Gillian Stanton: Growing Knowledge, Roots, and Opportunity.

Gillian Stanton, B.Eng, MASc

Techsploration Alumna

Digby Regional High School, 2015

Gillian Stanton is from a small community in Digby County, NS, where she was raised alongside her younger sister by their parents. She lives along the picturesque Digby Neck & Islands Scenic Drive, where her father’s family has deep roots. Her mother is African Nova Scotian from Jordantown, one of the historic African Nova Scotian communities located just outside the Town of Digby.

Digby Regional High School is where Gillian found her place, building friendships and discovering new interests. This experience became a turning point in developing resilience and a willingness to take on new challenges. Growing up in a small rural town, she was only exposed to a handful of career paths. By 2012, her interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) was growing, but without any scientists, engineers, or doctors in her family, she lacked a role model to look up to. She had no clear understanding of what an engineer did and no opportunity to job shadow a professional during “Bring Your Kid to Work” day. As a result, she often questioned whether a STEM career was even a possibility for her.

That same year, her science teacher introduced the Techsploration program, and Gillian eagerly signed up. The chance to visit colleges and universities was exciting, but what interested her most was meeting women who had built careers in male-dominated fields. She was eager to see what it truly took to succeed in these industries—and to find out if she had what it took to follow in their footsteps.

Some of the most memorable aspects of Techsploration for Gillian were visiting various schools, universities, and campuses, which played a significant role in helping her determine which environment felt like the right fit. The Round-Robin sessions were particularly eye-opening, as they provided the opportunity to step into different careers and gain firsthand insight into what those jobs were really like—something that couldn’t be fully understood from textbooks or online videos.

Another impactful experience was the team presentations. Public speaking had always been a source of fear, and Techsploration provided one of Gillian’s first opportunities to practice this skill. Although presenting in front of her school and other groups was intimidating, it became a key moment in developing the confidence and resilience she needed for future presentations.

After high school, Gillian studied chemical and environmental engineering at Dalhousie University and recently graduated from the Centre for Water Resources Studies with a Master of Applied Science in 2024. Her background is in water and wastewater engineering, as well as process safety.

Gillian served as the Program Regional Coordinator for Imhotep’s Legacy Academy in Digby County, where she engaged with African Nova Scotian and Black youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). One of their key projects is the “Culture of Growing” program, which introduces students to agricultural science and entrepreneurship.

Gillian is continuing to support youth in the Digby area with STEM programming and mentorship.