NSCC Alumni

10/01/2026

Today, October 1, we celebrate Treaty Day and the beginning of Mi'kmaq History Month, honouring the Mi'kmaq people, their rich cultural history and important contributions throughout Mi'kma'ki (Nova Scotia). We are all treaty people. As a College we understand the significance of the relationship, and the rights and responsibilities of all Nova Scotians found in the Peace and Friendship Treaties. During Mi’kmaq History Month, we are all encouraged to take time to learn more about the extensive, rich and important heritage of the Mi’kmaq people.

➡️ Watch a 7-minute video to learn about the history and origination of Orange Shirt Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuW4WbekhxY
➡️ Watch a 6-minute video to learn about Treaties, why they exist and the history behind them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAt0BE7eepw

09/29/2026

On September 30, the College will be closed for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as we pause to commemorate and honour the children who never returned home from residential schools and the Survivors, families and communities forever impacted. It’s also a time to learn about the many Calls to Action and commit ourselves to the work of reconciliation.

To honour this day, all NSCC flags will be at half-mast. We encourage our community to wear orange and learn more about the history of Mi'kma'ki, the land we live on today.

➡️ Watch a 7-minute video to learn about the history and origination of Orange Shirt Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuW4WbekhxY
➡️ Learn about the Calls to Action:https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
➡️ Learn more about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html

09/24/2026

“I’m a filmmaker, creative entrepreneur and the PR and Media Manager for Magnetic World – Atlantic Canada's biggest multi-genre festival.

I’m currently shooting on TV shows and documentary features. On the side I run Komodo Dragon Productions, a media company that provides video and photo production for corporate clients.

Entrepreneurship and film have always been passions of mine. I’ve always wanted to innovate within the industry, so combining the two felt like a natural fit. I started building my company immediately after graduating from NSCC, and today, I’m an investor in startups.

I attended NSCC’s Screen Arts program straight from high school. While at NSCC, I participated in their International Program in Vietnam that focused on documentary filmmaking and entrepreneurship, laying the foundation for my career.

NSCC was a phenomenal experience from me. My program gave me the confidence to go after opportunities, built my work ethic and taught me practice skills as much as theory, while also showing me what being part of a community feels like.

I’ve also been fortunate to offer NSCC’s Screen Arts, Radio TV and Journalism, and Business students work terms, while providing mentorship and helping them find work in the industry. NSCC was a launchpad for my success, and I want to continue paying that forward, making an impact and finding new ways to innovate.

Alongside my entrepreneurial career, my work with Magnetic World has been really rewarding. I oversee and produce content for global artists like Dom Dolla, The Kid Laroi, 21 Savage and Don Toliver.

This year is Magnetic World’s 5th anniversary and team has become like a family to me, and it really is the best weekend of the year.”
- Benjamin Edwards (Screen Arts ’20)

09/23/2026

“Growing up with Deaf parents and family members, I’ve always been immersed in American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture. After working in law enforcement and customer service and meeting more Deaf people and Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs), I decided to return to school for NSCC’s ASL Studies and ASL/English Interpretation programs.

I fell in love with interpreting as a career. It drew me back to my familial roots and since then this job has felt like my home. NSCC helped me gain a better understanding of my own identity as a CODA and the overlap of identity and professionalism into the work.

My programs taught me the practical and theoretical skills needed to adapt to the unpredictability of our work and successfully mediate cultural and linguistic interactions between hearing and Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals.

I love interpreting at NSCC convocation ceremonies and working with new graduates. It allows me to reflect on my own journey and progress since my own graduation. I feel such pride and joy when I see the graduates who I've supported and taken on placement finally walk across that stage and become a colleague.

I wish people understood that ASL is its own rich language with many accents and dialects woven into it. It is not 'broken' English. I also wish for people to be more open-minded about Deaf people and Deaf culture and seek to gain more knowledge about differences they may not be aware of.”

- Carri Blunden (Deaf Studies ’19, ASL/English Interpretation ‘21)

Stage photo by Stoo Metz

09/22/2026

“I live in East Lawrencetown, where the area’s natural beauty, rural charm and surf culture inspire a vibrant community of artists. In 2018, I co-founded the free, self-guided Surfside Studio Tour, showcasing local artists and artisans in their studios.

The tour offers a chance to explore coastal communities along Nova Scotia’s Highway 207, meet and learn from local artists, and get a behind-the-scenes look at their processes and inspiration for a wide range of creative mediums.

Art has the power to evoke the full range of human emotion, both in those who create it and experience it. Art can also preserve history and carry cultural knowledge from one generation to the next, helping sustain local traditions, stories, skills, and identities.

I’ve always been creative and had an appreciation for art and crafts. In 2012, I registered a small side-hustle business to sell my photography while in my career as an administrative professional. Since then, I’ve sold my photos online and in galleries, boutiques and markets.

As an administrative professional of 20 years, I’ve worked in non-profit, government, corporate business and post-secondary education. A career highlight was my 12 years at NSCC, where I was part of an incredible community unlike any other.

