New NSCC Campus Aims to Boost Downtown Sydney’s Vitality

The recent opening of the new Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Sydney Waterfront Campus has raised questions about its impact on the downtown area. A year after its inauguration, local businesses are mixed in their assessments of whether the campus has significantly increased foot traffic and patronage.

Tyler Gouthro, the franchisee of Philthy Philly’s in downtown Sydney, noted a lack of expected student engagement. “Not as much as I really thought we would,” Gouthro remarked regarding the influx of students and staff. Although his business remains stable, he expressed a desire to see more NSCC students visiting for lunch. “We may do something more aggressive this year and maybe offer some more specials specifically targeting the students, but it did not generate enough that I thought it would,” he added.

Mixed Reactions Among Local Businesses

Philippa Bryden, executive director of the Sydney Downtown Development Association, offered a different perspective. She emphasized the energy that NSCC students have brought to the downtown area over the past year. Bryden highlighted the recent renovations to Charlotte Street, which have made the waterfront more appealing. “We’re also coming up on marking a year to have the reconstruction completed for Charlotte Street,” she stated. “It’s just been a very, very nice year with a beautiful street and lots of people walking around on it.”

Derek Mombourquette, Nova Scotia’s interim Liberal leader and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the downtown Sydney area, played a significant role in the campus relocation project, which was announced in 2019. “This was a significant construction project in the community which created hundreds of trades jobs,” Mombourquette said. Although those construction jobs have since concluded, he indicated that many local businesses have reported increased traffic due to the improvements made in the downtown area. “This was the biggest one, to move the college,” he mentioned, assuring that feedback has largely been positive since the NSCC’s relocation.

Looking Ahead: Enrolment and Future Challenges

As for the number of students expected for the second year at the Sydney Waterfront campus, a spokesperson for NSCC confirmed that enrolment figures will be available in October 2023. Meanwhile, the situation at Cape Breton University, located approximately ten kilometers from downtown Sydney, presents a contrasting picture. International student enrolment at the university has dropped significantly due to new federal regulations that cap international study permits. Bryden acknowledged this decline but remained optimistic about its impact on downtown Sydney’s appeal. “I know we might be down on those numbers, but I don’t think it will impact them coming to see us in downtown Sydney,” she said.

The new cohort of NSCC Sydney students is set to begin orientation on Tuesday, with classes commencing on Wednesday. As the community reflects on the changes brought by the new campus, the focus will be on fostering engagement between students and businesses to enhance downtown Sydney’s vibrancy.