Twenty-seven organizations funded to expand community-based grief, bereavement, and emotional wellness initiatives
HALIFAX, NS – May 4, 2026 – The Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association (NSHPCA) announced today that 27 nonprofit and community-based organizations across the province will receive $715,000 in funding through the Healing Pathways Community Funding Grants, funded by the Province of Nova Scotia to strengthen grief and emotional wellness supports across communities.
“These projects reflect the depth, diversity, and strength of communities across Nova Scotia,” said Tim Guest, Executive Director of NSHPCA. “From culturally grounded healing initiatives to community-led programs that support people through loss, these organizations are responding with compassion and innovation. We value their contribution and are happy to support their initiative and the impact it will have across the province.”
This investment builds on a two-year funding commitment in 2024 and 2025, which delivered $940,000 to 41 organizations – an average of approximately $470,000 per year. With this latest round, total investment now exceeds $1.65 million across 68 community-based projects.
These new investments continue to expand access to grief and emotional wellness supports, particularly for populations that have been underserved in the past. Funded initiatives include a wide range of programs such as grief literacy in schools, culturally relevant advance care planning resources, peer support networks, community grief circles, creative arts therapies, and workforce training in grief-informed care.
These projects will support a diverse range of communities and populations, including youth, seniors, caregivers, Indigenous communities, African Nova Scotian communities, newcomers, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, first responders, and people living in rural and remote areas.
“We are incredibly grateful to be selected for this funding opportunity,” said Charnell Colley, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Preston. “Our project, Focus Forward: Healing Through the Lens, will provide African Nova Scotian youth with a creative and meaningful way to explore self-expression, build confidence, and strengthen their connection to community.” She added: “This support allows us to create safe spaces where young people can share their stories, celebrate their identity, and see the beauty within themselves and their communities. Thank you again for this opportunity and for supporting the important work happening in our communities.”
The Healing Pathways Community Funding Grants were initially supported through a two-year funding commitment from the Public Health Agency of Canada, established in response to Recommendation C.13 of the Mass Casualty Commission, and are now funded by the Province of Nova Scotia to strengthen community-based responses to grief, loss, and emotional wellness across the province.
The Honourable Brian Comer, Nova Scotia Minister of Addictions and Mental Health, added: “Congratulations to all the recipients. We also want to thank our partners at the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association for their continued leadership in advancing this important work. These community-driven initiatives are making a meaningful difference for Nova Scotians experiencing grief and loss – and close to home within their local communities.”
To view the full list of recipients, please visit:
https://nshpca.ca/2026-healing-pathways-community-funding-grant-recipients/
Media Contact:
Michael Kydd
Communications Director, NSHPCA
mkydd@nshpca.ca
902-818-6983
nshpca.ca | healingpathways.nshpca.ca
About the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association (NSHPCA)
The Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association is a provincial, non-profit organization providing leadership, education, and advocacy in hospice palliative care, grief, and emotional wellness. While NSHPCA does not deliver care directly, it works to ensure individuals and families can access compassionate support by strengthening community capacity, sharing information, and supporting those who provide care. NSHPCA serves as the Community Hub Organization within the Nova Scotia Community Grief & Emotional Wellness Model, advancing a coordinated approach that promotes equitable access to grief and emotional wellness supports across the province.
