Celebrating the power of giving across NSCC communities

National Philanthropy Day is November 15, a day to celebrate the spirit of giving and the compassion of our communities. Giving back is a defining characteristic of the NSCC community, from students and alumni to employees, supporters and donors.

As supporters and donors, your generosity makes a meaningful difference in students’ lives, empowering them to succeed in their education and pursue careers that strengthen our communities.

That same spirit of generosity is reflected in our students, who give back through service-learning projects, volunteer initiatives and community partnerships.

Here are just a few examples of the impact NSCC students made during the 2025–26 academic year.

Achieve students fundraising project

Students in the Achieve Program at the Sydney Waterfront Campus turned classroom learning into community impact through a student-led fundraising project in support of Nadine’s Comfort Closet.

After researching and presenting several charitable organizations, students voted to support the homegrown charity because of its direct impact on children and families in their community. Through the sale of handmade bracelets and candles, a 50/50 draw, and donations, the class raised $200 to help support the organization's important work.

 

 

Plumbing students host Home Plumbing for Older Adults

For the fifth year, Plumbing students at Annapolis Valley Campus partnered with Community Outreach to Aging at Home (CORAH) to deliver their annual Home Plumbing for Older Adults program, helping seniors build practical skills and confidence for maintaining their homes.

Guided by topics identified by participants, students designed and delivered interactive presentations, demonstrated plumbing techniques, and provided hands-on learning opportunities tailored to the needs of older adults. The initiative not only supported lifelong learning and aging in place, but also gave students valuable experience communicating technical information, building customer service skills, and strengthening connections across generations in their community.

Graphic and Print Production partner with community organization to create branded materials

Students in our Graphic and Print Production program at Ivany Campus used their skills to support Metro Community Housing Association name change to Mosaic Community Homes Association, through a comprehensive rebrand project delivering industry-standard materials free of charge.

Working in their industry-simulated print and production shop, students transformed digital concepts into professional marketing materials, including banners and brochures that help advance the organization’s mission. The project provided hands-on learning experience while making a meaningful contribution to a local community organization, marking the program’s 25th service-learning partnership over the past decade.

Students volunteers help launch IT Campus’s community garden, Iga’taqan

More than 90 NSCC students and employees came together to help establish Iga’taqan, a reconciliation community garden at IT Campus help address food insecurity within the campus community and local Indigenous communities. The project brought students, employees and community partners together to plant seedlings, build garden beds, create accessible pathways, and harvest the garden’s first crops.

Iga’taqan, a Mi’kmaw word meaning “cultivated land” or “garden,” came to life through the power of community. Thanks to a grant from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Iga’taqan is a collaborative effort between NSCC, the Native Council of Nova Scotia – Youth Project and the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, with half of its 14 garden beds dedicated to
supporting Indigenous food sovereignty.

New Music Arts grad hosts Food for the Ears Festival

“I’m a musician and the founding executive director of Food For The Ears Society. I’ve loved music my entire life, from learning my first instrument at age 5 to playing in the Ethan Tyler Band today.

I've supported food banks since I started volunteering at age 9. At 16, I launched Food For The Ears in Truro as a small concert fundraiser for the local food bank.

Now, four years later, Food For The Ears Society is a registered non-profit that works with Feed Nova Scotia to support food security. Each year, we donate thousands of dollars from our proceeds from our events to Feed Nova Scotia.

We now organize music events across the entire province, using the power of music to bring the community together and support those facing food insecurity. Our largest event, Food For The Ears Festival, is a multi-day, multi-genre, all-ages outdoor music festival held annually at Alderney Landing in June.

Graduating in June 2026, my grad week was split between crossing the stage and running the festival. The Music Arts program helped me build meaningful industry connections, grow my reputation in the music scene and gain the skills to scale the festival. We had a fantastic lineup of artists who are JUNO, ECMA and Music Nova Scotia winners and nominees.

Supporting food security is more important than ever right now. In 2026, Canada saw 2.35 million food bank visits and since 2019, food bank usage has risen by 117%. In Nova Scotia, food bank visits are up 82% since 2019.

By combining the passion for music and the need for community support, I think we can grow our festival experience, donate more to Feed Nova Scotia, support the arts, and make human connection more accessible.”
-Ethan Chitty (Music Arts ’26)