Mount Saint Vincent University student Tanner Saunders has long had an interest in entrepreneurship, but his post-secondary experiences have broadened his focus, sparking a strong commitment to advocacy too, particularly in the areas of food security and accessibility.
Tanner joined MSVU in Fall 2025 after completing a Business Administration diploma at NSCC. As a 2+2 student, he is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration at MSVU with a major in Management and minor in Nonprofit Leadership. Having previously engaged in more project-based post-secondary experiences, Tanner values the university opportunities he’s adding to his education, allowing him to broaden his learning experiences and further prepare for the future.
Only a few months into his time at MSVU, Tanner quickly found his place as a Resident Assistant (RA) on campus. “Never in my life have I been surrounded by such smart and passionate people in such a large quantity and I have no idea what I would be doing right now if I didn’t become an RA,” he says. Being able to connect with peers and host events that bring together students from across residences has been a meaningful experience for Tanner.
Tanner has also taken on the roles of Vice President of Education for the Financial Management Society at MSVU and Accessibility Representative with the Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union – an elected position he was chosen for in this fall’s Students’ Union elections. Just this week, he participated in a panel on accessibility at MSVU designed to advance conversation and work at the university in this area. Recognizing that accessibility affects us all in one way or another has helped Tanner connect with the student community and support students in becoming the best versions of themselves. For more on Tanner’s role as the Students’ Union Accessibility Representative, check out his Instagram @TannerSaunders_AccessRep.
Before coming to MSVU, Tanner made the most of his education at NSCC. If he wasn’t busy taking care of his 50 pet cherry shrimps (all named Jeffery), Tanner looked for ways to be involved on and off campus. He hosted a holiday market for students to show off their hobbies and skills, worked as a student ambassador, and hosted community dinners as an opportunity to discuss food insecurity.
Over the summer, Tanner joined the Student Advisory Council for Enactus Canada, a national nonprofit organization focused on empowering students to create positive impacts within their community through social entrepreneurship. Tanner’s goal is to start an Enactus team at MSVU as a way to continue meaningful work like the Wednesday Night Dinner Program he started at NSCC’s Truro campus. That program tackled food insecurity by providing low-cost nutritious meal kits to students in need.
One of Tanner’s most memorable experiences at NSCC was participating in international learning opportunities in St. Lucia and Grenada in the Caribbean. Immersed in the pride, kindness, and joy of the people he met, Tanner was deeply inspired by their strong sense of community – a value he now strives to bring to life at MSVU.
It’s clear that Community is not just Tanner’s favourite TV show, but also his passion. As an advocate for students and a passionate individual, Tanner is a welcome addition to the MSVU community.