ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

MAR.11, 2025 – WOODSTOCK, NB:  Students in Trades programs at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s Woodstock campus will gain collaborative, hands-on experience while helping to create more affordable homes, thanks to a generous $50,000 donation from Nigel Drake, CEO of Drake Construction Ltd. and ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ alumnus, and his wife Carolyn. Their donation will support School of Trades students at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s Woodstock campus in constructing a cozy, beautifully designed, tiny home as part of their experiential learning. The project, which began early in February, is set to be completed by the end of April 2025, after which it will be available for purchase. ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ will oversee the sale, with proceeds funding the next build, creating a sustainable cycle of hands-on education and community support.

Reflecting on his motivation for the project, Nigel shared, "The goal of this project is to give back for the training I received [at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½], while helping others transition into their careers and work together to support our community. By building one additional home, we can make a small impact on the housing crisis. This could evolve into an annual initiative within the carpentry, electrical, and plumbing programs, allowing students to be part of the process from start to finish—and perhaps it will inspire a student to do much greater things to help the homeless and marginalized."

This initiative provides students with invaluable hands-on experience, allowing them to apply their skills in a real-world setting. By constructing a lasting home, it also helps minimize material waste, promoting sustainability in the building process, while also making a meaningful impact on the local housing market.

“It’s been awesome working on the Tiny House,” shared Klinton Doucette, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Carpentry Student. “There’s such a huge difference between learning from a book or a diagram and actually getting out there, using your hands, and figuring things out as you go—all while facing conditions, like roofing in -32°C with 55 km/h winds. I’d say it’s a perfect example of the challenges we might face on the job. I think overall this experience has probably been my favourite part of the school year.”

The town of Woodstock, local contractors, and inspectors, are working together to ensure all necessary permits and codes are met, supporting the project and the future workforce of New Brunswick Trade’s sector.

“The Town is pleased to support the project by providing the land adjacent to the College, temporarily, for the construction of the tiny home,” shared Woodstock Mayor Trina Jones. “It is thanks to the dedication of community advocates like Nigel Drake and the Trades instructors at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, that this project has become a reality. During COVID (2020–21) I took the Carpentry course to understand the basics, and Garth [Carpentry Instructor at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½], and I often discussed ways for students to build something meaningful. So, it’s amazing in 2025 to see this come full circle. With all the challenges we are currently facing in our province and communities, I hope our campus understands how much we value the school in our community and that we are here to work together to support each other. This is how strong, resilient communities thrive —I can’t wait to see the final result!”

"We look out for each other, that’s what makes the Woodstock community so special,” said Kirby Rushton, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s Dean of Trades. "Thanks to Nigel and Carolyn’s generosity and vision, this project is not only building homes—it's helping to build futures. Students are gaining real-world training as they collaborate across the Electrical, Carpentry, and Plumbing programs, alongside local contractors and inspectors. At the same time, our community will see real benefits from much-needed affordable housing. We’re incredibly grateful to be part of this project."

As awareness of this project grows, organizations and individuals have generously stepped up with donations of materials and funds. If you would like to get involved with this project or support ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, please contact our Advancement Office via email at advancement@nbcc.ca or call 506-371-3101.

ABOUT THE TINY HOME:

• The house is currently under construction at a temporary location right outside ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s Woodstock campus, visible from Broadway Street.
•  Once the building is finished and sold, it’ll be up to the buyer to secure its permanent location.
•  Size: 14’ x 32’ sq.ft.; maximized for comfort and functionality.
• One bedroom and one bathroom.
• Built to modern efficiency and sustainability standards.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Strategic Communications Team, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
communications@nbcc.ca

ABOUT ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½:

As one of New Brunswick’s largest postsecondary education institutions, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ drives social and economic wellbeing across the province. ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ welcomes more than 12,000 learners each year through quality-assured, relevant training opportunities. ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ is committed to accelerating skills development, innovating educational delivery, and reaching unprecedented numbers of New Brunswickers. Find out more at: .