09/11/2026
🎓 Congratulations to all of our graduates and participants!🎓
What a journey it has been! I had the honour of facilitating these 10 graduates!
Over the past 12 weeks in the classroom, our participants took part in workshops, earned certificates, built new skills, and learned about themselves and their futures. From First Aid & CPR, Peer-to-Peer Mental Health First Aid, Food Handlers, and so much more, the goal was never just to complete a program — it was to create a meaningful learning experience for everyone.
Then came 4 weeks of work placements, where the learning continued in the real world.
And I think that is one of the most valuable parts of a program like this: everyone’s experience can look different.
Some participants discovered that the work they were placed in wasn't the career path they wanted — and that's learning too. Some realized they may want to go to school for something related to their placement. Others had the opportunity to practice in the field they are planning to study. And, of course, some were offered positions and secured employment from their placements — a huge congratulations to you! 👏
No matter the outcome, every student learned something from their placement, and that is something worth celebrating.
A huge thank you to Johny's Java for catering, Anchor Youth Space Cumberland for providing us with a space, and NS Works Nova Scotia Works CANSA and Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association - CANSA for making this program possible.
Thank you to our amazing school liaison for capturing these moments with such incredible photos. 📸 NS Works SL Katie Forbes
A huge thank you to all of our NS Works facilitators who played such a big part in teaching and supporting the Employability Readiness workshops. Your knowledge, time, energy, and willingness to share your expertise helped make this program so successful. We truly appreciate everything you brought to the classroom and the positive impact you had on our participants. ❤️
And to all of our community partners and placement hosts — thank you for opening your doors and welcoming our students. You gave them a safe, inclusive environment where they could ask questions, try new things, make mistakes, build confidence, and experience what it is really like to be part of a workplace.
Most of you were mentors: your role in this experience cannot be overstated. Sometimes having someone believe in you, answer a question, show you how something works, or simply make you feel like you belong can make all the difference. Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge, patience, and encouragement with our students. ❤️
To all of the community partners who have supported us throughout the program through donations, resources, time, connections, and encouragement — we see you, and we appreciate you. This program truly takes a community.
And finally, a very special thank you to my co-facilitator Chris, who is heading off to finish his final year of teaching and, eventually, become a professor! 🎓📚 I’m so grateful for everything you brought to this program, and I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes you.
Most importantly, congratulations to all of our participants. Whether you left this program with a job, a new career goal, a plan for school, new skills, a better understanding of what you don't want, or simply a little more confidence in yourself — you learned, you grew, and you showed up.
And that is worth celebrating.
Congratulations, grads! I am so proud of you and excited to see where you go next. ❤️🎓
