Classes have begun for students at the new Cape Breton Medical Campus (CBMC) building in Sydney, N.S. CBMC is a partnership between Dalhousie University’s faculty of medicine and Cape Breton University. The first cohort of 30 medical students began classes last August. They studied in the former Nova Scotia Community College campus while the new medical campus was under construction. The building officially opened in May. It was initially scheduled to be completed in October 2025. It features modern learning environments with advanced technology, a full anatomy lab and a state-of-the-art clinical simulation centre. A new group of 30 first-year students began classes on Monday. “It’s incredible to see the new campus and how thoughtfully it has been designed with students in mind,” says first-year Alyssa Burke. “I expect I will be spending a lot of time here, so having welcoming gathering spaces, dedicated study areas and advanced technology that keeps us connected with classmates across Dalhousie’s campuses will be amazing.” The students have committed to practice family medicine in rural areas of the province after they graduate. “Our government is making sure Nova Scotians in rural communities have reliable access to the healthcare they need, close to home,” said Premier Tim Houston in a provincial news release. “By training more doctors in Cape Breton and prioritizing students with rural experience, we are helping build a stronger pipeline of physicians who understand these communities and are committed to serving them. This new medical sciences building is a critical step toward better care for families across Nova Scotia.” The province announced in March 2023 it would spend $58.9 million to develop the campus, including $49 million for the medical sciences building and related infrastructure. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
