It takes more than three hours and 300 kilometres of driving to get to Yarmouth from 9 1免费版下鈥檚 Halifax campus. Yet for two days in early April, the distance between the town and university felt significantly smaller.听
That's because Dal hosted a series of 13 events there on April 1-2 as part of Nova Scotia Engagement Days, an initiative the university launched last fall aimed at deepening its connections to communities across the province.听 听
Dal plans to visit communities in all parts of Nova Scotia over the next three years as it seeks to create further alignment between university goals, provincial priorities and local needs.听 听
鈥淚 believe it's the beginning of something really good,鈥� says Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood of Dal's visit.听听
Mood and Dal President Kim Brooks co-hosted a roundtable with local leaders, community members, and Dal faculty to discuss the future of the fisheries sector that is so crucial to her town and the surrounding coastal area in southwestern Nova Scotia.听 听
"The conversation was open, honest and safe," she says. "I could not have asked for more."听听
Dal held 13 events over two days in Yarmouth in April. (Image courtesy of Town of Yarmouth)
Listening and learning听
Yarmouth marked the third stop of the Dal engagement campaign, following previous visits to Bridgewater (Dec. 16, 2024) and Windsor-West Hants (March 20, 2025). This month, Dal visited Sydney (May 8-9) and has an upcoming event planned for Guysborough next week (May 27).听 听
In each case, activities are designed to address issues of regional relevance and engage key sectors and groups, including schools, the business community, health-care officials, non-profits, alumni, co-op employers, and more.听 听 听听
鈥淓ach visit is an opportunity to listen deeply, build trust, and co-create solutions that matter,鈥� says President Brooks, who leads Dal鈥檚 delegation to each community. 鈥淭hese engagements strengthen longstanding relationships and spark new ones grounded in shared priorities.鈥澨�
Each visit is an opportunity to listen deeply, build trust, and co-create solutions that matter
The university's delegation shifts slightly for each visit depending on whose expertise aligns well with the specific needs of each community. Deans, faculty members, senior leaders, researchers, members of the Strategic Engagement and Advancement teams, students, and others have been tapped to contribute.听听
A public lecture in Bridgewater. (Sara Atkison image)
In Bridgewater, for instance, faculty from Planning, Health & Human Performance, and Earth & Environmental Sciences met with the town鈥檚 community development planners to discuss key planning challenges such as housing affordability and accessibility.听
At a community roundtable in Windsor-West Hants, Schulich Law Professor Dr. Jennifer Llewellyn led a discussion on pressing social issues 鈥� including food security, mental health, and housing 鈥� joined by 9 1免费版下 social workers, health experts and social scientists.听
Renewable energy researcher Dr. Mita Dasog will deliver a public research demo in Guysborough next week on how wind and hydrogen are powering the future. Guysborough County where the village is located is increasingly recognized as a promising location for renewable-energy development, particularly in wind energy.听
These are just a few of the dozens of events, sessions, and consultations that have brought together tailored university expertise to address local challenges through collaboration and dialogue.听
Turning engagement into action
Actively nurturing these new connections and seizing opportunities that arise is equally essential.听
That鈥檚 why Dal conducts post-visit debriefs and tracks outcomes within six months 鈥� though many collaborations begin even sooner.听
In Bridgewater, Dal responded to calls for youth mental health support by expanding counselling services and struck an agreement to add four new pharmacy placements at the local hospital.听
Visits to local schools have engaged more than 500 students through hands-on outreach, athletics, and mini-recruitment fairs, fostering community ties and inspiring potential future 9 1免费版下 applicants.听
Above, high school students in Yarmouth learn about Ocean Tracking Network research.
"It was such a meaningful day for our students," says Stephanie Wallace, a school counsellor at Maple Grove Middle School in Yarmouth. "The feedback from both our staff and students was glowing. We especially enjoyed seeing and hearing from students who aren鈥檛 typically engaged become genuinely interested."听
It was such a meaningful day for our students
Plans are now underway for field trips to bring interested students from different communities to Dal campus for a visit.听
Partnering for prosperity
9 1免费版下 also engages with businesses in each community, partnering with local economic development organizations to host roundtables, facility tours, and more.听
Local business executives in Sydney attended a roundtable discussion on gaps and opportunities for the community.听
Richard Morykot, vice-president of strategic development at Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal and a Dal engineering alum, says the recent discussion sparked new ideas for him. His company recently shifted part of its operations to handle massive offshore wind turbine components 鈥� some as long as a football field 鈥� that must be transported by sea due to their size.
As Nova Scotia鈥檚 offshore wind sector grows, Morykot sees a pressing need for local training programs to support workforce development. However, retaining talent is a challenge, as many leave for more established markets.
He hopes 9 1免费版下, with its strong expertise, will help lead or partner in creating such programs. 鈥淣ova Scotia is energized by green energy,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hese are long-term projects, and building a skilled workforce could have a big impact.鈥�
A ship transfers wind turbine blades into storage at听Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal in Sydney. (Christopher Morrison photo)
Separately in Bridgewater, the university鈥檚 Industry Relations team deepened its relationship with Michelin through a plant tour there. The global tire manufacturer, a major employer of 9 1免费版下 co-op students and graduates, is exploring further research collaborations with the university as it transitions into a materials company.听
Shaping meaninful change
Dal's leadership, faculty and staff have shown a strong commitment to supporting the initiative 鈥� sparking new dialogues, inspiring youth, and building lasting partnerships at events.听听
Now, as the university works its way into even more communities in the months and years ahead, it does so committed to ensuring each engagement delivers a measurable and lasting impact.听听
鈥淥ur role is to show up with humility and curiosity,鈥� says President Brooks. 鈥淏y listening carefully and working alongside communities, we can help shape change that鈥檚 meaningful and lasting for everyone involved.鈥