areas. Specifically, how various community agencies work together. Shannon and Alissa shared the Centre’s mandate and service delivery model.Ìý
Outcome: Out of this meeting, a new partnership with YMCA Youth Services will enable Dal’s Centre to provide psychological assessments for youth in Bridgewater, addressing the lengthy waitlist and expanding the Centre’s services outside of Halifax for the first time.Ìý
West Hants Municipal Planning WorkshopÌý– West Hants Municipal planners, the Director of Community Development, Energize Bridgewater lead, and Municipal HWA technicians met with members from ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½â€™s School of Planning.Ìý
Outcome: This brainstorm session focused on community issues and resulted in actionable items to further explore for collaboration opportunities, including plans to provide research to support decision making, and work on course-based projects, co-op opportunities, and grant opportunities..
Community Roundtable on the Future of Fisheries:ÌýMayor Pam Moodie and President Kim Brooks co-hosted a focused discussion with ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ researchers and senior leaders to explore how post-secondary institutions can better support the fisheries sector. Participants emphasized the need for stronger collaboration, a socioeconomic study to highlight the industry's value, and easier access to ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ researchers.
Outcome: New partnerships formed and a commitment to deeper collaboration. ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ will host a September meeting with the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance to discuss research and the potential for an annual industry symposium. Plans are underway for a ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½-hosted web portal to connect fishers with researchers and support applied research and data sharing.
Engineering Alumni & Donor Meetings: Dean John Newhook and Development Officer Alisha Johnson met with alumni, donors, and CBU faculty en route to Sydney to strengthen research ties.
Outcome: Secured a $50,000 scholarship for Cape Breton students entering Engineering and reinforced research collaboration between ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ and CBU.
Energize Our Communities: A Public Demo on Wind and Hydrogen PowerÌý- DrÌýMita Dasog, along with graduate students from the Faculty of Science, held a public demonstration onÌýhow wind turbines generate electricity and how hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel.Ìý
Outcome: Over 25 members from the community visited the session to speak with Mita and colleagues that accompanied her. They learned how wind turbines generate electricity and how hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel. There is an appetite from the community to have more of this knowledge shared. ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ will undertake developing a communications piece explaining this topic broadly that can be shared with community members.Ìý
In Amherst ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ was able to engage with students at Amherst High School. When we visit a school, we deliver hands-on, interactive activities. These activities inspire students to think about different career options and post-secondary educational offerings. In some cases, students are exposed to new opportunities they may not have considered. Educators work with ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ to select activities that align with their curriculum and with tight budgets, are very pleased to have a unique experience for the students to compliment their plans. In Amherst several teams worked with students. ÌýNS Math Circles led a puzzle-based activity with students. Students experience the joy of math through these types of activities. Dal Athletics joined a phys-ed class to talk about varsity athletics and run fitness and basketball sessions – a favourite activity for all students, regardless of their athletic ability. In addition, team members for the Faculty of Agriculture spoke to students about agriculture in our Province. Agriculture is found in all aspects of life and can be found in all parts of the school curriculum – science, geography, business, and more. The faculty’s Community Education Program team spoke with students about plant science, animal science, environmental studies, engineering, aquaculture, business and social sciences – explaining how these connect with agriculture. Agriculture is an excellent post-secondary educational opportunity and career. Finally, team members from the School of Health and Human Performance spoke with students about programs in kinesiology, health promotion, recreation management, and therapeutic recreation.Ìý This included different paths and careers in those fields and to other post-graduate health programs (e.g., medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and audiology, pharmacy). Hands-on activities followed the presentation and were enjoyed by students and educators.Ìý
Kim Brooks, ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ President and Vice-Chancellor; Mike Smit, Dean of the Faculty of Management; and Jason Clark, Principal of Nova Scotia Community College hosted a discussion on economic prosperity in the region. We heard from business owners, operators, members of your government, and community leaders. We gathered insights on local priorities, gaps, and opportunities, so that we can better understand ways to partner and work collaboratively. The response from the business community was fantastic with 77 participants. Sectors represented included Construction / Real Estate / Technology / Media / Manufacturing / Seafood Industry / Economic Development Organizations / Agriculture / Mayors and CAOs / Government / not-for-profit organizations / tourism / Post Secondary, Academia / Nova Scotia Health / Retail / Performing Arts / Fisheries and Aquaculture. We are taking our learnings and discussing ways that ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ can deploy resources in service to community economic goals. An example of an outcome we are working on is an upcoming virtual offering to help businesses benefit from AI. This is an ask of the business community from these meetings that we are responding to. A senior leader from ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½, Dr. Angela Seigel, from the Faculty of Computer Science will run a session designed to help businesses capitalize on AI as a tool
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Equally rewarding was our Community Well-Being roundtable discussion. Over 45 participants from organizations representing the more vulnerable members of community participated. This meeting is a step in building trusted relationships and a deeper understanding of local challenges. With a greater understanding we will be working on ways to help lift the social well-being of the region. An example of ways we intend to be in service to the not-for-profit organizations is our recent workshop on how to prepare a strong grant proposal – often the lifeline to not-for-profit organizations. This virtual offering was developed in response to requests for ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ to help build capacity in grant writing. Jennifer Morawiecki hosted over 30 participants. We will be running this workshop again as we engage with more communities in the province.
ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ was pleased to meet with planners, development team members, engineers, and municipal leaders to better understand planning and water resource priorities, challenges and opportunities. Often municipal participants are graduates from ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½â€™s School of Planning. The university is well positioned to help teams to close gaps in developing and executing projects they undertake. The meeting brought together ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½â€™s School of Planning and the Centre for Water Resources Studies (CWRS) who briefly shared updates on research, educational initiatives, and collaborations. They also explained ways that students can support projects. Most importantly, they learned more about how the university can be responsive and deploy resources in service to plans. As Nova Scotia faces population growth, climate change, and aging infrastructure, ensuring safe and secure water systems and future focused plans for community projects and infrastructure is critical. Over 20 team members attended, including planners, engineers, municipal leaders. They were hosted by Megan Fuller, Director of Research, Atlantic First Nations Water Authority, Centre for Water Resources Studies; Eric Rappaport, Director, School of Planning; Emily Hayes, Civil and Resource Engineer, PHD Fellow and Ben Goldberg, ÌýManaging Director, Industry Engagement and Customer Experience. The participants are looking forward to future collaborations including working with student groups and ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ researchers.
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A second spotlight we would like to share is an exciting recruitment event that took place at two high schools. Students at Horton High School and Northeast Kings Education Centre who had applied prior to November 27 had the opportunity to receive their acceptance decision (if eligible) as well as early entrance award (if eligible) on site! Bringing recruitment team members to the students, in their community, is welcomed by both educators and the students themselves. Meeting students where they are at is a supportive experience for those making decisions on post secondary education. Students also received one-on-one admissions counselling with a member of the admissions team. In addition to these events, there was a ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ photobooth backdrop with life-size cut out of the Tiger and some props to celebrate student achievements and have some fun including a chance to win some Dal swag!
Where we're going
Below are just some of the communities we will be traveling to next. We will be visiting communities from shore to shore over the next few years.
- Lunenburg / Mahone Bay / Chester –Feb 11
- Colchester County (Truro) – Mar 12
- Annapolis Royal / Bear River First Nation and Area – Apr 1
- Port Hawkesbury and Area – May 1
What to expect
Each event is co-developed with local input to reflect the unique strengths, challenges, and goals of the host community.
Activities
Activities at events may include:
Roundtable conversations with community leaders and ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ representatives to learn about the opportunities and challenges that the community is facing. We rely on community leaders to identify people and organizations to join a round table conversation. We welcome suggestions from attendees for additional participants. Ìý
Networking sessions for alumni and friends, people who are interested in learning more about the work Dal is doing and how Dal shows up in their community. Ìý
Public talks, lectures and demos featuring ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½ researchers and graduate students. Past topics have included: community preservation of the Atlantic Whitefish, green energy and wind turbines, tracking and counting fish in the sea and more.
Opportunities for student engagement, including info sessions with ÕýÆ·À¶µ¼º½â€™s recruitment team and networking with alumni. Parents and guardians are also welcome.
Interactive learning experiences for students of all ages in schools or with community groups including computer science coding demos, guest lectures on topics like social work or oceanography, hands-on science experiments, phys-ed classes with varsity athletes and more.
Tours and visits to local businesses, organizations, and innovation spaces.
