The board that oversees Nova Scotia’s Gaelic College – the only institution of its kind in North America – would be revamped under new provincial legislation introduced Thursday.
The repeal and replacement of the Gaelic College Foundation Act would see the board reduced from 11 to eight members, with seven members elected by members of the foundation and one appointed by cabinet.
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Under the existing legislation, cabinet appoints six members of the 11-member board.
Former premier Rodney MacDonald, who is CEO of the college, says the college board requested the changes in order to give members more of a say in governance and in the setting of its bylaws.
The Gaelic College, located in St. Anns, was founded in 1938 and strives to foster Gaelic culture and language through programs, cultural workshops and festivals.
The province’s Gaelic Affairs office says an estimated 2,000 people speak Gaelic in Nova Scotia, where about 230,000 people are descendants of Gaelic settlers.
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MacDonald said the importance of the college extends beyond its programs.
“It’s broader than just language or dance or craft, it’s about growing communities,” he said. “Those who are actively engaged in learning the language and the culture tend to be individuals who end up staying and working in Nova Scotia.”
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