Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education
$48,478.00

The Grief Literacy Project is a school-based initiative for Primary to Grade 5 that helps children understand and cope with grief and loss. It provides age-appropriate books, lesson plans, teacher scripts, and training for counsellors and educators. The project also offers digital family resources, connects families to the Annapolis Valley Grief Library, and supports annual grief discussions in every classroom. Funding will be used for resource development, educator training, family engagement, and program coordination. Expected outcomes include improved emotional awareness, stronger coping skills, greater adult confidence in supporting grieving children, and the development of a sustainable, province-wide grief literacy model.

Cumberland County Hospice Palliative Care Society
$41,553.60

CCHPCS will host a two-day Grief & Bereavement Capacity Camp, a community-based program for organizations and frontline staff to strengthen grief-informed practices. Through workshops, reflection circles, creative activities, and coaching, participants gain practical tools, reduce burnout, and build cross-organizational support networks.
A six-month follow-up session reinforces learning and collaboration. The program aims to boost staff confidence and skills, promote community grief education, reduce stigma and isolation, support workforce wellbeing, and establish a sustainable network of grief-informed leaders to enhance community resilience.

Tajikeimɨk Mi’kmaw Health and Wellness
$50,000.00

This project aims to co-create culturally relevant Advance Care Planning (ACP) materials for Mi’kmaw communities. Existing ACP resources are clinical, individual-focused, and disconnected from Mi’kmaw cultural practices, making future care discussions feel intimidating or emotionally heavy. In collaboration with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, survivors, caregivers, and community health staff, the project will develop materials—messages, imagery, stories, grief-supportive language, and decision-making prompts—that reflect Mi’kmaw beliefs, family structures, and relational ways of knowing. Printed resources will support gentle, family- and community-based conversations in homes, ceremonies, and gatherings. Funding will support co-development sessions, honoraria, writing, design, Mi’kmaw translation, printing, shipping, coordination, and distribution across all 13 communities.

Hospice Society of Greater Halifax (Hospice Halifax)
$37,740.00

Hospice Halifax will implement Help Texts, an evidence-based digital grief support program for individuals on their bereavement waitlist. While clients currently wait two to three weeks for counselling or group support—often a period of acute distress—Help Texts provides twice-weekly personalized messages tailored to the type of loss, including coping strategies and guidance for friends and family, with ongoing support for one year, including anniversaries and significant dates.
They will use funding to provide timely support before counselling, subscriptions for 200 participants, and administrative coordination to manage enrollment, engagement, and compassionate follow-up.

Chebucto Family Centre (Home of the guardian Angel)
$25,000.00

Healing Together: Grief Circles and Community Support offer a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed space for individuals and families to process grief in a non-judgmental environment. The program combines facilitated grief circles with pet-assisted therapy (puppies, goats, bunnies), art therapy, and music sessions with local musicians, co-designed with licensed therapists to ensure emotional safety and cultural responsiveness. These approaches support emotional wellness across all ages while building intergenerational connection.

Pictou Landing First Nation
$18,084.00

The Circles of Grief project addresses unexpressed and untreated grief in the Pictou Landing First Nation community by supporting individuals experiencing diverse forms of loss. It will offer monthly grief circles for youth and adults, blending cultural and contemporary approaches to create a safe, respectful space for sharing. Two “Letting Go” ceremonies will be held with a traditional knowledge keeper, alongside efforts to strengthen understanding of Mi’kmaq grief practices to improve referrals and service navigation.

Evangeline Recreation Society (Evangeline Mental Wellness Hub)
$30,000.00

Pathways of Renewal is a 12-month, community-led grief and loss initiative in the Annapolis Valley, coordinated by the Evangeline Mental Wellness Hub. It offers supportive spaces for people experiencing a wide range of losses, including death, caregiving stress, relationship changes, housing instability, and impacts of natural disasters. The project includes monthly grief circles, seasonal creative workshops, community gatherings, and accessible resources such as guides, kits, and videos. It also trains local staff, volunteers, and “Healing Companions” to provide ongoing, grief-informed peer support. Overall, the initiative aims to reduce isolation, strengthen community connections, and build lasting local capacity to support grief. Participants are expected to improve coping skills, feel a greater sense of belonging, and access meaningful supports close to home.

Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia
$30,000.00

The Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia (RRANS) program supports grief and wellness for 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees and newcomers through community-building activities, grief resources, and subsidized access to queer- and trans-affirming therapy.
This project will train 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers in peer support, offer mental health and communication training, and pilot a volunteer-led grief peer support program. It will also create dedicated spaces for transgender and gender-diverse participants. The goal is to strengthen community-led, culturally relevant, and affirming grief and wellness supports while empowering participants to support one another.

The Palliative Care Society of Antigonish Town and County
$10,300.00

Last Aid is an international course, similar to First Aid, designed to teach community members how to support people during dying, death, grief, and bereavement. In Canada, it is offered by trained volunteer facilitators through the Canadian Hospice and Palliative Care Association. The program planned for Antigonish in 2026-2027 will be hosted in community spaces such as libraries, schools, and community centers. Each course serves about 20 people, and it will be offered 10 times, targeting local organizations, volunteers, and community staff. The goal is to increase understanding and comfort around death and grief, fostering greater compassion and support in the community. The program aims for lasting impact by encouraging participants to apply this knowledge in supporting others and normalizing conversations about death and bereavement.

Victoria County Home Support Services
$10,000.00

The “After Loss” project will provide regular grief support for field staff, using creative tools developed in the previous program. Staff will be able to process professional losses (such as clients moving to hospital, long-term care, or passing away) as well as personal grief, while recognizing the interplay between the two. The project responds to staff requests for regular gatherings to share experiences and support one another. Its goals are to help staff manage grief in a healthy way, strengthen relationships with colleagues, clients, and families, enhance personal well-being, and integrate grief support into the organizational culture.

Maggie’s Place – A Resource Centre for Families
$30,000.00

This project is designed to support the emotional well-being of LGBTQI+ refugees and newcomers who are dealing with grief, loss, and trauma related to their resettlement experiences in Canada. It will provide a combination of group activities, therapy sessions, and community healing initiatives aimed at helping individuals navigate the emotional challenges stemming from cultural changes, as well as discrimination, violence, and lack of safety faced during their refugee journeys. Delivered in collaboration with Divers Roots Therapy, a local 2SLGBTQIA+ focused therapy team, the project will also create lasting resources to support future LGBTQI+ refugees in their healing and recovery processes.

TREY Trauma Recovery for Exploited Youth Society
$15,000.00

Roots of Resilience is a one-year project strengthening TREY’s support for young women healing from commercial sexual exploitation, many of whom carry grief from trauma and loss. It equips staff with practical skills while providing survivors with a safe, structured space to explore emotions. Key activities include hiring a Wellness Care Lead, staff training and coaching, reflective circles, creative grief expression, emotional regulation skill-building, and culturally informed healing, with ongoing evaluation to guide improvements.

Front Street Community Oven Society
$40,000.00

The Compassion in Community project, led by Front Street Community Oven with Empathy Village Community Mediation, builds community capacity to support grief, loss, and emotional well-being. It trains volunteers in empathic listening and “holding space,” helping people feel heard and supported without judgment. Key activities include a 16-part training program, practice at weekly Community Cookouts, and creation of a replicable toolkit for other Nova Scotia communities. Training emphasizes trauma-informed, inclusive approaches, emotional regulation, and preventing compassion fatigue.

Pictou County Council of Senior Citizens/Seniors Outreach
$29,754.00

Pictou County Seniors Outreach, in collaboration with the Mental Wellness Roundtable, has identified a need to support older adults’ mental health in rural communities, where issues are often under-discussed and resources are limited. This project will expand the use of the Pictou County Mental Wellness & Resilience Toolkit, specifically revised for older adults and including a new module on grief and loss. The project will train facilitators across six rural counties to deliver community workshops using a train-the-trainer model, combining co-facilitation and mentorship approaches. Pilot workshops in Pictou and Richmond Counties will guide older adults in exploring mental wellness, coping with grief, and building emotional resilience, with support for referrals if needed.

Scotsburn Recreation Club (SRC)
$20,000.00

This project, led by the Scotsburn Recreation Club, promotes emotional wellness, grief support, and community resilience in Pictou County using the new Recreation Pavilion and Healing Garden as gathering spaces. The project will establish facilities, launch programs, build partnerships, and recruit volunteers. The initiative aims to normalize conversations about grief, strengthen connections, and support vulnerable groups. Overall, it seeks to foster long-term resilience, social cohesion, and wellbeing across the community.

