Strait Area Campus Library and CORAH creating community connection

Date: Mar. 09, 2026

CORAH members meeting at Strait Area Campus Library.

CORAH members attending an information session and community borrower sign up event at the Strait Area Campus Library.

In 2023, the Centre of Rural Aging and Health (CORAH) opened a new community hub at the Strait Area Campus. Funded through the provincial government, CORAH is an active living program that promotes health and wellbeing for people 55 years of age plus through social, cultural, learning and recreational programs. As CORAH programming started at the Strait Area Campus, the campus library was eager to contribute.

“When CORAH Coordinator Michele [MacPhee] asked if I thought the library and CORAH could work together there was no question that the answer was ‘yes!’” says Campus Librarian, April Sampson.

Since 2023 the library and CORAH have partnered on a variety of activities. CORAH members have signed up for library cards and used the community borrower program. The library co-hosts Afternoon at the Movies, where short films from the library collection are shown in the campus theatre followed by lively discussion of the films. The library grows plants that are part of the twice-yearly CORAH Plant Exchange. Recently, the library provided the video playlists for the African Heritage Month film screening, and CORAH participants made up half the audience at the screening.

The library, CORAH and the Campus Equity and Inclusion Committee are exploring the opportunity to co-host a queer grief session, an expansion of the successful Death Cafes (hosted by CORAH in partnership with the local Palliative Care Society).

“[Campus Librarian] April has been a tremendous support to CORAH and our participants, quickly becoming known by name by many,” noted CORAH Administrative Coordinator Michele MacPhee. “She is generous with her knowledge, willing to share her many skills, and has repeatedly helped us connect the dots as a new program on campus. We’re excited to continue partnering with NSCC Libraries.”

The addition of CORAH to the campus has had a positive impact on both the CORAH participants and the NSCC campus community. The Strait Area Campus Library is thrilled to be a part of this initiative.