My passion for volunteerism began at NSCC as a student, when an instructor encouraged me to pursue volunteer opportunities that aligned with my interests and values as a means to gain knowledge, skills and experience. Surfside Studio Tour is entirely volunteer run.

This year’s tour has 28 artists participating with over 17 stops. Last year’s tour generated a total of $40,000 in revenue for participating artists, plus additional revenue for our sponsors and local businesses along the route. Supporting artists is an investment in creativity, well-being, culture and community.”
- Amanda Cashin (Office Information Technology ’06, Operational Excellence ’21), former NSCC employee

Learn about the Surfside Studio Tour: https://www.surfsidestudiotour.ca/

09/21/2026

Sunday plans? We’ve got you covered. ⚽💙
Cheer on Halifax Tides FC with your NSCC community as they take on the Montréal Roses!

🎟️ Discounted tickets of $20 + fees for NSCC students, alumni and employees
📆 September 27, with kickoff at 1 p.m.

Grab your crew and your tickets, https://tides.spinzo.com/halifax-tides-vs-montral-roses-2026-09-27-YFWWS?group=nscc-alumni-xuz2

09/15/2026

25 years of Screen Arts alumni storytelling. 🎬
Join us at the NSCC Screen Arts 25th Anniversary Screening at Atlantic International Film Festival in Halifax on Sept. 22 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and experience a collection of student projects created by Screen Arts alumni over the last 25 years.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required and space is limited. Reserve your seat today: https://2026aiff.eventive.org/schedule/6a847fcb8f53dd07428430b1

09/14/2026

Grab your discounted tickets and kick off the school year with your NSCC community at a Halifax Tides FC game. Join fellow NSCC students, alumni and employees on September 27 for an afternoon of soccer, connection and fun as Halifax Tides FC take on the Montréal Roses.

🎟️ Exclusive NSCC tickets: $20 + fees
📆 September 27 with kickoff at 1 p.m.
🔗 Tickets and details: https://www.nscc.ca/alumni/get-involved/events/eventdetails.aspx?eventid=6599&recurs=0&rd=1790524800000

09/11/2026

💙

"25 years ago, I came to NSCC. Not as a student, but as a displaced traveler. My flight from London to Philadelphia on September 11, 2001 was halfway across the Atlantic when 9/11 took place, and we didn't have enough fuel to return safely to Europe. We rerouted to Halifax. After many hours sitting on the tarmac, I was delivered to the doors of NSCC Akerley Campus. The love and care I received at NSCC has gone on to change my life.

From the moment I arrived until the moment I boarded a plane back to London 2 days later, the NSCC community wrapped me in a blanket of love and understanding that I'll never forget. The College's students went to every cafe and restaurant in town asking for food donations to ensure we could eat that night. Community showed up the next morning to cook us breakfast, opening their homes to us and holding our hands. They made sure that - as terrified and stranded as we were - we never felt alone. Like so many others, I was taken in by a community member. For me, that was an NSCC faculty member named Art Macaulay. He looked after me, fed me and even paid for new clothes.

25 years later, I'm in London this week giving a speech to thousands of people about the impact this experience had on me. Thanks to the people of Halifax and NSCC, I have unshakable faith in the power of love and kindness. My original journey gone awry gave me a deep love of travel and adventure and in the last 25 years I've been privileged to visit nearly 50 countries, but the first one I visited that following year, was Canada, which will always have my heart. On this most poignant of anniversaries, I want to wish NSCC, its students and the community of Halifax well. You changed my life and for this I am forever grateful."

- Clare Watson, displaced traveler during 9/11

09/10/2026

Lights, camera, alumni! The Atlantic International Film Festival returns to Halifax from September 16 to 23, bringing incredible storytelling to the big screen. From directors and producers to writers, crew members and performers, countless NSCC graduates make movie magic happen and shape Atlantic Canada's film industry.

🎬 Explore our sample list of AIFF films with NSCC alumni involvement this year:

- Fiction Feature “Stitches” with Shawn Beckwith (Screen Arts ’01) as producer, and editor.

- Short film “Hooked” with Catherine Bussiere (Screen Arts ’05) as director, producer, cinematographer, editor and co-writer.

- Fiction Feature “The Snake” with Kevin A. Fraser (Screen Arts ’04) as cinematographer and Melani Wood (Screen Arts ’11) as producer.

- Short film “Look at Me” with Kevin A. Fraser (Screen Arts ’04) as cinematographer.

- Short Film “Guard” with Steph Joline (RTA 04) as executive producer and Paul McCurdy (Screen Arts ’04) as cinematographer.

- Short film “Dough Man” with Kevin A. Fraser (Screen Arts ’04) as cinematographer and actress Martina Kelades (Human Services '07)

- Documentary feature “The Last Days of April” with Melani Wood (Screen Arts ’11) as producer.

- Documentary “Captain Newfoundland” with Troy Maher (RTA ’11) as cinematographer.

Know another AIFF film with NSCC alumni ties? Share it in the comments so we can celebrate even more grads.