Thriving Twogether Society
$20,000.00

R.I.S.E. Model 2 is an 8-week program for youth ages 12–18 supporting their transition from self-discovery to leadership and real-world impact. Participants explore self-advocacy, resilience through community service, career planning, mentorship, emotional growth, financial literacy, and storytelling through interactive, project-based learning. The program offers trauma-informed facilitation, peer mentorship, practical learning tools, transportation, and a final showcase celebrating participants’ growth. It aims to strengthen leadership, confidence, and emotional skills while empowering youth to become compassionate, community-minded leaders.

Seniors Take Action Coalition of Richmond County
$24,530.00

This project aims to improve grief literacy and increase community comfort with conversations about grief, loss, and death, particularly in rural areas. Inspired by the Canadian Grief Alliance’s 2025 recommendations, it focuses on education, awareness, and community-based activities. The central event is the “Good Life, Good Death Expo,” featuring exhibitors, speakers, and workshops on topics like palliative care, advance care planning, green burials, MAiD, and grief support. Ongoing activities will include year-round workshops, discussions, and creative sessions delivered with local partners.

The African Nova Scotian (ANS) Hope Within Society
$34,880.00

The Healing Through Remembrance Program is a community-based initiative supporting African Nova Scotian women and their families to navigate grief in a healthy, culturally grounded way. Through workshops, storytelling, art therapy, remembrance circles, and mindfulness, participants learn to honor loved ones while fostering healing and resilience. The program provides facilitators, safe spaces, materials, meals, transportation, and cultural supports, along with a one-day wellness retreat. It aims to strengthen emotional wellbeing, build community capacity for grief support, and create sustainable, culturally rooted spaces that help participants move forward with hope and connection.

Portapique Market Cooperative Ltd
$24,000.00

Portapique Market will launch a biweekly wellness program, Bond Building for Resilience and Well-Being, offering inclusive activities such as mindfulness, movement, cultural celebrations, and community games during market hours. Designed for all ages and abilities, it aims to support emotional well-being, social connection, and a sense of belonging in a community impacted by collective grief. The program will provide a welcoming space for healing and relationship-building, with funding supporting facilitation, materials, outreach, and operations. Overall, it seeks to strengthen resilience, foster community connections, and establish the market as a lasting hub of care, inclusion, and well-being.

Empowerment for Hope Society
$35,000.00

The Empowerment for Hope Society (EFHS) will run the By Survivors, For Survivors program to support survivors of intimate partner and gender-based violence. The initiative offers healing, connection, and leadership development through a two-day retreat, a peer-led Survivor Leadership Circle, and a Healing Workbook. Funds will also compensate facilitators and practitioners. The project aims to create safe, inclusive spaces, build leadership and wellness skills, and promote survivor-led advocacy. Expected outcomes include improved emotional well-being for participants, a sustainable peer network, and strengthened community capacity to prevent gender-based violence, fostering resilience, hope, and leadership across Nova Scotia.

Boys & Girls Club of Preston
$25,000.00

Focus Forward: Healing Through the Lens is a creative wellness program that uses photography as a tool for healing, self-expression, and community pride among children ages 9–12 in the Preston communities. Through guided workshops, mentorship, and a community photo exhibit, children will explore how capturing images of their surroundings, families, and culture can help them see beauty in themselves and their community. This program will support emotional healing, cultural connection, and personal growth through creative arts. It provides a safe, positive space for African Nova Scotian children to explore identity, build confidence, and tell their stories through photography.

Nova Scotia Community Living Organizations
$35,115.87

Nova Scotia Community Living Organizations (NSCLO), in partnership with All About Inclusion, will develop and pilot accessible grief, loss, and end-of-life resources for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and disability support professionals. The project includes visual, plain-language communication tools, a training program for support staff, and “Train-the-Trainer” sessions to build sector-wide capacity. First-voice individuals will guide the design to ensure tools reflect lived experiences. Resources will be hosted online for ongoing access. The initiative aims to strengthen community-level support, improve emotional well-being, and enhance dignity for people with disabilities experiencing grief or end-of-life transitions.

Kemptown and Area Recreation Association
$11,949.00

The Kemptown and Area Recreation Association will host a Music Circle Wellness Workshop at the Kemptown Community Hall with 14 sessions, each lasting approximately 3 hours, led by a local musician. Participants will sit in a circle and create music together through singing, instrument playing, rhythm exercises, and movement, while sharing stories and songs connected to experiences of grief. No prior musical experience is required, and the focus is on the collaborative and creative process rather than formal performance. The workshops are completely free, with all materials provided, as well as Ukrainian and Russian translation and transportation support. Community members unable to attend in person can join via live stream.

