Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) was a publicly owned
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
university college
In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies ...
(founded 14 February 1905 and administered within the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture) located at
Bible Hill,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
. The Nova Scotia Agricultural College merged with
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...
and became Dalhousie's
Faculty of Agriculture
Faculty may refer to:
* Faculty (academic staff), the academic staff of a university (North American usage)
* Faculty (division), a division within a university (usage outside of the United States)
* Faculty (instrument), an instrument or warra ...
on 1 September 2012. The popular nickname remains the "AC".
History
Nova Scotia Agricultural College was officially founded 14 February 1905 by the merger of The School of Agriculture (1885–1905) in
Truro
Truro (; kw, Truru) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Cornwall, England. It is Cornwall's county town, sole city and centre for administration, leisure and retail trading. Its ...
and The School of Horticulture (1893–1905) in
Wolfville
Wolfville is a Canadian town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, located about northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. The town is home to Acadia University and Landmark East School.
The town is a tourist destination du ...
.
NSAC was located on the provincial demonstration farm in Bible Hill along a bluff overlooking the north bank of the
Salmon River; it expanded throughout the 20th century to a total area of .
In the early years, NSAC focused on educating farmers in aspects of field and animal husbandry. These early graduates often went on to pursue a university degree, usually from
Macdonald College
The Macdonald Campus of McGill University (commonly referred to as the ‘Mac Campus’ or simply ’Mac’) houses McGill's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (FAES), which includes the Institute of Parasitology, the School of Huma ...
at
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...
or the
Ontario Agricultural College
The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto. Since 1964, it has become affili ...
in
Guelph
Guelph ( ; 2021 Canadian Census population 143,740) is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Kitchener and west of Downtown Toronto, at the intersection of Highway 6, Highway 7 and Wel ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
.
A bronze memorial plaque to the memory of former students of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College killed during the First World War was erected in Cumming Hall by their fellow students.
A disastrous fire in 1946 destroyed the science building and a temporary campus was set up in a former
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also respo ...
hospital at the
Debert Military Camp. This temporary campus served students until the fall of 1953 when the new science building, now known as the Harlow Institute, was opened on the Bible Hill campus.
[
In 1980 the ]Government of Nova Scotia
The Government of Nova Scotia (french: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Écosse, gd, Riaghaltas Alba Nuadh) refers to the provincial government of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is one of Canada's ...
passed legislation authorizing NSAC to grant undergraduate B.Sc. (Agr.) degrees. The decision was made by the institution to do this in association with Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...
and the first students graduated with the new degree in 1985. An agreement was later signed with Dalhousie University to grant M.Sc. degrees beginning in 1996. NSAC continued to grant its own diplomas for 2-year technology programs.
Throughout its history, the NSAC was an independent post-secondary research and education institution but it was directly funded by and administered by the provincial government's Department of Agriculture. In an op-ed piece on 20 May 2011, then Agriculture Minister John MacDonell announced that the province was exploring a new partnership with Dalhousie University. On 23 March 2012 the Government of Nova Scotia announced that it had reached an agreement with Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...
that would merge NSAC into that institution effective 1 September 2012 to become that institution's Faculty of Agriculture.
Programs
NSAC was the only university in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (french: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the region of Eastern Canada comprising the provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec. The four provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundlan ...
that had a specific mandate to offer agricultural education. Throughout its history it offered specialized training at the Technical, Technology, Bachelor (after 1980), and Masters (after 1996) levels. Bachelor's degrees in Agricultural Mechanization, Engineering (with Dalhousie), Animal Science, Plant Science, Soil Science, Environmental Biology, Agricultural Economics, and Aquaculture are offered. Undergraduate degrees — B.Sc.(Agr)— are granted in association with Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...
.
NSAC had also been associated with Brock University
Brock University is a public research university in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is the only university in Canada in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, at the centre of Canada's Niagara Peninsula on the Niagara Escarpment. The university bear ...
whereby NSAC students could receive a B.Sc. with a major in Viticulture
Viticulture (from the Latin word for ''vine'') or winegrowing (wine growing) is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of ''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, ran ...
& Oenology
Oenology (also enology; ) is the science and study of wine and winemaking. Oenology is distinct from viticulture, which is the science of the growing, cultivation, and harvesting of grapes. The English word oenology derives from the Greek word ' ...
(granted by Brock).
NSAC offered a wide variety of technology programs, including a Diploma in Business Management with concentrations in Farming, Dairy Farming, Equine, Companion Animal, as well as Greenhouse & Nursery. It trained students in how to operate an agricultural business from both a financial stand point as well as teaching proper plant growing and animal husbandry techniques.
Noted alumni
* Donald Cameron Donald Cameron may refer to:
Scottish Clan Cameron
* Donald Cameron of Lochiel (c. 1695 or 1700–1748), 19th Chief, and his descendants:
** Donald Cameron, 22nd Lochiel (1769–1832), 22nd Chief
** Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1835–1905), Scott ...
, former Progressive Conservative Premier of Nova Scotia
* T.J. Harvey, a Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Tobique—Mactaquac
Tobique—Mactaquac is a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1997.
Political geography
The district includes the counties of Carleton and Victoria as well a ...
in the house of commons in 2015
* Tom Dunphy, is a Canadian politician, teacher and realtor. He represented 3rd Queens
3rd Queens was an electoral district in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, which elected two members to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island (french: Assemblée législative ...
in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island (french: Assemblée législative de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard) is the sole chamber of the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. The Legislative Assembly meets at Province House, which is locate ...
from 1986 to 1996 as a Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
.
* Mark Eyking
Mark Eyking (born August 30, 1960) is a Canadian politician who served as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Sydney—Victoria from 2000 to 2019 as a member of the Liberal Party.
Early life and education
Eyking was born in Sydney, Nova ...
, a Canadian politician for the PC party, represents the Sydney-Victoria riding in the house of commons.
See also
*List of agricultural universities and colleges
This article lists agricultural universities and colleges around the world, by continent and country.
Africa Algeria
* Higher National Agronomic School (French name: Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique)
Benin
* Agricultural University of ...
* Higher education in Nova Scotia
*List of universities in Nova Scotia
Universities in Canada are established and operate under provincial and territorial government charters, except in one case directed by First Nations bands and in another by federal legislation. Most public universities in the country are memb ...
*Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture
The Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University is a Canadian agricultural college and faculty of Dalhousie University located in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia. The Faculty of Agriculture offers the only university level programs in agriculture in ...
Notes
Enrollment Statistics 2011-12, NSAC Registry
References
{{authority control
Educational institutions established in 1905
Educational institutions disestablished in 2012
Education in Colchester County
Colleges in Nova Scotia
Agricultural universities and colleges in Canada
Dalhousie University
Defunct universities and colleges in Canada
Agriculture in Nova Scotia
1905 establishments in Nova Scotia