Nova Scotia Proclaimed Canada's University Capital in Ottawa

NOTE: A social media release with downloadable high-resolution photographs and video will be available later today, Jan. 26, at
http://gov.ns.ca/news/smr/2010-01-26-capital.asp .

A marketing campaign highlighting the world-class offerings of Nova Scotia universities was unveiled today, Jan. 26, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

The campaign markets Nova Scotia as "Canada's University Capital" to prospective students and their parents. An interactive website gives visitors an opportunity to meet a professor from each university and access links to further explore what they have to offer.

An enthusiastic crowd attended the launch.

"This campaign sends a strong message to prospective students and their parents, that Nova Scotia is the destination for education in this country," said John Harker, chair of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents. "Nova Scotia has more than 220 years of experience educating students from all over the world in a wide range of disciplines.

"Students can chose from urban or rural settings, study with leading researchers in specialized programs, and an excellent student-teacher ratio means a more personalized approach to learning."

Ottawa's Police Chief Vern White knows about Nova Scotia's university offerings first hand, having graduated from two of them.

"Nova Scotia has the ability and capacity to provide cultural and linguistic diversity to the aspiring learner," said Mr. White. "So as well as engaging with the student as they work toward their education, social work, legal or medical profession, Nova Scotia has also prided itself on growing and expanding the differences we find in Canadian Society."

A province steeped in a tradition of education, Nova Scotia remains a destination of choice for out-of-province and international students. In 2009, more than 16,000 out-of-province students and more than 4,000 international students from 100 countries were enrolled in programs.