Music In Communities
$2,736.60

This project offers one-day training for music therapists on grief literacy, legacy projects, and recording techniques for clients at end-of-life, in long-term care, or experiencing anticipatory grief, as well as their grieving loved ones. Held at Ross Creek Annex in Kings County, the workshop includes lectures on grief literacy, introductions to legacy recording, and hands-on digital recording practice. Facilitated by Sarah McInnis, an experienced music therapist, the training aims to fill gaps in university education, equipping therapists with the skills to better support clients and communities in healthcare settings.

West Colchester Medical Society
$8,659.00

The “Supporting Young Minds” project helps children and caregivers manage emotions, build resilience, and strengthen relationships through family-based learning, nature experiences, and community activities. Highlights include evening equine-assisted learning sessions, therapeutic garden pot-making, classroom calming corners, a board game library, a wildlife park field trip, and a year-end wellness celebration. Through connection, mindfulness, and joyful experiences, the project provides both immediate emotional support and lasting tools for personal growth and well-being.

Bass River Fire Brigade
$5,950.00

The Bass River Fire Brigade will lead Stronger Together: Building Wellness and Connection Across Rural First Responders, a program focused on enhancing emotional resilience and mental wellness among firefighters in western Colchester County. The project provides trauma-informed wellness training to four rural departments—Economy, Five Islands, Great Village, and Debert—through facilitated sessions on stress, trauma, communication, grief, and mindfulness. Participants also receive resource kits to support ongoing self-care. Follow-up sessions will bring departments together to encourage continued connection, reflection, and peer support across the region.

Tajikeimɨk Mi’kmaw Health and Wellness
$50,000.00

The Healing Through Loss Framework will be developed with all 13 Mi’kmaw communities through an advisory circle of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, men, women, youth, and Two-Spirit people. The circle will meet both in person and virtually to share experiences and teachings on grief, loss, death, and palliative care. Funds will cover honoraria, travel, accommodation, venues, and catering.

To make these grants possible, funding has been provided by the Province of Nova Scotia.

Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education
$48,478.00

The Grief Literacy Project is a school-based initiative for Primary to Grade 5 that helps children understand and cope with grief and loss. It provides age-appropriate books, lesson plans, teacher scripts, and training for counsellors and educators. The project also offers digital family resources, connects families to the Annapolis Valley Grief Library, and supports annual grief discussions in every classroom. Funding will be used for resource development, educator training, family engagement, and program coordination. Expected outcomes include improved emotional awareness, stronger coping skills, greater adult confidence in supporting grieving children, and the development of a sustainable, province-wide grief literacy model.

Cumberland County Hospice Palliative Care Society
$41,553.60

CCHPCS will host a two-day Grief & Bereavement Capacity Camp, a community-based program for organizations and frontline staff to strengthen grief-informed practices. Through workshops, reflection circles, creative activities, and coaching, participants gain practical tools, reduce burnout, and build cross-organizational support networks.
A six-month follow-up session reinforces learning and collaboration. The program aims to boost staff confidence and skills, promote community grief education, reduce stigma and isolation, support workforce wellbeing, and establish a sustainable network of grief-informed leaders to enhance community resilience.

Tajikeimɨk Mi’kmaw Health and Wellness
$50,000.00

This project aims to co-create culturally relevant Advance Care Planning (ACP) materials for Mi’kmaw communities. Existing ACP resources are clinical, individual-focused, and disconnected from Mi’kmaw cultural practices, making future care discussions feel intimidating or emotionally heavy. In collaboration with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, survivors, caregivers, and community health staff, the project will develop materials—messages, imagery, stories, grief-supportive language, and decision-making prompts—that reflect Mi’kmaw beliefs, family structures, and relational ways of knowing. Printed resources will support gentle, family- and community-based conversations in homes, ceremonies, and gatherings. Funding will support co-development sessions, honoraria, writing, design, Mi’kmaw translation, printing, shipping, coordination, and distribution across all 13 communities.

Hospice Society of Greater Halifax (Hospice Halifax)
$37,740.00

Hospice Halifax will implement Help Texts, an evidence-based digital grief support program for individuals on their bereavement waitlist. While clients currently wait two to three weeks for counselling or group support—often a period of acute distress—Help Texts provides twice-weekly personalized messages tailored to the type of loss, including coping strategies and guidance for friends and family, with ongoing support for one year, including anniversaries and significant dates.
They will use funding to provide timely support before counselling, subscriptions for 200 participants, and administrative coordination to manage enrollment, engagement, and compassionate follow-up.

