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“I felt I still had a shot to really broaden my horizons and become a more well-rounded individual, both academically and in my personal character,” Edgett says. 

The fourth-year �鶹��ý Faculty of Computer Science student is closer to realizing that potential, thanks in part to (DNS), an industry association that advocates for the growth of the province’s $3.6-billion digital economy. It created the Digital Nova Scotia Access Award, which provides financial support to undergraduate students like Edgett who are from non-traditional pathways, different careers, or looking to upskill. 

Filling the talent gap

According to Owen Sagness, CEO of DNS, the goal of the award is to help fill the talent gap that exists in the industry. He adds that the Faculty of Computer Science’s commitment to training graduates to fill tech roles in the province’s exploding digital market made it the right choice for the award. 

“The province is predicting that there will be about 5,000 open IT jobs in the next year or so,” says Sagness. “These are great paying jobs, but we are having a tough time filling them. We think there is a pool of talent that didn’t go into the sector because they weren’t aware of the opportunities, or they need financial help to do it. We hope the award will encourage them to enter the field and excel through the courses that Dal offers.”

Dr. Andrew Rau-Chaplin, dean of the Faculty of Computer Science, says the award recognizes and strengthens the Faculty as a place of knowledge and skills development that prepares students for rewarding careers in industry. It also helps foster a supportive environment that offers flexible pathways that accommodate a wide range of backgrounds and aspirations. 

“Donor-funded awards like this play a vital role in clearing paths for our students to succeed, particularly in light of the rising cost of living,” says Dr. Rau-Chaplin. 

“Awards like this also recognize that tech is not neutral—that those who create and design our digital future should be fully representative of our society. The more perspectives we can bring to the table, the more we can ensure that the tech that is developed benefits everyone.”

A much-needed boost

Edgett exemplifies the talent the DNS award is meant to target. A mature student whose path to computer science was anything but conventional, he had worked with Halifax Water and in sales and hospitality, but felt he was not contributing to society in the way he wanted to. Then, he heard about   Investigaytors, a program that builds skills among 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals interested in health research. That opened his eyes to the potential of a computer science degree.

“I did data analysis for the Sex Now Survey, the largest-ever epidemiological study of queer people in Canada,” Edgett says. “I’d always had an interest in math and science and often thought about working in health care. That project showed me how I could use computer science as a tool to improve care delivery and that brought me to Dal.”

As excited as Edgett was to start his studies, he says he began to struggle due to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, impostor syndrome, and the demands of a full-time job to cover daily expenses. Any doubts he had about continuing were dispelled when he discovered he was chosen as the first-ever recipient of the DNS award.

“It was the everything boost I needed,” Edgett says. “Receiving it totally flipped my thinking about whether I deserved to be here on its head and gave me reassurance I was on the right track.”

The award also made it possible for Edgett to continue working with Health Canada after wrapping up a co-op internship. “Health Canada indicated they weren't going to hire me on again full time,” Edgett says. “But the award created an opportunity for part-time work piloting a national strategy to redevelop COVID-19 QR codes as a robust vaccination credential across all vaccine-preventable diseases in the country. That was a great experience for me.”

Buoyed by that experience, Edgett has joined Nova Scotia Health’s One Patient One Record Project, where he is working with digital enablement and non-clinical device tracking. He is also exploring research opportunities with the Faculty in software-defined networks and network security. He sees a rewarding future for himself in the field, particularly in patient data sharing—something that might not have been possible without the DNS Award. 

“The award really bridges the gap of accessibility to post-secondary education,” Edgett says. “I can’t overstate how much it has changed me, not just in terms of my education and career, but all aspects of who I am.” 

Sagness says the award will be presented annually and he believes it could have impacts that reach far beyond students like Edgett. 

“We're really excited to be partnering with �鶹��ý on this,” he says. “We think it’s going to have a really positive influence on the IT sector and the economy of the province, and we’d like to see it continue for many years.”