"Canada's University Capital" in Toronto

Actor-comedian Ron James and CBC Radio Q writer/producer Kathryn Borel Jr. (author of Corked) shared stories of their time studying in Nova Scotia at the launch of the Canada’s University Capital campaign in Toronto on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The afternoon event took place at One King West in downtown Toronto where an enthusiastic crowd of university alumni gathered to help spread the word that there’s good reason to consider Nova Scotia when planning a post-secondary education.

The interactive online campaign proclaims that “Nova Scotia IS Canada’s University Capital,” a bold statement backed by a strong reputation as the learning province.

"I've always seen my brain like a ramshackle house -- big, rambling, shoddy in places, but full of potential for sprucing up," said Borel. "Going to school at King's essentially kicked open the door to a room I didn't know I had and in that space I found depth and light. It reframed the language I use to describe the world, it gave me my voice, a voice that eventually allowed me to become a writer."

Home to 11 universities – Acadia, Dalhousie, the University of King’s College, Saint Mary’s, St. Francis Xavier, Mount Saint Vincent, the Atlantic School of Theology, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Universite Sainte Anne, Cape Breton University - and a world-class community college system, Nova Scotia’s tradition of excellence in higher education dates back more than 200 years to the foundation of Canada’s first English speaking university – the University of King’s College founded first in Windsor, NS in 1789.

Today, a student interested in studying in Nova Scotia will find a variety of fields to study with the choice to study within the province’s capital city Halifax, or in smaller communities with easy access to the province’s natural splendor.

"This campaign sends a strong message to prospective students and their parents, that Nova Scotia is the destination for education in this country," said John Harker, chair of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents. "Nova Scotia has more than 220 years of experience educating students from all over the world in a wide range of disciplines.”

The province’s universities and colleges attract a young population, and retaining students after graduation ensures Nova Scotia continues to offer an educated workforce.

Our universities attract more than 16,000 students from outside of Nova Scotia every year and 21% of these students choose to remain in the province upon graduating, to pursue their careers. 89% of students originally from Nova Scotia remain following graduation.

Fostering a welcoming environment for students interested in studying in Nova Scotia has residual benefits that are also inviting to young families and businesses. Providing top quality education and keeping graduates in our province is fundamental to Nova Scotia’s economic success.

Offering such a breadth of education options in both urban and rural areas of the province, Nova Scotia’s universities, Nova Scotia Community College and the province’s private colleges contribute to the growth of our communities. As 56,000 jobs become available over the next five years due to new employer demand and worker retirement, graduates will find the opportunity to do the same, investing in the communities they have come to call home.

If you're an alumnus of a Nova Scotia university - share your story with others, visit universitycapital.ca and pass the link on.