Cape Breton University Employees Plan for Future at Annual Grand Meeting

At the Annual Grand Meeting of Cape Breton University (CBU), more than 350 employees gathered in Membertou, N.S., to reflect on year one of the University’s strategic plan and to discuss ideas moving into year two of the five-year plan.

“We will soon mark the completion of year one of our strategic plan, and thanks to the drive, commitment and hard work of the faculty and staff of Cape Breton University, it has been an exceptional year. We’ve advanced many initiatives in support of our five strategic directions and will continue to work toward our goals for the betterment of our University and Cape Breton Island,” says David C. Dingwall, President & Vice-Chancellor, Cape Breton University.

Highlights of the day include the unveiling of a new brand for Cape Breton University including a refreshed visual identity and logo. The rebrand expresses the University’s strategic ambitions and strong connection to place, reflecting who CBU is and what CBU stands for. The brand will roll out starting today, with a newly designed website set to launch in late September.

It was announced at the meeting that Keith Macleod and Gail Matheson, both originally from Cape Breton and CBU grads of the Engineering Technology Program now living in Cape Breton, have donated $1 Million to establish student awards. Matheson, Eng Tech ’80 and MacLeod, Eng Tech 79, say, “We received a lot from our time at CBU and felt it important to give back. Our family is settled now, and we established this fund to support island students to allow them to focus on their studies and lessen their financial concerns.”

At the meeting, employees were asked to provide input on a draft Academic Plan for Cape Breton University. Themed, “Transformation Through Inquiry”, the plan sets out bold academic goals in support of the University’s strategic plan. The finalized plan will be tabled to the Senate and Board of Governors later in the fall.

Employee wellness and professional development were also topics of discussion. Stephen Augustine, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Initiatives and Unama’ki College announced, Learning the L’nu Way, a new online learning experience that will soon be available to CBU employees interested in learning about L’nu People, their history, and their culture. The Grand Meeting also presented a great opportunity to begin a campus wide discussion about wellness. The information gathered will be used to inform the development of a comprehensive wellness strategy for CBU.

To make it possible for all employees to attend the Grand Meeting, the University was closed for the day.