Heart Remained at Home: Meet Tracey MacNeil
For Tracey MacNeil, Cape Breton has always been more than just home, it鈥檚 the heart of her inspiration and identity. The Island鈥檚 rich traditions in music and close-knit 福利免费在线看 have shaped her path as a professional musician and now as an educator at Cape Breton University.
Originally from Big Ridge, Tracey enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at the University College of Cape Breton (UCCB – now CBU) after high school. While many of her peers left the Island for their studies, Tracey felt a strong pull to stay close to home. 鈥淢y early moments at CBU were warm,鈥� Tracey recalls. 鈥淚 made lasting friendships with my professors and to this day, I still have the opportunity to visit with and learn from, these stellar individuals who exuded passion and care in the classroom so many years ago.鈥�
For the two decades following her graduation, Tracey worked across various sectors including entrepreneurship, non-profit and arts and culture. While working primarily in administrative roles, her passion for music and culture would shine through the creation of youth cultural mentorship programs such as (The Young Heros), and (Young Voices).
As a professional musician, Tracey has had the privilege of exploring not only the landscapes of Cape Breton Island but also those across North America, Europe and other global destinations. 鈥淭he cultural heritage that constitutes Cape Breton Island is as robust as any I鈥檝e experienced in any other place in the world,鈥� she says. With deep roots in Scottish Gaelic culture, Tracey and her family have embraced this culture their entire lives, sharing it on the global stage and at home, in the lives of their friends and children. 鈥淭he elements of music and culture are intrinsically connected, playing an essential role in my life and career to date,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd they always will.鈥�
The life of a travelling musician took Tracey far from home, but after nearly ten years, the call of home grew too strong to ignore. 鈥淔or all the appealing, charming, peaceful places I had visited, there were quite simply none that satisfied my desire for peace, contentedness and joy, the way Cape Breton Island does,鈥� shares Tracey. 鈥淭he world is absolutely beautiful, but for me, Cape Breton is more beautiful than all of it put together.鈥�
Moving to Mabou Harbour, Tracey found herself embracing new opportunities while reconnecting with old ones. During the pandemic, with support from her family, she decided to return to school. She completed a Bachelor of Education from St. Francis Xavier University and a Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development from CBU between 2020 and 2022.
Tracey began her next CBU adventure as Training Lead for the Cape Breton Island Tourism Training Network at the World Tourism Institute. With a rare combination of academic credentials, Tracey has taught in CBU鈥檚 School of Health and Education and the School of Arts and Social Sciences, and is now teaching full-time in the post-baccalaureate and BBA programs at the Shannon School of Business. 鈥淭his rich experience allowed for both personal and professional growth as an educator, pushing forward my passions for culture, 福利免费在线看 economic development and authentic means of experiential learning,鈥� she says. 鈥淥nce again, I have been welcomed, not only by colleagues and administration, but by my students. Every day is filled with learning and growth, and I am grateful to be pursuing a career in higher education, particularly at Cape Breton University.鈥�
Tracey is filled with optimism as she reflects on the future of CBU. 鈥淚 am ecstatic as I contemplate the future of CBU and the essential, positive change-making role it will undoubtedly continue to play in the 福利免费在线看 in years to come,鈥� she says. Tracey acknowledges that while change is never easy, it is vital for growth and progress. 鈥淭he addition of new professional programs at CBU will be nothing short of transformational, further solidifying the University鈥檚 role as a key collaborator in the region,鈥� she adds. With plans to pursue a PhD in Educational Leadership in 2025, Tracey is eager for the future, looking forward to contributing even more to the University and the broader 福利免费在线看 as it continues to thrive in the next 50 years and beyond.
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