“I knew nothing, but I believed a lot.” – Moominpappa (The Exploits of Moominpappa)

As always, NBCC strives to create meaningful opportunities in fostering international competencies for staff and students by going beyond the borders of New Brunswick and Canada. Programs such as the Bridging Inclusion Digitalization and Sustainability (BIDS), which was recently held in Finland. (May 2025) NBCC staff and students, along with other Vocational Education Training (VET) partners from Finland, Portugal, the Netherlands and Denmark, attended. Our maritime partner NSCC from Nova Scotia, Canada, also made the over 5000 km trek. Participants engaged in a highly diverse program by exploring a model of how Luovi College frames inclusion. A program where nothing was taken for granted, especially each other.

Vanessa Woodacre (Instructor, Woodstock) and two students, Erin Chiswell (SSCW, Saint John) and Ashlie White (HSP, Woodstock), attended the BIDS Inclusion program hosted by Luovi College in Oulu, Finland.

Students and staff explored Finnish culture through the vocational student lens and embraced diversity through daily collaborative activities. We dove into Moomin, Finnish buffet, biking, scavenger hunts, visited Santa, along with a communal cold plunge and sauna at the Arctic Circle. We learned about the Sami people, toured vocational industry partners, and cooked sausages over an open fi re in the park. We explored the ghostly history of Oulu, which included stumbling upon a public bomb shelter within a cafe. Knowing and working with our international communities reminds us of how important educational partnerships are, especially when considering concepts such as peace and inclusion. The rising tide lifts all boats, no matter the harbour.

The sense of gratitude to our Luovi hosts to immerse ourselves in Finnish culture and numerous hands-on opportunities for inclusion is immeasurable. The NBCC participants have been forever changed by this BIDS opportunity, led by Luovi.

The motto and practice of the entire BIDS program was simple: everyone included, at their ability. This is underscored by the educational philosophy of TUVA or TELMA. An Individual program designed for each student, regardless of ability, matches students with the best vocational fi t-be it working life or additional degree programs. Luovi has over 30 college locations in Finland, operating on the belief that equal rights and opportunities are the foundation of TUVA and TELMA. Inclusive policy, educational structures and practice are evident throughout Luovi and the Finnish culture we experienced.

Having participated in BIDS, funded by ERAMUS+, one could not help but walk away with lifelong international friendships and a passionate motivation to continue the work to ensure education for everyone. NBCC is a community college and there is a place for everyone here, whether you are from Saint John, Woodstock or Finland. From a choice to a working life or future academic endeavours, NBCC is here to include you.

Inclusion is about taking no one for granted. it is in the careful, measured and continual practice of removing barriers with the people who experience them, meaning we build a more diverse, more equitable and more inclusive college. One can sum up our Finnish experience in the words of Moominpapa, “But one needs a change sometimes. We take everything too much for granted, including each other.” – Moominmamma (Tove Jansson, Moominpappa At Sea).