Cape Breton Accents

In our final episode of Cape Breton Accents Season Two, President Dingwall is joined by Sarah MacRae, Assistant Dean and Senior Lab Instructor, for a conversation about the skills that help us connect, lead and thrive in an increasingly digital world. Sarah shares her insights on the enduring importance of interpersonal communication, why public speaking remains one of the most valuable profession...

In Part Two of our conversation with CBU's Chancellor, Jack Graham, the focus shifts to the road ahead. Jack reflects on what it means to step into the role of Chancellor at a transformative moment in the University’s history. From student opportunity and community impact to the future of higher education and CBU’s growing global reputation, Jack shares his perspective on leadership, giving back a...

Cape Breton University President and Vice-Chancellor David Dingwall sits down with incoming Chancellor Jack Graham for a conversation about community, leadership, sport and the lifelong impact of education. Born in Antigonish and raised in Sydney, Jack reflects on growing up in a family of 10, his formative years at the College of Cape Breton, his journey into law and leadership at McInnes Cooper,...

Cynthia Vokey – Leading Innovation in Graduate Business Education From the Master of Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics, and the Master of Digital Marketing, to the Master of Healthcare Leadership and Innovation, this episode shares what makes these 16-month programs unique and how they’re designed to meet the evolving needs of industries and communities. Cynthia Vokey, Director of the...

David Mortimer – From Glace Bay to Hollywood David Mortimer, a proud CBU alumnus from Glace Bay, joins President Dingwall to discuss his journey from studying environmental science at Cape Breton University to building an impressive career in film and television. From his first movie role during his first year at CBU to premiering two films at the Toronto International Film Festival, David’s story...

Tyler Mattheis – Building a Stronger Cape Breton Tyler Mattheis, President and CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership, joins President Dingwall to discuss the region’s economic future and the work being done to promote Cape Breton, grow a culture of entrepreneurship and connect people with the resources they need to succeed. The conversation explores emerging opportunities in green energy, defense and...

Megan Penney – Building Business, Building Community Cape Breton Accents welcomes Megan Penney, a three-time Cape Breton University graduate and Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce. From earning her Bachelor of Arts and Community Studies, Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development at CBU to leading...

Annette Verschuren - A Legacy of Leadership After 20 years of service, Annette Verschuren, O.C., recently concluded her tenure as Chancellor of Cape Breton University, the longest-serving Chancellor in Canadian history. In this special episode, President Dingwall sits down with Annette to reflect on her remarkable journey, the mentorship she received from the late Purdy Crawford, and the moments t...

Madame Diana Fox Carney – A New Era for Women’s Hockey Cape Breton Accents is back for Season 2, and we’re kicking things off with a historic moment for women’s hockey in Canada being made at Cape Breton University. President Dingwall welcomes Madame Diana Fox Carney, British-Canadian economist, former university hockey player and spouse of Prime Minister Mark Carney, to reflect on a groundbreakin...

In this episode of Cape Breton Accents, President David Dingwall sits down with legendary Capers coach, Ness Timmons. Ness is a three-time U SPORTS Coach of the Year and the driving force behind one of the most successful university soccer programs in the country. As Ness prepares to enter his 30th season with the CBU Women’s Soccer team, he reflects on building a culture that values character, at...

Episode 13 - Scholarships, Science and Stepping into New Opportunities with Ava Graham In this episode of Cape Breton Accents, President Dingwall sits down with Ava Graham, a standout student whose CBU experience is defined by curiosity, leadership and a few unexpected pivots along the way. Ava reflects on her journey from a spontaneous application to CBU to earning the prestigious Chancellor’s Sc...

Communication, Leadership and Listening with Dr. Felix Odartey-Wellington In this episode of Cape Breton Accents, President David C. Dingwall sits down with Dr. Felix Odartey-Wellington, Chair of Senate and full professor of Communication at Cape Breton University. With a background in law, advocacy and broadcasting, Dr. Odartey-Wellington brings a unique global perspective to his teaching and lea...

