| 1850-1909 | 1909-1951 | 1951-1961 | 1961-1997 |
| 1850 | - J. William Dawson (later, Sir) appointment by provincial government of Nova Scotia as first Superintendent of Education for the province.
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| 1851 | - Dawson recommended establishment of a provincial training school for teachers
- Dawson secured approval from the Education Committee of the Legislature for establishment of a Normal School
- Chair of the Education Committee introduced a bill in the Legislature which was lost by a small majority
- Dawson resigned his position as Superintendent, but held the office without pay through 1852
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| 1854 | - March 31 - Act for the Establishment of a Normal School was passed in the Legislature
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| 1855 | - May - Alexander Forrester appointed first Principal (an office he held until 1869) on the recommendation of J.W. Dawson.
- Forester visited Normal Schools in New England to become acquainted with the practices in those institutions
- Summer - toured Nova Scotia speaking on matters affecting education
- November 14 - the Provincial Normal School opened
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| 1857 | - June - the "Model School" officially opened
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| 1869 | - John B. Calkin appointed Principal (until 1900)
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| 1872 | - Forrester Monument originally erected on Truro Commons (now stands in quad area of Truro Campus NSCC)
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| 1878 | - Original Normal School building replaced
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| 1893 | - Manual Training (later Industrial Arts and then Technology Education) introduced as a course of study
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| 1900 | - David Soloan appointed Principal (until 1928)
- Science Building officially opened (it now houses the Colchester Historical Museum)
- Domestic Science (later Home Economics) introduced as one of the teacher training programs
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| 1907 | - Kindergarten Department was integrated into the PNC
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| 1908 | - Physical Training Program (later Physical Education) established
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