Brigadoon Village Transforms with Cisco Support and Secure Connectivity
Brigadoon Village in Canada, a unique summer camp for children facing health and life challenges, is receiving essential networking support from Cisco volunteers and partners.
For many children, summer camp is a cherished tradition—a time to connect with others and enjoy the outdoors. However, for kids dealing with serious health issues or difficult life circumstances, attending camp isn't always straightforward.
That’s where Brigadoon Village is making a difference. Nestled near Aylesford Lake in Nova Scotia, it stands out as the first camp of its kind in Atlantic Canada and ranks among the largest pediatric camps nationwide. Since opening in 2011, it has welcomed thousands of children aged 7 to 18, many of whom are living with chronic medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, cancer, or heart problems. Others are navigating emotional hardships like the loss of a family member.
The camp is designed to offer tailored support, providing a nurturing environment for both personal development and social connection.
“We bring together young people facing similar challenges,” said Malcolm Elliot, Camp Director at Brigadoon Village. “This way, they can have fun, feel understood, and form strong bonds with others who truly get what they’re going through.”
Every summer, approximately 700 children attend the camp. As one parent put it, “I can’t imagine my child’s life without the camp experience.”
However, ensuring such a supportive environment also requires dependable technology infrastructure—something Brigadoon’s remote location doesn’t naturally offer.
“This is a beautiful, rural spot,” noted CEO Krista Ballem. “But for our team, families, and healthcare professionals to stay connected and ensure smooth operations, a reliable network is essential.”
Cisco steps in to bridge the gap
Two Cisco employees, Todd Greenlaw and Andrew McCracken, stepped up to help during a critical time—the pandemic—when the camp began much-needed facility upgrades. While the physical renovations were underway, the camp’s outdated digital infrastructure also needed a complete overhaul.
“They had tried dial-up, wireless point-to-point systems, and even satellite connections,” said Greenlaw, a Cisco engineer based in Halifax. “None of it was reliable, especially given the camp’s remote location.”
Working with a local service provider, they extended fiber-optic connectivity to the camp. Once that foundation was in place, they introduced Cisco Meraki technology to create a modern and robust network.
“There’s a lot of forest and farmland around here,” added McCracken, a technical solutions architect with Cisco. “It’s sparsely populated, but once we had fiber in place, we could build a reliable, high-performance system.”
Security and connectivity for all
In today's digital world, even pediatric camps must think about cybersecurity. Brigadoon handles sensitive information like medical records and financial data, so keeping that information secure was critical.
IMP Solutions, a Canadian IT services company and longtime Cisco Gold Partner, supported the project with funding and implementation.
“We wanted to provide the camp with top-tier technology and address both digital and physical security,” said Dave Power, Vice President of Advanced Solutions at IMP. “In addition to protecting data, we also considered the safety of the children themselves.”
The solution included Cisco Meraki wireless access points, Ethernet switches for network traffic, and security appliances for perimeter protection.
“Cisco Meraki is used by major corporations,” Power noted. “So this camp now benefits from enterprise-grade security and performance.”
“We understand the importance of protecting sensitive data,” added Elliot. “It’s reassuring to know that access is tightly controlled.”
Time, expertise, and community spirit
To make this transformation possible, Greenlaw and McCracken needed more than just technical skills—they needed time. Cisco’s “Time to Give” initiative, which allows employees to take paid leave for community service, gave them the opportunity to fully support the project.
“We used those volunteer hours,” McCracken shared. “Being from Nova Scotia and knowing the area, we felt a deep personal connection to the camp’s mission.”
Today, Brigadoon Village boasts a modern, adaptable network that has dramatically improved camp operations.
“We went from barely-there connectivity to something comparable to what you’d find in a small city,” said McCracken.
Processes that were once manual and time-consuming are now streamlined—from camper registration to accessing educational and recreational content. For the staff, the new technology means they can focus more energy on supporting the children.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Cisco,” said Elliot. “Their contribution to our technology infrastructure has been vital to our progress.”
Ballem echoed that sentiment.
