Nick Merritt balances duty, family and academics to earn Laurier Master of Public Safety degree

Nov. 27, 2024

When you’re a sworn-in member of the Canadian Armed Forces and a part-time grad student, routines matter. Laurier Master of Public Safety alumni and Medal of Academic Excellence recipient Nick Merritt (MPS ’24) knows that better than anyone. For Merritt, balancing his online coursework with his role as the forces’ regional criminal intelligence coordinator for Atlantic Canada – not to mention his role as a husband and new dad – all comes down to good habits.

“It took me a good six months to figure things out,” says Merritt. “But once I had a routine, the pace was really manageable. I would wake up at 5 a.m., make myself a coffee and then work on my assignments with my dogs by my side.”

Merritt’s “sunrise moment” as he endearingly calls it, before the chaos of the day began, is what allowed him to thrive in Laurier’s online Public Safety program while enjoying life at home with his wife, Maggie. The luxury of being able to study from the comfort of home, however, wasn’t the norm for Merritt throughout his four-year journey to earning his master’s degree.

Due to the travel requirements of his position with the Canadian Armed Forces, he became accustomed to logging on from some less-than-conventional locations across Canada and abroad.

“Being online was perfect for me and really helpful with my military path,” says Merritt. “I completed a lot of my assignments from motel rooms and bunk beds.”

Nick Merritt pictured with Steven Blaney, left, Laurier Chancellor Nadir Patel and Professor Scott Blandford at fall convocation.

Even more impressive is that Merritt continued his studies during his deployment with Operation LENTUS, where he provided military assistance during the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as during his 2021 deployment to Kuwait, where he delivered crucial operational oversight and intelligence support during coalition operations. Even while serving nationally and abroad, Merritt managed to uphold his status as a straight-A honours student and graduated with distinction in fall 2024.

It was Merritt’s perseverance and overall determination to succeed that prompted Professor Scott Blandford, Laurier’s Master of Public Safety program chair, to nominate him for the university’s Medal of Academic Excellence.

“Nick exemplifies what the Master of Public Safety program was designed to do: provide current, relevant advanced education to professionals currently working in the public safety field in a manner that they can create positive, effective change in the lives of Canadian citizens,” Blandford wrote in his recommendation letter.

Blandford’s letter also references Merritt’s 10 years of service with the military and points specifically to recognition Merritt received for his swift action during a 19-vehicle accident while off duty, where life-saving interventions were provided.

“This commendation reflects exceptional leadership and the ability to remain calm under extreme pressure,” noted Blandford.

Though graduating with a master’s degree was a huge accomplishment for Merritt, receiving the Medal of Academic Excellence was the cherry on top.

Without the support of the military, as well as his wife and family, Merritt acknowledges obtaining his degree would have been more difficult.

“My wife was so supportive and always there to give me a gentle nudge to stay on track,” he says.

Merritt also acknowledges the key role his professors played in his success. They provided a wealth of real-world experiences and always operated with an open-door policy. That helped Merritt, who often had to work ahead on course material and submit assignments early due to unreliable internet in locations he was working from.

He says his fellow classmates also contributed to his success.

“I can’t emphasize how valuable the peer aspect was,” says Merritt. “Being able to speak openly about the hardships each of us face in our respective sectors, as well as confide in and support one another, was so helpful. It was very enlightening seeing other emergency service professionals and hearing their struggles.”

Since graduating from the Master of Public Safety program, Merritt has returned to Laurier to speak to prospective students about the value of the program. Though he’s quick to state that he’s speaking about his own experience, he is equally swift to recommend the program to others working in a public safety field.

“I find it really helpful for advancing your career and the fact that it’s online makes it possible to balance work, family and school,” says Merritt.

For Merritt and his wife, family has taken on a whole new meaning since the birth of their son earlier this year. The family of three flew from Halifax for Merritt’s convocation when he crossed the stage in October. It was also a chance for Merritt to meet his classmates and professors face-to-face for the first time.

“In online learning, unless you make that effort, there can be an aspect of isolation,” says Merritt. “But there’s a lot of support around you including the professors and other students. And if you put in that little bit of extra work to build those connections, those connections will last.”