Saint Mary’s and NSCC students participated together in an Innovation Sprint for The Dordéan Suites of Chester
Students from Saint Mary’s University and Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) came together for the first-ever Provincial Innovation Sprint on September 26 at NSCC’s Lunenburg Campus in Bridgewater, NS.
The day marked the start of a new two-year partnership between the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and NSCC, designed to connect students and local businesses across Nova Scotia through hands-on innovation challenges.
Ten students, five from each institution, were paired up to help The Dordéan Suites of Chester, a social enterprise that provides meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. Their task was to develop new ideas to promote the cabin’s unique features and reach a younger audience looking for memorable, local getaways.
Over four hours, the teams brainstormed, sketched and refined their ideas with guidance from faculty mentors and NSCC representative Nicole Osmond. Students proposed themed getaway packages, wellness experiences and ways to highlight the cabins’ story through community partnerships and social media.
For business owners Renena and Shawn Joy, the experience was both exciting and inspiring.
“We had a great experience participating in the Innovation Sprint,” they shared. “It was inspiring to see students bring creativity, fresh ideas and energy to the challenges at The Dordéan Suites of Chester. Their innovative solutions and thoughtful presentations were an excellent example of the value of collaboration and new perspectives.”
By the end of the afternoon, three teams stood out. Taking first place were Caroline MacPhee and Abbigail Leslie-Bigelow, both NSCC students, whose concept drew on their Irish heritage. They envisioned transforming a common space into an area for meditation and healing activities, working with local wellness and cultural groups to bring the idea to life. Impressed by their thoughtful approach, Renena and Shawn offered them a complimentary stay at the cabin as a thank you.
Second place went to Dwiesha Swann and Mannat Gogia from Saint Mary’s and Amber Davis from NSCC, while third place went to Hazzaa Sujeer and Kathleen Steele, both from Saint Mary’s.
The event was a chance for students to apply what they’ve learned, collaborate with peers from another institution and see how their ideas can make a tangible difference for a local business.
More events like this are planned across the province, giving students the opportunity to turn creativity into impact one challenge at a time.
Learn more about Innovation Sprints and how you can get involved here.