Kenneth Mackenzie
-by April MacDonald
We are living in increasingly challenging times and it appears no one is safe from the pressures of this current economic environment.
In a social media post, vice-president of Beinn Mhàbu, Kenneth MacKenzie stated that, “after more than seven years, my employment with Colaisde na Gàidhlig | The Gaelic College, including my role leading Beinn Mhàbu, came to an end last week, on July 24th, 2026.”
“Beinn Mhàbu has been far more than a job to me. I am deeply proud of what we built together, and especially grateful to the staff, students, instructors, artists, partners, community members, contractors, board members, and supporters who believed in Beinn Mhàbu and contributed so much to its development,” explained MacKenzie.
He went on to say that the circumstances of his departure are “being addressed through the appropriate channels.”
Also, that he would not comment further on them publicly at this time.
“I remain deeply committed to our local community and to the wider Gaelic language, cultural, educational, and artistic community. I look forward to everything that comes next. Taing mhòr!” he closed.
The shear amount of comments supporting MacKenzie on his post speaks volumes to how appreciated he is by his peers and members of the Gaelic cultural community.
One person went so far to say, “In your role at the Gaelic College, then Beinn Mhàbu and Taigh Sgoile, you breathed new life into a tiring Gaelic community and into dreams that seemed to be fading for the Gaelic community…at what will most certainly be looked back upon as the most critical time in our history as Gaels in Nova Scotia.”
Taigh Sgoile is pre-school Gaelic immersion program in which MacKenzie was integral in the formation of that school.
The Oran reached out to the Gaelic College board and president asking about Kenneth MacKenzie’s departure from his role at the Gaelic College and leading role at Beinn Mhabu as it sent shockwaves through Inverness County.
We sought an official statement concerning the circumstances of how this decision was made and if it was a board decision. With the amount of public interest involved we asked what the main issue surrounding the termination was, whether it was financial, misconduct, or performance.
We received this response:
“As you can appreciate, we do not comment on individual employees.
‘Colaisde na Gàidhlig | The Gaelic College, like many organizations and post-secondary institutions, has had to make – and continues to make – difficult decisions that impact employees and positions within our organization.
‘The reality is that Colaisde na Gàidhlig and our Mabou campus, Beinn Mhàbu, are facing reduced funding support from multiple levels of government. The Province of Nova Scotia, through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (CCTH), has reduced our operational funding by 20 per cent for the 2026-27 fiscal year. In addition, the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has informed us that funding for KitchenFest will be eliminated, resulting in a loss of $75,000 beginning in January 2027. This follows a 40 per cent reduction in ACOA funding two years ago. From 2014 to 2024, annual ACOA support for KitchenFest was $140,000.
‘These funding reductions come at a time when organizations across the country continue to face increasing operating costs. As a not-for-profit charitable organization, our priority is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the College while protecting the core programs and experiences we provide for our students, visitors, and community.
‘Unfortunately, enrolment in the Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies (BACS) program at Beinn Mhàbu did not reach the minimum required to proceed for September 2026.
‘As a result, the College made the difficult decision in June not to offer the program this academic year.
‘The impact extends beyond tuition revenue. Every student who lives on campus also contributes to accommodation and meal revenue, all of which supports the College’s overall operations. To put this into perspective, the loss of just nine students living and studying at Beinn Mhàbu represents more than $160,000 in lost revenue through tuition, accommodations, and meal plans.
‘The BACS program will return in 2027. Over the coming months, we will undertake a focused recruitment effort throughout the fall, winter, and spring of 2026-27. In partnership with Cape Breton University, we will offer first-year entry into both the Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies and the new Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management program.
‘Looking ahead, Beinn Mhàbu will also introduce several new programs during 2026-27 that will strengthen our offerings and benefit the broader community. These initiatives, focused on Gaelic language, music, and dance, will be announced in the coming weeks.
‘In addition, we will continue to offer our successful online Gaelic language programming, which serves up to 200 students annually from September through April. The College will also continue to provide community services and facilities, including pub nights, meeting and training space rentals, office rentals, accommodations, and other community programming.
‘The Shannon Artist-in-Residence Program will continue as well, welcoming its next cohort of artists in the spring of 2027.
‘While these decisions have been difficult, they are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of Colaisde na Gàidhlig and our ability to continue serving our students, community, and supporters for generations to come.
‘With respect, Rodney MacDonald, President Colaisde na Gàidhlig, Beinn Mhàbu.”
One of the many supporters of MacKenzie thought it prudent to share an email address, “as a means to express the collective sense of disbelief and heartbreak we are experiencing for Kenneth and his family but also our communities.”
The address is [email protected].