Chebucto Family Centre (Home of the guardian Angel)
$25,000.00

Healing Together: Grief Circles and Community Support offer a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed space for individuals and families to process grief in a non-judgmental environment. The program combines facilitated grief circles with pet-assisted therapy (puppies, goats, bunnies), art therapy, and music sessions with local musicians, co-designed with licensed therapists to ensure emotional safety and cultural responsiveness. These approaches support emotional wellness across all ages while building intergenerational connection.

Pictou Landing First Nation
$18,084.00

The Circles of Grief project addresses unexpressed and untreated grief in the Pictou Landing First Nation community by supporting individuals experiencing diverse forms of loss. It will offer monthly grief circles for youth and adults, blending cultural and contemporary approaches to create a safe, respectful space for sharing. Two “Letting Go” ceremonies will be held with a traditional knowledge keeper, alongside efforts to strengthen understanding of Mi’kmaq grief practices to improve referrals and service navigation.

Evangeline Recreation Society (Evangeline Mental Wellness Hub)
$30,000.00

Pathways of Renewal is a 12-month, community-led grief and loss initiative in the Annapolis Valley, coordinated by the Evangeline Mental Wellness Hub. It offers supportive spaces for people experiencing a wide range of losses, including death, caregiving stress, relationship changes, housing instability, and impacts of natural disasters. The project includes monthly grief circles, seasonal creative workshops, community gatherings, and accessible resources such as guides, kits, and videos. It also trains local staff, volunteers, and “Healing Companions” to provide ongoing, grief-informed peer support. Overall, the initiative aims to reduce isolation, strengthen community connections, and build lasting local capacity to support grief. Participants are expected to improve coping skills, feel a greater sense of belonging, and access meaningful supports close to home.

Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia
$30,000.00

The Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia (RRANS) program supports grief and wellness for 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees and newcomers through community-building activities, grief resources, and subsidized access to queer- and trans-affirming therapy.
This project will train 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers in peer support, offer mental health and communication training, and pilot a volunteer-led grief peer support program. It will also create dedicated spaces for transgender and gender-diverse participants. The goal is to strengthen community-led, culturally relevant, and affirming grief and wellness supports while empowering participants to support one another.

The Palliative Care Society of Antigonish Town and County
$10,300.00

Last Aid is an international course, similar to First Aid, designed to teach community members how to support people during dying, death, grief, and bereavement. In Canada, it is offered by trained volunteer facilitators through the Canadian Hospice and Palliative Care Association. The program planned for Antigonish in 2026-2027 will be hosted in community spaces such as libraries, schools, and community centers. Each course serves about 20 people, and it will be offered 10 times, targeting local organizations, volunteers, and community staff. The goal is to increase understanding and comfort around death and grief, fostering greater compassion and support in the community. The program aims for lasting impact by encouraging participants to apply this knowledge in supporting others and normalizing conversations about death and bereavement.

Victoria County Home Support Services
$10,000.00

The “After Loss” project will provide regular grief support for field staff, using creative tools developed in the previous program. Staff will be able to process professional losses (such as clients moving to hospital, long-term care, or passing away) as well as personal grief, while recognizing the interplay between the two. The project responds to staff requests for regular gatherings to share experiences and support one another. Its goals are to help staff manage grief in a healthy way, strengthen relationships with colleagues, clients, and families, enhance personal well-being, and integrate grief support into the organizational culture.

Maggie’s Place – A Resource Centre for Families
$30,000.00

This project is designed to support the emotional well-being of LGBTQI+ refugees and newcomers who are dealing with grief, loss, and trauma related to their resettlement experiences in Canada. It will provide a combination of group activities, therapy sessions, and community healing initiatives aimed at helping individuals navigate the emotional challenges stemming from cultural changes, as well as discrimination, violence, and lack of safety faced during their refugee journeys. Delivered in collaboration with Divers Roots Therapy, a local 2SLGBTQIA+ focused therapy team, the project will also create lasting resources to support future LGBTQI+ refugees in their healing and recovery processes.

TREY Trauma Recovery for Exploited Youth Society
$15,000.00

Roots of Resilience is a one-year project strengthening TREY’s support for young women healing from commercial sexual exploitation, many of whom carry grief from trauma and loss. It equips staff with practical skills while providing survivors with a safe, structured space to explore emotions. Key activities include hiring a Wellness Care Lead, staff training and coaching, reflective circles, creative grief expression, emotional regulation skill-building, and culturally informed healing, with ongoing evaluation to guide improvements.

