From Spontaneity to Folklore Fellowship: Meet Jessica Canada

For as long as she can remember, Jessica Canada has always been passionate about the stories people tell, their customs, beliefs and rituals. That interest led her to CBU, one of the few universities in Canada offering a major in Folklore. She recently graduated from the Bachelor of Arts program with a double major in Folklore and Anthropology/Sociology. What began as a spontaneous decision has become one of the most rewarding chapters of Jessica’s life.

Originally from Drumheller, a town in Alberta known for its dinosaur fossils, Jessica had long dreamed of moving to the East Coast by the age of 35, as she spent many summers visiting Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. In 2021, after going through a divorce, Jessica decided it was the right time to pursue post-secondary education. “On a whim, I applied and got my acceptance letter in late August for the Fall semester starting a week later,” she says.

Jessica’s first semester was a whirlwind. While taking online courses, she coordinated her big move across the country, enrolled for classes, applied for funding and searched for accommodations and a job. She packed up her life and made the long drive to Cape Breton with her German Shepherd, Castiel, on Thanksgiving. Though the timeline was fast, Jessica quickly found her footing at CBU.

What Jessica appreciated the most about her program was the diversity of courses and the opportunity to explore unusual topics through essays. “I never thought I would see the day where I would be writing essays on childhood slumber party games, disaster songs, tourism, the ocean and metaphors related to the sex work industry all in the same semester,” she shares. “Had I known I would have had this much fun researching and writing, I might have done this in my 20s instead of my 30s.”

One class that particularly stood out to Jessica was Contemporary Legends with Dr. Ian Brodie. She recalled a particularly memorable discussion where they explored the intersection of ghosts, real estate and ownership, which led to some intriguing hypothetical questions. “Assuming that we follow the vampire lore of needing permission to enter a residence, how far into these buildings could a vampire enter before this is enforced?” was one such question the class explored. 

The conversation extended beyond the classroom after Jessica brought it up at her job in a local restaurant, sparking a debate among staff and regular customers. One guest left Jessica a handwritten note thanking her for making her laugh and saying that it had turned around her bad day, and Jessica still carries that note with her today.

Despite going to school later than many of her peers and balancing off-campus work, Jessica still found ways to get involved in the campus community. She supported her classmates in starting the Folklore Society. She also gained valuable experience working as a research assistant and the student representative for the Literature, Folklore and the Arts (LiFTA) board. “I continued to work with different professors within LiFTA for almost three years,” says Jessica. “They taught me a lot about the behind-the-scenes of working as a professor, which is my end goal.”

Jessica is now preparing to return to Alberta for a family visit before starting a Master’s in Folklore Studies at Utah State University. “I got offered a Graduate Instructorship teaching a first-year English course, along with a Folklore Fellowship,” she shares. “It’s very rare for someone pursuing an MA in Folklore to already have an undergrad major in Folklore. I think this foundation will help reduce some of the stress of taking my MA, as I already have a solid grasp on my field of study.”

For anyone considering moving to Cape Breton to attend CBU, Jessica says the best thing they can do is plan ahead. “As much as I loved my spontaneous adventure here, university isn’t for everyone,” she says. “It’s important to be ready for the challenges and opportunities. And it’s never too late to learn something new!”

As she packs up once more and prepares to leave the Island, Jessica will be missed by the second family of friends and professors she has built during her time at CBU. “I want to especially thank Dr. Sheila Christie, Dr. Ian Brodie, Dr. Jon Doering and Dr. Dana Mount,” she shares. “They have all been amazing in helping me navigate CBU, ensuring I was able to get my credits and advocating for me when things got stressful or out of my control.”