Alumni couple creates bursary to benefit law students

But instead, they went in separate directions as Amanda ventured into real estate while Patrick went to McGill University. In a twist of fate, they would finally meet years later when their mutual ambitions—to study law while remaining close to home in Nova Scotia—led them to the Schulich School of Law at the same time.

During their first year of studies, Patrick and Amanda made an immediate connection and their relationship quickly developed while they bonded over their shared fascination with the law and desire to help others. “I remember when we were in our second year, we were sitting in the big classrooms looking at the named plaques on the backs of the auditorium chairs and said, ‘We’re going to put the Brousseaus on there one day,’” says Amanda.

“We still need to figure out how to get our names on those chairs,” Patrick jokingly reminds her.

A generous entrance scholarship helped Patrick manage the costs of law school, fueling his determination to give back. He served on the Scholarship Committee for three years, an experience which showed him the vast scope of students’ needs.

“I have been in the room making those decisions and I know how much some students are going into debt. Every little bit can help, whether it’s money to buy books or help with the cost of living.”

They graduated in 2018 and married in 2019, but despite being busy with new careers and a young family, they didn’t hesitate to give back to the next generation of law students. Patrick explains they focused on finding a way to give that was financially attainable for them.

“When I think of all the little things that I spend money on in my daily life, just cutting out one of those a week quickly adds up to enough to be able to contribute in some way,” he says. “We felt that it was a small sacrifice for us to make to support students,” Amanda adds.

They chose to establish a bursary for students with whom they have a shared heritage. Supporting students of Middle Eastern descent was a priority driven by Amanda’s personal experiences as a second-generation Lebanese Canadian and the first in her family to become a lawyer. She recognized that members of her community are underrepresented in the legal profession and wanted to change that.

They were also inspired by their experiences growing up in Nova Scotia in French-speaking households. Aiming the bursary at French-speaking students from the Maritimes, Nova Scotia in particular, was a clear choice for the couple as they felt strongly about encouraging members of their local community to pursue legal careers.

Patrick knows from his time on the scholarship committee that many students gain a sense of validation and belonging from receiving scholarships or bursaries.

“It always feels nice to be singled out and receive a scholarship or award and be able to put that on a resume. There’s often more to it than just the money.”

Over the years, the Brousseaus have maintained a strong connection to Dalhousie, recently attending their five-year reunion. Amanda, who practices real estate law, and Patrick, who is in-house counsel at Nova Scotia Power, already have an eye on expanding their giving in the future as their capacity to do so increases.

Reflecting on the life they have built together since graduating, the couple share a strong sense of gratitude.

“Dal has a special spot in our hearts. We owe our lovely life to the law school,” shares Amanda. “We felt that we wanted to give back to the place that has given so much to us.”