Meet Anne Gilbert, a Nova Scotian with a dream of making a difference in the clean energy sector. Thanks to the Custom Employment Support Bursary, Anne was able to fund her training and certification necessary to take her career to the next level. Today, she’s thriving in the residential ventilation systems field, contributing to Nova Scotia’s sustainable future. The CEST Bursary program is designed to support individuals like Anne, providing them with the resources they need to grow and succeed in the clean energy industry. Anne completed the HRAI F326 certification for ventilation design in the context of high-performance residential construction. With the financial support provided by the bursary, she was able to concentrate on obtaining her certification without worrying about financial constraints.

With her new certification and tools, Anne is not only growing her career; she is also making a tangible difference within her community. “With this education I can now better design ventilation systems that contribute to lower operational costs, increased comfort for occupants and better indoor air quality,” she explains. “With close attention to detail in design and construction, building practices can benefit the community by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.”

Moreover, Anne appreciates the bursary’s role in eliminating barriers within the clean energy sector, particularly for marginalized communities and women. “The cost of education and equipment is a significant barrier to practicing in the high-performance residential construction industry. While this industry attracts passionate, climate-oriented people, it remains a male dominated industry. Diversity fosters collaboration in the workplace and collaboration allows for new perspectives and ideas. This bursary helps to diversify the workforce by challenging some of the barriers of entrance into the field,” she says.

For Anne and others like her, the bursary, funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, represents a broader commitment to ensuring an inclusive and equitable clean energy sector within the province.

Learn more about the bursary by visiting: Custom Employment Support Training Bursary – Clean Foundation