A rising tide for rural healthcare

In a landmark moment for healthcare in Nova Scotia, the Cape Breton Medical Campus (CBMC) has officially welcomed its first class of medical students. Thirty future physicians began their journey in medicine at the inaugural Rising Tide Ceremony on September 5, 2025.

This important event came a mere two-and-a-half years after the province announced a $58.9 million investment to develop a new medical sciences building at Cape Breton University (CBU), in partnership with Dalhousie. This facility, opening later this year, will serve as the cornerstone of CBMC, the province’s second medical school and Dalhousie’s third campus, designed to train 30 new doctors annually.

“Families across Cape Breton and our rural communities need more family doctors,” said Premier Tim Houston on March 7, 2023, when the campus investment was announced. “We know the best way to meet that need is to train more of them here and do more to ensure that the ones who graduate here, practice here.”

A proven foundation

Dalhousie Medical School has long supported medical education in Cape Breton through family medicine residencies and Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (LIC) in North Sydney and New Waterford. The CBMC builds on this legacy, expanding opportunities for students to train and serve in the communities that shaped them.

“Dalhousie Medical School has a proven track record of providing excellent medical education opportunities throughout the Maritimes,” said Dr. David Anderson, Dean of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine. “We look forward to partnering with Cape Breton University to train the next generation of physicians to further address the healthcare needs of the Cape Breton community.”

A campus built for community

The new medical sciences building will house educational and research spaces tailored to rural health needs, including aging, frailty, disease prevention, Indigenous health, and African Nova Scotian health. It will be complemented by a collaborative care clinic currently under construction at the former NSCC Marconi campus and an expansion of CBU’s health and counselling centre.

“This investment will change the face of healthcare in Cape Breton, in rural Nova Scotia, and the entire province,” said David C. Dingwall, President and Vice-Chancellor of CBU.

A celebration of firsts

During the Rising Tide Ceremony, or El~mpa'q in Mi’kmaq, each student in CBMC’s inaugural class received a stethoscope from Doctors Nova Scotia President Dr. Shelley McNeil and Eastern Zone Physician Advisor Ryan Brown, and lab coats embroidered with the CBMC logo from local business owners Steve and Katherine van Nostrand.

A striking sculpture by Nova Scotia artisan Liam Tromans served as the ceremony’s focal point. Carved from trees felled by Hurricane Fiona in 2022, the lighthouse stands as a beacon of hope and guidance for the students as they embark on their medical studies.

The ceremony also featured words of encouragement from Dr. Jennifer Hall, Senior Associate Dean of CBMC; Dr. Anderson; and David Dingwall. Each speaker emphasized the importance of community, equity, and the transformative power of education.

The event concluded with a stirring performance of Rise Again by Lucy MacNeil and her brother Stuart of the beloved Barra MacNeils. Written by Leon Dubinsky, the song—often called Cape Breton’s unofficial anthem—captured the spirit of resilience and renewal that defines both the region and its newest medical students.

A future rooted in place

The Cape Breton Medical Campus is more than a new academic institution—it’s a bold step toward addressing healthcare gaps across Nova Scotia. With data showing that physicians are more likely to practice where they train, CBMC offers students the chance to complete their studies in Cape Breton and inspires them to stay and serve.

“The funding and construction of a state-of-the-art medical sciences building is a transformative decision that will have long-lasting impacts on the healthcare of the region,” said Dr. Hall. “Future students can be assured that they will be receiving a world-class medical education in a facility that reflects their ambition and talents.”

The inaugural CBMC class will graduate in 2029, poised to serve as family doctors in rural communities across the province.