My CBU Story – Shareeve and Jada Gould

From late-night study sessions at the Unama’ki College library to early-morning clinical shifts, sisters Shareeve and Jada Gould have supported each other through every stage of their academic and professional journeys.

Born and raised in Eskasoni First Nation, the sisters began their post-secondary studies together through Cape Breton University’s In-Community Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pathway Cohort. When Shareeve, the Fall 2025 Valedictorian, crosses the Kehoe Forum stage on November 5, she’ll do so alongside her sister and best friend, Jada, marking a shared journey of dedication and academic excellence.

Discovering Nursing

For both sisters, the path to nursing unfolded unexpectedly. Jada’s journey as a caregiver began after the birth of her first child, and it was the push she needed to embrace a new journey into nursing.

“I went into nursing after I had my daughter,” Jada recalls. “I realized how much I love caring for people in their most vulnerable states.”

Meanwhile, Shareeve originally joined the In-Community cohort, intending to study science, with the ultimate goal of pursuing a career in medicine. It wasn’t until starting nursing-related coursework that Shareeve realized she could succeed in the field.

“It was as we progressed in the first year that I realized I was really interested in nursing,” Shareeve says. “We’ve both always been very personable people, and we both have strong family values. Knowing I had what it takes to take really good care of someone’s child or parent made me want to keep pursuing nursing.”

The Power of In-Community

The sisters describe CBU’s In-Community cohort as the turning point that made higher education possible. Designed to remove barriers for Mi’kmaw learners, the program offers evening classes in their home communities, allowing students the opportunity to continue working and caring for their families.

“The cohort was a good transition back to school,” says Shareeve. “One course at a time in the evenings. While working, that format made it possible.”

For Jada, who started university with a nine-month-old and discovered she was expecting her second child soon after beginning her studies, the format was essential.

“As a young mom, sometimes people doubt you, like you should just be a mom and put yourself and your goals on hold,” Jada says. “The cohort made it possible for me to not only be a mom, but to become a nurse for myself.”

Overcoming Barriers Together

Earning a nursing degree was not without sacrifice. Between work, parenting and full course loads, both sisters faced moments of exhaustion and self-doubt. What carried them through was steadfast support from each other.

“There were times I was done, I couldn’t keep going,” says Shareeve. “And Jada would recharge me emotionally and spiritually.”

Jada says that support went both ways.

“When she was burned out, I took on more,” Jada says. “When I was burned out, she read out loud while I’d just lie there with my eyes closed and rest. When you love someone that much, all you want is to see them succeed.”

Their determination set an example for others in their cohort and community. Even Jada’s young children grew up seeing their mother’s commitment to education. She’s even noticed her daughter’s growing interest in her work.

“My daughter has now taken an interest in the medical field, wanting to become a doctor,” Jada said. “Always practicing her skills with her hospital toys.” 

Care, Through an Indigenous Lens

As Mi’kmaw women, Shareeve and Jada bring their culture and lived experience into every aspect of their work.

“I carry my Mi’kmaw identity everywhere I go, into clinical settings, classrooms and community,” says Shareeve. “There’s a certain level of care you can notice in Indigenous nursing. It’s community-driven, trauma-informed and holistic.”

Jada, now a community health nurse in We’koqma’q at the Theresa Cremo Memorial Health Centre. She says she can see the impact her presence has on patients.

“When patients realize I’m Indigenous, you can see their shoulders drop,” Jada says. “That comfort, that safety. They start asking who my parents are, where I’m from. It builds trust immediately, and that’s what we strive for as nurses – trust, client-centered care and relationships.”

Community Focus

For both sisters, the goal has always been to serve their people. Their journey through Nursing school wasn’t only supported by each other, but was also fueled by a steadfast dedication to improve care conditions in their home community. Shareeve says that’s an instinct that feels like second nature to her and her sister.

“Most Indigenous people’s goal is to return to community,” says Shareeve. “If it’s not working in the community, it’s working for the community.”

After finishing the nursing program at CBU, Shareeve now is continuing her education at Dalhousie University, where she says much of her attention focuses on Indigenous women’s health and health-related research.

“Even in Medical School now, I’m instantly drawn to topics surrounding Indigenous Health Research. As I am tasked to pick a topic for my Research in Medicine Course, I automatically want to pursue a topic that can lead to better outcomes for my population,” says Shareeve. “I’m focused on Women’s Health, things like Fertility, PCOS and Endometriosis, all issues I know affect my community. How can we support women in the community to have optimal health outcomes?” 

“For me, medicine isn’t just a career path. It’s a responsibility to the people and community I come from.”

Jada, meanwhile, continues to serve the Mi’kmaw community every day as a nurse, while preparing to apply to medical school herself. Jada notices a lack of pediatric care in her hometown and believes she can make a difference for local youth.

“I want to get to the root of the problem, and the root is at home,” Jada says. “Our youth are very underserved, and that’s where I want to do my work. The roots of these issues occur in their childhood, at home, in community and that’s where I want to be able to do my work.”

Full-circle Feeling

As far back as Jada and Shareeve can remember, education has always been central to the Gould family. Their mother once dreamed of becoming a nurse herself, and both sisters see their accomplishments as a continuation of that legacy.

“We’re first-generation university graduates,” says Jada. “Our parents didn’t get to go to university. We proved to ourselves that we’re capable of anything we put our minds to.”

The sisters’ shared journey will culminate in a high honour as they graduate as part of the largest cohort of Indigenous nursing grads in the program’s history, and also as Shareeve has been named Valedictorian for the Fall 2025 Convocation. This distinction is a testament to their academic excellence within the Nursing program. It reflects the intense commitment Shareeve carried through every stage, from late-night library sessions to clinical shifts. As she prepares to address her graduating class, she knows the effort was worthwhile. 

“It was all worth it: every missed holiday, every sleepless night. I wouldn’t have done it any other way,” Shareeve says.

Looking Ahead

Today, both sisters are charting ambitious paths that continue the legacy they began at Cape Breton University. Together, the Gould sisters represent what community-based education can achieve: empowerment rooted in culture, connection and care.

Shareeve, as the Fall 2025 Valedictorian, represents the pinnacle of the community-based education model: empowerment rooted in culture, connection and care. Now a medical student at Dalhousie University, she continues her work toward improving Indigenous women’s health outcomes.

“Going through CBU with my sister was the best support I could have had. Better than anyone else could’ve given me,” says Shareeve. “Now pursuing school without my sister, I’m able to recognize how valuable being able to go to school with my sister was.”

And for Jada, who continues to serve her community as a community health nurse at the Theresa Cremo Memorial Health Centre in We’koqma’q, the legacy continues through her own children.

“I can now show my daughter that she can do it, too,” Jada says. “I was 20 years old when I started, just had my daughter and had so much doubt in me. Whereas today, no one can doubt me. I feel like the sky is the limit.”

Congratulations to Jada, Shareeve and the entire graduating class of Fall 2025