“This support has opened the door to new ways of working and collaborating,” she said. “It’s helping us give kids the best camp experience possible.”
For many children, summer camp is a cherished tradition—a time to connect with others and enjoy the outdoors. However, for kids dealing with serious health issues or difficult life circumstances, attending camp isn't always straightforward.
That’s where Brigadoon Village is making a difference. Nestled near Aylesford Lake in Nova Scotia, it stands out as the first camp of its kind in Atlantic Canada and ranks among the largest pediatric camps nationwide. Since opening in 2011, it has welcomed thousands of children aged 7 to 18, many of whom are living with chronic medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, cancer, or heart problems. Others are navigating emotional hardships like the loss of a family member.
The camp is designed to offer tailored support, providing a nurturing environment for both personal development and social connection.
“We bring together young people facing similar challenges,” said Malcolm Elliot, Camp Director at Brigadoon Village. “This way, they can have fun, feel understood, and form strong bonds with others who truly get what they’re going through.”
Every summer, approximately 700 children attend the camp. As one parent put it, “I can’t imagine my child’s life without the camp experience.”
However, ensuring such a supportive environment also requires dependable technology infrastructure—something Brigadoon’s remote location doesn’t naturally offer.
“This is a beautiful, rural spot,” noted CEO Krista Ballem. “But for our team, families, and healthcare professionals to stay connected and ensure smooth operations, a reliable network is essential.”
Cisco steps in to bridge the gap
Two Cisco employees, Todd Greenlaw and Andrew McCracken, stepped up to help during a critical time—the pandemic—when the camp began much-needed facility upgrades. While the physical renovations were underway, the camp’s outdated digital infrastructure also needed a complete overhaul.
“They had tried dial-up, wireless point-to-point systems, and even satellite connections,” said Greenlaw, a Cisco engineer based in Halifax. “None of it was reliable, especially given the camp’s remote location.”
Working with a local service provider, they extended fiber-optic connectivity to the camp. Once that foundation was in place, they introduced Cisco Meraki technology to create a modern and robust network.
“There’s a lot of forest and farmland around here,” added McCracken, a technical solutions architect with Cisco. “It’s sparsely populated, but once we had fiber in place, we could build a reliable, high-performance system.”
Security and connectivity for all
In today's digital world, even pediatric camps must think about cybersecurity. Brigadoon handles sensitive information like medical records and financial data, so keeping that information secure was critical.
IMP Solutions, a Canadian IT services company and longtime Cisco Gold Partner, supported the project with funding and implementation.
“We wanted to provide the camp with top-tier technology and address both digital and physical security,” said Dave Power, Vice President of Advanced Solutions at IMP. “In addition to protecting data, we also considered the safety of the children themselves.”
The solution included Cisco Meraki wireless access points, Ethernet switches for network traffic, and security appliances for perimeter protection.
“Cisco Meraki is used by major corporations,” Power noted. “So this camp now benefits from enterprise-grade security and performance.”
“We understand the importance of protecting sensitive data,” added Elliot. “It’s reassuring to know that access is tightly controlled.”
Time, expertise, and community spirit
To make this transformation possible, Greenlaw and McCracken needed more than just technical skills—they needed time. Cisco’s “Time to Give” initiative, which allows employees to take paid leave for community service, gave them the opportunity to fully support the project.
“We used those volunteer hours,” McCracken shared. “Being from Nova Scotia and knowing the area, we felt a deep personal connection to the camp’s mission.”
Today, Brigadoon Village boasts a modern, adaptable network that has dramatically improved camp operations.
“We went from barely-there connectivity to something comparable to what you’d find in a small city,” said McCracken.
Processes that were once manual and time-consuming are now streamlined—from camper registration to accessing educational and recreational content. For the staff, the new technology means they can focus more energy on supporting the children.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Cisco,” said Elliot. “Their contribution to our technology infrastructure has been vital to our progress.”
Ballem echoed that sentiment.
“This support has opened the door to new ways of working and collaborating,” she said. “It’s helping us give kids the best camp experience possible.”
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