Front Street Community Oven Society
$40,000.00

The Compassion in Community project, led by Front Street Community Oven with Empathy Village Community Mediation, builds community capacity to support grief, loss, and emotional well-being. It trains volunteers in empathic listening and “holding space,” helping people feel heard and supported without judgment. Key activities include a 16-part training program, practice at weekly Community Cookouts, and creation of a replicable toolkit for other Nova Scotia communities. Training emphasizes trauma-informed, inclusive approaches, emotional regulation, and preventing compassion fatigue.

Pictou County Council of Senior Citizens/Seniors Outreach
$29,754.00

Pictou County Seniors Outreach, in collaboration with the Mental Wellness Roundtable, has identified a need to support older adults’ mental health in rural communities, where issues are often under-discussed and resources are limited. This project will expand the use of the Pictou County Mental Wellness & Resilience Toolkit, specifically revised for older adults and including a new module on grief and loss. The project will train facilitators across six rural counties to deliver community workshops using a train-the-trainer model, combining co-facilitation and mentorship approaches. Pilot workshops in Pictou and Richmond Counties will guide older adults in exploring mental wellness, coping with grief, and building emotional resilience, with support for referrals if needed.

Scotsburn Recreation Club (SRC)
$20,000.00

This project, led by the Scotsburn Recreation Club, promotes emotional wellness, grief support, and community resilience in Pictou County using the new Recreation Pavilion and Healing Garden as gathering spaces. The project will establish facilities, launch programs, build partnerships, and recruit volunteers. The initiative aims to normalize conversations about grief, strengthen connections, and support vulnerable groups. Overall, it seeks to foster long-term resilience, social cohesion, and wellbeing across the community.

Thriving Twogether Society
$20,000.00

R.I.S.E. Model 2 is an 8-week program for youth ages 12–18 supporting their transition from self-discovery to leadership and real-world impact. Participants explore self-advocacy, resilience through community service, career planning, mentorship, emotional growth, financial literacy, and storytelling through interactive, project-based learning. The program offers trauma-informed facilitation, peer mentorship, practical learning tools, transportation, and a final showcase celebrating participants’ growth. It aims to strengthen leadership, confidence, and emotional skills while empowering youth to become compassionate, community-minded leaders.

Seniors Take Action Coalition of Richmond County
$24,530.00

This project aims to improve grief literacy and increase community comfort with conversations about grief, loss, and death, particularly in rural areas. Inspired by the Canadian Grief Alliance’s 2025 recommendations, it focuses on education, awareness, and community-based activities. The central event is the “Good Life, Good Death Expo,” featuring exhibitors, speakers, and workshops on topics like palliative care, advance care planning, green burials, MAiD, and grief support. Ongoing activities will include year-round workshops, discussions, and creative sessions delivered with local partners.

The African Nova Scotian (ANS) Hope Within Society
$34,880.00

The Healing Through Remembrance Program is a community-based initiative supporting African Nova Scotian women and their families to navigate grief in a healthy, culturally grounded way. Through workshops, storytelling, art therapy, remembrance circles, and mindfulness, participants learn to honor loved ones while fostering healing and resilience. The program provides facilitators, safe spaces, materials, meals, transportation, and cultural supports, along with a one-day wellness retreat. It aims to strengthen emotional wellbeing, build community capacity for grief support, and create sustainable, culturally rooted spaces that help participants move forward with hope and connection.

Portapique Market Cooperative Ltd
$24,000.00

Portapique Market will launch a biweekly wellness program, Bond Building for Resilience and Well-Being, offering inclusive activities such as mindfulness, movement, cultural celebrations, and community games during market hours. Designed for all ages and abilities, it aims to support emotional well-being, social connection, and a sense of belonging in a community impacted by collective grief. The program will provide a welcoming space for healing and relationship-building, with funding supporting facilitation, materials, outreach, and operations. Overall, it seeks to strengthen resilience, foster community connections, and establish the market as a lasting hub of care, inclusion, and well-being.

