The Year That Was: Digital Nova Scotia's 2024 Annual General Meeting Recap
On September 5th, Digital Nova Scotia (DNS) hosted its Annual General Meeting and networking event, bringing together members and partners across the province. With events held in Halifax, New Glasgow, Mahone Bay, Sydney, and virtually, more than 100 attendees gathered to celebrate another successful year for DNS as we marked our 35th anniversary as a non-profit organization.With all of that in mind, we'd like to express a huge thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us. We owe a special thank you to our event sponsors Ignite Atlantic and McInnes Cooper, as well as The Membertou Trade and Convention Centre and the Mahone Bay Centre for hosting us. [embed]https://youtu.be/BRHvTxptFvE?feature=shared[/embed] During the AGM, we reflected on the past year—one filled with growth, impact, and progress across the digital sector.
Throughout 2024, DNS welcomed 52 new paid member companies while maintaining an 87% membership retention rate. The community’s growth was further bolstered by a 29% increase in student memberships, showcasing the rising interest in tech among emerging professionals.Our training and upskilling initiatives reached new heights this year, with 4,452 individuals participating in our programs!
We hosted 74 sessions covering topics ranging from cybersecurity to digital marketing and cloud computing.In addition, 430 Atlantic Canadians graduated from our career-building programs in cybersecurity, data analytics, and web development, equipping them with valuable skills to succeed in the digital economy. Since 2015, with the backing of Nova Scotia’s Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive, we’ve been proud to offer free training to our members through the Next Level Skills Programs. These programs are designed to boost productivity, innovation, profitability, technology adoption, and competitiveness, all while fostering workplace diversity. Last year alone, 70 participants advanced their skillsets through six courses delivered by local tech experts. Read more from our 2023-2024 Annual Report here.
In partnership with the Discovery Centre, our Digital Discovery Camp celebrated its 10th year of providing an immersive tech experience for young enthusiasts aged 9-14. For the first time, the camp was hosted in Membertou, Cape Breton, in addition to its usual locations across Nova Scotia, reaching more communities than ever before!
This year, we welcomed 120 campers, representing diverse backgrounds, all eager to explore the world of technology under the guidance of 9 industry mentors. Speaking of mentors, we also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our Epic Gigabyte sponsors, REDspace Inc.! Their unwavering support over the past 10 years (since our very first camp!) has been instrumental in bringing this inspiring youth program to life. We are incredibly thankful for their dedication to fostering the next generation of tech leaders!
We also took a moment to highlight our All Hands on Tech podcast where 21 Digital Nova Scotia members were featured in episodes that have been downloaded more than 2,000 times! The podcast continues to be a platform for sharing the experiences, insights, and innovations shaping the tech industry.Another key highlight of the year was the continued success of our Digital Skills for Women+ program, which is designed by women who have faced barriers in tech and is aimed at helping women+ without industry experience learn abou
t digital topics, build confidence, and position themselves for tech careers. This year, we were thrilled to see 674 applications, with 181 women+ accepted and 159 graduates. The program’s success underscores its importance in helping bridge the gender gap in tech, thanks in large part to the support of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. During the AGM, we proudly introduced the newest members of Digital Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors. We are thrilled to welcome Michael Hebert of Turtle Island Technology Solutions, Annamarie Bermundo of EfficiencyOne, Allison Boutilier of Cape Breton University, and Emran Billah of Spiri Robotics. Their diverse expertise and leadership will help guide us as we continue to foster innovation and growth in Nova Scotia’s tech community.
As we look back on the past year, we are immensely proud of our community’s achievements and look forward to continuing our work to grow and strengthen Nova Scotia’s tech ecosystem! Thank you to all of our members, partners, and supporters who helped make this year a success!
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