December 15, 2024
As we prepare to turn the page to 2025, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the milestones, memories, and meaningful work that shaped this past year at Digital Nova Scotia. Guided by our mission to foster the growth of Nova Scotia’s digital ecosystem, connect industry leaders, and champion innovation, we embraced 2024 with energy and purpose. From empowering young learners to celebrating industry achievements and deepening member engagement, this year has been one for the books.
Here’s a look back at some of our proudest moments, initiatives, and collaborations that helped make this year unforgettable!
Welcoming New Members: The Heart of Digital Nova Scotia
Recognizing Excellence with the First TechQuity Award
In 2024, we proudly presented the inaugural Digital Nova Scotia TechQuity Award, a groundbreaking recognition of diversity and equity within the tech sector, to Hamza Abawajy, a first-year applied computer science student at Dalhousie University. Abawajy proudly accepted the award at the 2024 Tech Forward Awards, alongside his mother.
This award celebrates individuals and organizations working to make tech more inclusive—a critical step toward fostering innovation through representation. Highlighting the importance of diversity in driving creativity and collaboration, the TechQuity Award exemplifies our vision for a thriving and equitable tech ecosystem.
Digital Nova Scotia Becomes an Authorized Training Partner with PMI
This year, we proudly became an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) with the Project Management Institute (PMI), the global leader in project management certifications.
As a PMI ATP, our training aligns with the latest PMI Global Standards, ensuring professionals receive top-tier education to advance their careers. Led by PMI-approved instructors, our programs support both aspiring and seasoned practitioners in achieving and maintaining certifications like the Project Management Professional (PMP), the gold standard in project management.
This partnership empowers Nova Scotians with the skills and credentials needed to excel in project leadership—anywhere.
Empowering Nova Scotia’s Workforce Through Innovative Training
In 2024, Digital Nova Scotia continued to empower Nova Scotians with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving, digital-first world. Through 48 skill-building events, workshops, webinars, and panels, as well as innovative partnerships and impactful programs, we’ve supported hundreds of learners in advancing their careers and contributing to a stronger digital economy.
This year, we partnered with St. Francis Xavier University to launch the AI Microcredentials Program, which is helping professionals across Nova Scotia adopt cutting-edge AI technologies. With streams in Marketing & Communications, Manufacturing, and Project Management—and an upcoming track for IT and development—this program delivers accessible, hands-on training tailored to industry needs. Read more about some of our top participants in the program so far: Exploring AI Excellence: Highlights From Our AI Microcredentials Program
We also joined forces with the University of Waterloo’s WatSPEED program to provide advanced upskilling opportunities in high-demand fields like cybersecurity, data analytics, and more. These initiatives ensure Nova Scotia’s workforce is equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow with confidence.
Another major highlight of 2024 was the incredible success of our Digital Skills for Women+ program, which completed three cohorts this year, graduating an impressive 257 participants! This program was designed to equip women and gender-diverse individuals with the digital tools and skills needed to excel in today’s tech-driven workplace. The graduates have demonstrated not only their commitment to personal growth but also their potential to make a lasting impact in Nova Scotia’s tech ecosystem.
Additionally, our Skills for Hire Atlantic (SFHA) program wrapped up its final cohort after an impactful three-year run. This program delivered substantial results, including:
- 87% of participants agreeing that SFHA improved their technical skills.
- 72% reporting improved job readiness skills.
- 80% saying it increased their awareness and knowledge of employment and training opportunities in the ICT and digital technology sectors.
- Most significantly, over 600 participants secured new job placements or pursued tech-related continued learning through the program, highlighting its profound impact on building a skilled, job-ready workforce.
Together, these programs and partnerships are transforming the digital landscape in Nova Scotia, creating pathways for professional success and positioning the province as a hub for technological innovation. We’re proud to be part of these efforts and can’t wait to see the continued impact of our work in the years to come.
Innovation Took Center Stage at the 2024 Tech Forward Awards
This fall, the 2024 Tech Forward Awards, presented by RBC, once again shined a spotlight on the people, projects, and organizations driving digital innovation in Nova Scotia. The event brought together finalists and attendees from across the province to celebrate groundbreaking ideas and the profound impact they’ve had on our industry.
We owe a heartfelt thank you to our extraordinary award sponsors— Humankind Global Recruitment, Compugen, Invest Nova Scotia, CGI, Dash Hudson—whose generosity and support have been instrumental in bringing the Tech Forward Awards to life this year.