Pretty Philip - From Sea to CBU In this episode of Cape Breton Accents, President Dingwall sits down with Pretty Philip, a Bachelor of Business Administration student at Cape Breton University with a focus in Human Resources. From her roots in southern India to navigating oil tankers around the world, Pretty brings a truly global perspective to campus. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares he...

Recreation for all: Garrett Nicholson In this episode of Cape Breton Accents, President Dingwall sits down with Garrett Nicholson, Coordinator of Recreation and Sports at Cape Breton University, for a fun and insightful conversation about student life, inclusion and the role of recreation in building community. Garrett shares how his own journey, from playing baseball in the US to leading recreati...

In this episode of Cape Breton Accents, President Dingwall sits down with CBU Bachelor of Social Work graduate, Alex Orychock, for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, purpose and the power of staying close to home. Born and raised in Whitney Pier, Alex shares how personal challenges and a desire to help others led him to pursue social work. As a member of the program’s inaugural cohort, he...

Episode 8: Lynn LeVatte – Preparing Educators for a Changing World In this episode of Cape Breton Accents , President David Dingwall is joined by Dr. Lynn LeVatte, Assistant Professor in CBU’s School of Education, to explore how educators are being prepared for the classrooms of today and tomorrow. Dr. LeVatte shares insights on CBU’s Bachelor and Master of Education programs, emphasizing the impo...

In this episode of Cape Breton Accents , President Dingwall sits down with William Bowers as he shares his powerful journey from South Africa to Canada. Driven by his early experiences growing up during apartheid, William was determined to pursue a career focused on community upliftment, a goal that led him to Cape Breton University’s MBA in Community Economic Development program. William reflects...

Ben Smith – Playing it Forward In this heartwarming episode of Cape Breton Accents, President Dingwall sits down with Ben Smith, a two-time CBU Alumnus and last year’s valedictorian. Raised in Curaçao and now finishing his second degree at CBU, Ben shares how music, community and mentorship have shaped his experience both inside and outside the classroom. From his decision to move to Cape Breton,...

Shashwat Trivedi – Rooted in Community In this episode, President Dingwall sits down with Shashwat Trivedi, a CBU alumni and the University’s Communications and Social Media Specialist. Originally from India, Shashwat shares his journey from international student to full-blown Caper. Together, they reflect on Cape Breton’s deep sense of community, the challenges and triumphs of navigating permanen...

In this episode of Cape Breton Accents, President David Dingwall sits down with award-winning Mi’kmaq musician, Morgan Toney. Known for blending traditional Mi’kmaq songs with Cape Breton’s fiddling tradition, Morgan’s music has gained national and international recognition. They discuss how CBU helped shape Morgan’s passion for music, learning the Mi’kmaq language through song and what makes CBU...

Women’s hockey is making waves at CBU, and team captain Leila Ludyka is leading the charge! In this episode of Cape Breton Accents , Leila talks about her role with the Capers Women’s Hockey Team, coaching with the Blizzards Hockey Association and her exciting research with Dr. Bettina Callary. Tune in now, and then catch Leila on the ice this weekend for the ACHA championship hosted by CBU! Visit...

In this episode of Cape Breton Accents , we sit down with Rabiat Yusuf, an international student from Nigeria who has embraced every opportunity at Cape Breton University. Rabiat shares her experience adjusting to life in Canada, working on campus and the steps she’s taking on her path to Permanent Residency. Tune in to hear about the challenges and triumphs of studying abroad, the importance of c...

Welcome to the very first episode of Cape Breton Accents! In this debut episode, Cape Breton University President and Vice-Chancellor, David Dingwall, sits down with CBU student, Nolan Neville. Nolan shares his journey to Cape Breton University, what it’s like to be part of a university that feels like family and how his role in the Welcome Centre helps new students navigate life at CBU. From bala...