Report to Board on anonymous complaint complete

Oct. 07, 2025 – Statement

An independent review of anonymous complaints of sexual misconduct at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and how reports of sexual misconduct are handled is now complete. NSCC’s Board of Governors recently approved its report, Anonymous Complaint Report to the Board, and shared it with College Executive.

The anonymous complaints were emailed to NSCC’s Board of Governors late last fall. As the handling of complaints was part of the concerns raised, the Board of Governors struck a Special Task Committee made up of volunteer Board members. The committee engaged an independent third-party, Rubin Thomlinson, to conduct an impartial review.

“This process was conducted through an experienced national organization specializing in the review of matters such as those brought to the Board’s attention,” says Jackie Poirier, Chair, NSCC Board of Governors. “There were months of examination led by Rubin Thomlinson to ensure the concerns raised were thoroughly reviewed."

This review included:

• Repeated outreach to the anonymous sender to urge them to connect directly with the independent investigator to engage with further information sharing
• An examination of all relevant documentation related to reports of sexual misconduct over the past decade and how investigations were handled
• A review of NSCC's Sexual Violence Policy, procedures and related materials
• Interviews with employees whose work includes responding to reports of sexual violence

The report concludes that the evidence reviewed was generally not consistent with the concerns raised in the anonymous complaints.

The report includes recommendations focused on improvements to policy, procedural practices and education. It also recommends NSCC further engage the College community to better understand what level of sexual misconduct may exist, in order to enhance efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence.

No historical investigations were required to be reopened, and no new investigations were initiated as a result of this review.

College leadership has accepted the report and its recommendations and will now begin the work of implementing them. The College will provide regular updates to the Board and employees on its progress.

“NSCC recognizes that sexual violence exists all around us and throughout society and that education is key to addressing systemic issues, " says Jill Provoe, NSCC Vice President, Equity and International. "The concerns raised by the anonymous sender present an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe working and learning environment where accountability and care guide our actions. It is important to note that the College’s Sexual Violence Policy outlines specific steps for reporting incidents, and we encourage any employee or student, past or present, to come forward in confidence.”

“We are grateful to the Board of Governors and to Rubin Thomlinson for conducting this independent review and sharing these findings so that we can continue to learn and improve and provide a safe environment in which to work and learn," says NSCC President Don Bureaux.

The report is now available online.

About Nova Scotia Community College

NSCC is located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded territory and traditional homeland of the Mi’kmaq Nation. This land is governed by the treaties of Peace and Friendship, which the Mi’kmaq and the British Crown first signed in 1726. The College is committed to building Nova Scotia's economy and quality of life through education and innovation, transforming Nova Scotia one learner at a time. NSCC offers more than 140 career-oriented programs throughout the province at our 14 campuses, including our online eCampus. Programs are offered through five academic schools – Access, Education and Language; Business and Creative Industries; Health and Human Services; Technology and Environment; and Trades and Transportation. These reflect Nova Scotia’s labour market needs and opportunities. An annual survey of NSCC graduates shows that 90% are employed one year after graduation, most in their field of study, with 93% of those employed living and working in Nova Scotia.

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