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Charles McKittrick Collins was born in Port Williams on July 12, 1897. Charles began his education at Acadia University but transferred to Nova Scotia Agricultural College, now Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture, after just one year. Upon graduation from NSAC in 1920, he attended MacDonald College and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from McGill University in 1922. Some years later, in 1933, Charles obtained his MSA degree from the University of Toronto.

Charles held numerous positions within the Nova Scotia horticulture industry over the years, including Acting Director of Extension, Provincial Horticulturist, and Director of Horticulture and Biology Services, among others. Charles made significant contributions to the strawberry, wild blueberry and apple industries, introducing advanced programming and working for updated technologies. One of Charles’ greatest impacts within the industry was on the Agricultural Campus itself, where he taught horticulture for 25 years and managed the landscaping and maintenance of the grounds. In 1954, the Horticulture Building was enlarged and redesigned under his direction for an expanded horticulture program. In 1975 the building was renamed the Collins Building in his honour.

In 2003, Dr. William Collins, son of Charles Collins and Class of ’46 alumnus, established the Charles M. Collins Memorial Scholarship in honour of his father and the impact he had on the campus.

For Dr. Collins, or Bill as his classmates will remember him, the AC holds great memories and great significance. He fondly recalls working the campus grounds, both behind a lawn mower and behind Clydesdales cultivating the gardens. Dr. Collins’ classroom experience provided a quality education that prepared him for further study, a career in agriculture, and the opportunity to eventually be able to support the next generation of scientists and agriculturalists.

The Charles M. Collins Memorial Scholarship allows students to experience not only the impact of Dr. Collins’ generosity, but the lasting influence his father had on the AC. Reflecting on his scholarship support, Dr. Collins states “I feel very fortunate to now be able to give something back.” Which is why he has also chosen to remember the AC in his estate planning.

Dr. Collins already experiences the impact of giving through the Charles M. Collins Memorial Scholarship, and through his planned gift, Dr. Collins will enable even more students to benefit from the generosity of AC alumni in the future.