CNA grad turns passion for creativity into a career at the premier’s office, winning Young Alumni Award along the way
Jacob Manning, a 2018 graduate of College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Graphic Design program, is the 2024 recipient of the college’s Young Alumni Award. The award is presented to graduates under 35 who have made a significant impact through their professional achievements and community service.
A rising young talent, Manning has already made his mark as Manager of Creative Production at the Nova Scotia Premier’s Office. He has worked as a media specialist with Diabetes Canada, a research videographer with CNA, and a creative content coordinator with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“He’s the best at what he does,” said Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia. “He is so talented. He has this ability to capture these moments and these interactions and then share them with people as if they were there. It’s an honour for me to work with him.”
Houston continued, “I’m proud that he’s become a part of my family. He’s a great ambassador for me and the province, but certainly for the college and Newfoundland as well.”
Manning also volunteers his time with community causes such as Nevaeh’s Angel Foundation, Skills Canada, and the Keith Keating Memorial Tournament — Atlantic Canada’s largest basketball event, which raises money for cancer care. He even mentors young talent in graphic design and media.
“Jacob Manning has quickly become a leading digital political strategist, contributing to campaigns across multiple provinces,” explained Heidi Staeben-Simmons, Associate Vice-President of Public Affairs and Advancement at CNA. “Jacob’s innovative digital strategies have reached millions.”
Receiving this award from the college is a significant honour for Manning.
“It’s such a nice recognition of work that I’ve done and people that I’ve tried to help with my skills,” he said.
Manning says the award helps reaffirm that he is on the right path, even when challenges arise.
“An award like this reaffirms that you can go far, do good things, help your community and have a great career with a diploma from College of the North Atlantic. And I think that’s pretty special,” he said.
Manning’s passion for creativity began long before his professional career took shape. He says he grew up with a camera in his hand, always filming his surroundings.
“I’m very fortunate that I found my passion at a young age,” he said. “I always knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be creative.”
Manning attributes much of his success to the support of his family.
“My journey on this path was rooted in my upbringing. My mom is a painter and artist, and my dad is pretty creative too — in his own way,” he said. “They’ve always had confidence in themselves and knew what they liked and were passionate about. They could recognize if I was good at something or showed interest in something and they would reaffirm my interest, which I think was so cool and important.”
Manning also credits his training at CNA for helping him build a strong foundation.
“My journey at the college really set the foundation for my career,” he said. “I had an amazing group of profs and mentors. Industry professionals came into our classes and explained what they do. It helped me visualize what I wanted to do for a career. It gave me a stepping stone, or a leg up, to the next thing.”
He added, “Once you have that foundation of skills and software — how it all works and what can be done — the sky’s the limit.”
When asked if he has any advice for young people starting their career paths, Manning said, “I work with a lot of amazing people. You need to surround yourself with people who believe in you and encourage you.”
