Marine Innovation Centre will be one sandbox in Tri-County CUBE

The tri-counties is getting its own sandbox.

A project that has been in the making for about a year and a half, the Tri-County Sandbox, or CUBE Space for Innovation, as it has been named, will be coming to fruition this winter at the three Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses in Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby, as well as the Université Sainte-Anne in Church Point.

“I’m so excited,” said Mary Thompson, principal at NSCC Burridge and Shelburne campuses. “Learning to be innovative and coming up with solutions to problems and challenges and developing new ideas are really, really important in this day and age and that’s the goal of our sandboxes.”

The project will be funded, in part, by the Department of Labour and Advanced Education.

Each site will have a focus and will develop partnerships in the local catchment area that will help drive the work of the 'sandbox', said Thompson. In Digby, the focus area is artisan; at Université Sainte-Anne, it is biodiversity; in Yarmouth, it is tech manufacturing and general; and in Shelburne it will be marine.

“The whole purpose of the CUBE is really thinking outside the box,” said Thompson. “Across our sites there will some of the same equipment but a different focus at each site. In Shelburne the focus is on marine innovation because the School of Fisheries is there and we have been working with the Municipality of Shelburne around this whole concept of a marine centre of excellence.”

Presently, the School of Fisheries provides training for the fishing sector, and has been looking to expand its offerings to include greater opportunities to bring innovation to the sector and to support the concept of innovation and excellence in the fishery, said Thompson.

“The project would provide opportunities for industry and students to explore business ideas, learn and increase safety awareness through the use of simulations and applied research in fishery related areas,” she said.

The work with the Municipality of Shelburne to incorporate a marine innovation space “has been a driver,” said Thompson.

“Having the School of Fisheries at NSCC Shelburne and being able to access the technology they have will allow a starting place for development of simulation not just for training but for innovation and design … This is an opportunity to enhance the spirit of innovation in the Shelburne area. Providing opportunities to explore, innovate and develop new ideas and processes while working with others in the community to promote research, development and business.”

The Municipality of Shelburne is partnering with the NSCC on the Marine Innovation Center and has allocated $50,000 to support the initiative.

“The focus on marine innovation at NSCC Shelburne allows for the region to develop a centre of expertise to support, grow and sustain the fishing industry,” said Warden Penny Smith. “This project will provide new opportunities to current business, entrepreneurs and new entrants to the fishery and ocean sector.”

Thompson said the NSCC is also working in partnership with other providers such as Shelburne CBDC.

“Greater support and partnerships will allow the sandbox to access more equipment and reach a greater target group,” she said.

“Learning to be innovative and coming up with solutions to problems and challenges and developing new ideas are really, really important in this day and age and that’s the goal of our sandboxes.”

Mary Thompson NSCC Burridge and Shelburne principal