A special acknowledgment goes to our presenting sponsor, RBC, for their remarkable commitment to fostering innovation and recognizing excellence in our community. Your contributions make this celebration of achievement possible.
Check out some photos taken throughout the night by our incredible photographer, Michelle Doucette Photography here!
We recorded a heartfelt video with some of this year’s finalists, diving deeper into what this recognition meant to them. It was inspiring to hear their stories of resilience and creativity—testaments to the incredible talent within our community.
A special thank-you to Uncharted Media for their exceptional work in bringing these stories to life on screen. Their expertise helped us capture the spirit and passion behind the Tech Forward Awards.
Member Mixers: Strengthening Connections Across the Industry
2024 was the year of Member Mixers, where we brought our networking events to some of the most scenic and vibrant locations across Nova Scotia. Highlights included:
- The Waterfront Member Mixer, hosted in partnership with Humankind Global Recruitment, where members mingled under the September sun.
- The ESO Rooftop Summer Mixer, which featured breathtaking views (until the fog rolled in!) and meaningful conversations.
- Our Bridgewater Mixer, connecting tech and digital professionals in the heart of the South Shore.
- The Cape Breton Mixer, held at Breton Brewing, blending great company with great brews.
- Our Holiday Member Mixer, celebrated in our brand new location, a fantastic night of networking
These mixers reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering connections and collaboration across Nova Scotia’s tech ecosystem. Not only have they strengthened relationships within our community, but they’ve also been an absolute joy to organize and attend!
All Hands on Tech: 18 Episodes of Insight and Inspiration
Podcast hosts Eilish and Greg with Geoff Sullivan and Amit Vyas from Arctic Wolf.
Our podcast, All Hands on Tech, hosted by our Marketing and Communications Specialist, Eilish Bonang, and our Member Engagement Manager, Greg Dobson, hit its stride this year with 18 thought-provoking episodes. Covering topics from AI adoption to diversity in tech, the podcast continued to be a valuable platform for highlighting the voices shaping Nova Scotia’s digital landscape.
If you, or someone you know, are interested in appearing on an episode of All Hands on Tech in 2025, fill out the guest application form at the bottom of this page and someone from our team will get back to you!
Celebrating a Decade of Digital Discovery Camps
This summer marked 10 incredible years of our Digital Discovery Camps. Over the past decade, we’ve welcomed hundreds of young innovators, inspiring their curiosity about coding, robotics, video game design, and more. The cam
ps have evolved into a cornerstone of DNS’s outreach efforts, sparking joy and creativity while equipping future tech leaders with valuable skills.
We’d also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to REDspace, our Epic Gigabyte Sponsors, for their unwavering support of the Digital Discovery Camps since day one. Their generosity and partnership have been instrumental in making this program a success over the past decade! As we celebrated this milestone anniversary, we couldn’t be prouder of the program’s legacy—or more excited for its future.
Staying Connected: Engaging Our Community Through Social Media
In 2024, Digital Nova Scotia embraced the power of social media to stay connected with our community and amplify our mission. Through platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, we shared stories of innovation, highlighted industry milestones, and celebrated the achievements of Nova Scotia’s thriving tech sector.
LinkedIn became a hub for professional engagement, while Instagram and TikTok allowed us to showcase our vibrant culture and events through creative visuals and videos. Facebook provided a space for fostering deeper connections with our members and partners.
From spotlighting local success stories to engaging audiences with behind-the-scenes content, we used these platforms to keep our community informed, inspired, and united in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Follow along for all the fun!
A New Chapter in Historic Properties
After a year of growth and accomplishments, we ended 2024 with a fresh start in a new location: 201-1875 Upper Water Street, in the heart of Historic Properties. This move reflects our evolution as an organization and our deep ties to Nova Scotia’s rich history and promising future.
Interested in stopping by for a visit? Check out our guided tour on how to find us!
As we look back, 2024 was a year defined by growth, collaboration, and impact. From celebrating 10 years of inspiring young minds to launching programs that prepare professionals for the future, our work has been guided by a simple but powerful mission: to build a thriving digital ecosystem where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Thank you to our members, partners, and community for making this year unforgettable. We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store—and we hope you’ll join us as we continue to shape Nova Scotia’s digital future.
Here’s to innovation, connection, and the power of technology.
Cheers to 2024!
— The DNS team