Empowerment for Hope Society
$35,000.00

The Empowerment for Hope Society (EFHS) will run the By Survivors, For Survivors program to support survivors of intimate partner and gender-based violence. The initiative offers healing, connection, and leadership development through a two-day retreat, a peer-led Survivor Leadership Circle, and a Healing Workbook. Funds will also compensate facilitators and practitioners. The project aims to create safe, inclusive spaces, build leadership and wellness skills, and promote survivor-led advocacy. Expected outcomes include improved emotional well-being for participants, a sustainable peer network, and strengthened community capacity to prevent gender-based violence, fostering resilience, hope, and leadership across Nova Scotia.

Boys & Girls Club of Preston
$25,000.00

Focus Forward: Healing Through the Lens is a creative wellness program that uses photography as a tool for healing, self-expression, and community pride among children ages 9–12 in the Preston communities. Through guided workshops, mentorship, and a community photo exhibit, children will explore how capturing images of their surroundings, families, and culture can help them see beauty in themselves and their community. This program will support emotional healing, cultural connection, and personal growth through creative arts. It provides a safe, positive space for African Nova Scotian children to explore identity, build confidence, and tell their stories through photography.

Nova Scotia Community Living Organizations
$35,115.87

Nova Scotia Community Living Organizations (NSCLO), in partnership with All About Inclusion, will develop and pilot accessible grief, loss, and end-of-life resources for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and disability support professionals. The project includes visual, plain-language communication tools, a training program for support staff, and “Train-the-Trainer” sessions to build sector-wide capacity. First-voice individuals will guide the design to ensure tools reflect lived experiences. Resources will be hosted online for ongoing access. The initiative aims to strengthen community-level support, improve emotional well-being, and enhance dignity for people with disabilities experiencing grief or end-of-life transitions.

Kemptown and Area Recreation Association
$11,949.00

The Kemptown and Area Recreation Association will host a Music Circle Wellness Workshop at the Kemptown Community Hall with 14 sessions, each lasting approximately 3 hours, led by a local musician. Participants will sit in a circle and create music together through singing, instrument playing, rhythm exercises, and movement, while sharing stories and songs connected to experiences of grief. No prior musical experience is required, and the focus is on the collaborative and creative process rather than formal performance. The workshops are completely free, with all materials provided, as well as Ukrainian and Russian translation and transportation support. Community members unable to attend in person can join via live stream.

Music In Communities
$2,736.60

This project offers one-day training for music therapists on grief literacy, legacy projects, and recording techniques for clients at end-of-life, in long-term care, or experiencing anticipatory grief, as well as their grieving loved ones. Held at Ross Creek Annex in Kings County, the workshop includes lectures on grief literacy, introductions to legacy recording, and hands-on digital recording practice. Facilitated by Sarah McInnis, an experienced music therapist, the training aims to fill gaps in university education, equipping therapists with the skills to better support clients and communities in healthcare settings.

West Colchester Medical Society
$8,659.00

The “Supporting Young Minds” project helps children and caregivers manage emotions, build resilience, and strengthen relationships through family-based learning, nature experiences, and community activities. Highlights include evening equine-assisted learning sessions, therapeutic garden pot-making, classroom calming corners, a board game library, a wildlife park field trip, and a year-end wellness celebration. Through connection, mindfulness, and joyful experiences, the project provides both immediate emotional support and lasting tools for personal growth and well-being.

Bass River Fire Brigade
$5,950.00

The Bass River Fire Brigade will lead Stronger Together: Building Wellness and Connection Across Rural First Responders, a program focused on enhancing emotional resilience and mental wellness among firefighters in western Colchester County. The project provides trauma-informed wellness training to four rural departments—Economy, Five Islands, Great Village, and Debert—through facilitated sessions on stress, trauma, communication, grief, and mindfulness. Participants also receive resource kits to support ongoing self-care. Follow-up sessions will bring departments together to encourage continued connection, reflection, and peer support across the region.

Tajikeimɨk Mi’kmaw Health and Wellness
$50,000.00

The Healing Through Loss Framework will be developed with all 13 Mi’kmaw communities through an advisory circle of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, men, women, youth, and Two-Spirit people. The circle will meet both in person and virtually to share experiences and teachings on grief, loss, death, and palliative care. Funds will cover honoraria, travel, accommodation, venues, and catering.

To make these grants possible, funding has been provided by the Province of Nova Scotia.

Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education
$48,478.00

The Grief Literacy Project is a school-based initiative for Primary to Grade 5 that helps children understand and cope with grief and loss. It provides age-appropriate books, lesson plans, teacher scripts, and training for counsellors and educators. The project also offers digital family resources, connects families to the Annapolis Valley Grief Library, and supports annual grief discussions in every classroom. Funding will be used for resource development, educator training, family engagement, and program coordination. Expected outcomes include improved emotional awareness, stronger coping skills, greater adult confidence in supporting grieving children, and the development of a sustainable, province-wide grief literacy model.

Cumberland County Hospice Palliative Care Society
$41,553.60

CCHPCS will host a two-day Grief & Bereavement Capacity Camp, a community-based program for organizations and frontline staff to strengthen grief-informed practices. Through workshops, reflection circles, creative activities, and coaching, participants gain practical tools, reduce burnout, and build cross-organizational support networks.
A six-month follow-up session reinforces learning and collaboration. The program aims to boost staff confidence and skills, promote community grief education, reduce stigma and isolation, support workforce wellbeing, and establish a sustainable network of grief-informed leaders to enhance community resilience.

Tajikeimɨk Mi’kmaw Health and Wellness
$50,000.00

This project aims to co-create culturally relevant Advance Care Planning (ACP) materials for Mi’kmaw communities. Existing ACP resources are clinical, individual-focused, and disconnected from Mi’kmaw cultural practices, making future care discussions feel intimidating or emotionally heavy. In collaboration with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, survivors, caregivers, and community health staff, the project will develop materials—messages, imagery, stories, grief-supportive language, and decision-making prompts—that reflect Mi’kmaw beliefs, family structures, and relational ways of knowing. Printed resources will support gentle, family- and community-based conversations in homes, ceremonies, and gatherings. Funding will support co-development sessions, honoraria, writing, design, Mi’kmaw translation, printing, shipping, coordination, and distribution across all 13 communities.

Hospice Society of Greater Halifax (Hospice Halifax)
$37,740.00

Hospice Halifax will implement Help Texts, an evidence-based digital grief support program for individuals on their bereavement waitlist. While clients currently wait two to three weeks for counselling or group support—often a period of acute distress—Help Texts provides twice-weekly personalized messages tailored to the type of loss, including coping strategies and guidance for friends and family, with ongoing support for one year, including anniversaries and significant dates.
They will use funding to provide timely support before counselling, subscriptions for 200 participants, and administrative coordination to manage enrollment, engagement, and compassionate follow-up.

Chebucto Family Centre (Home of the guardian Angel)
$25,000.00

Healing Together: Grief Circles and Community Support offer a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed space for individuals and families to process grief in a non-judgmental environment. The program combines facilitated grief circles with pet-assisted therapy (puppies, goats, bunnies), art therapy, and music sessions with local musicians, co-designed with licensed therapists to ensure emotional safety and cultural responsiveness. These approaches support emotional wellness across all ages while building intergenerational connection.

Pictou Landing First Nation
$18,084.00

The Circles of Grief project addresses unexpressed and untreated grief in the Pictou Landing First Nation community by supporting individuals experiencing diverse forms of loss. It will offer monthly grief circles for youth and adults, blending cultural and contemporary approaches to create a safe, respectful space for sharing. Two “Letting Go” ceremonies will be held with a traditional knowledge keeper, alongside efforts to strengthen understanding of Mi’kmaq grief practices to improve referrals and service navigation.

Evangeline Recreation Society (Evangeline Mental Wellness Hub)
$30,000.00

Pathways of Renewal is a 12-month, community-led grief and loss initiative in the Annapolis Valley, coordinated by the Evangeline Mental Wellness Hub. It offers supportive spaces for people experiencing a wide range of losses, including death, caregiving stress, relationship changes, housing instability, and impacts of natural disasters. The project includes monthly grief circles, seasonal creative workshops, community gatherings, and accessible resources such as guides, kits, and videos. It also trains local staff, volunteers, and “Healing Companions” to provide ongoing, grief-informed peer support. Overall, the initiative aims to reduce isolation, strengthen community connections, and build lasting local capacity to support grief. Participants are expected to improve coping skills, feel a greater sense of belonging, and access meaningful supports close to home.

Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia
$30,000.00

The Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia (RRANS) program supports grief and wellness for 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees and newcomers through community-building activities, grief resources, and subsidized access to queer- and trans-affirming therapy.
This project will train 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers in peer support, offer mental health and communication training, and pilot a volunteer-led grief peer support program. It will also create dedicated spaces for transgender and gender-diverse participants. The goal is to strengthen community-led, culturally relevant, and affirming grief and wellness supports while empowering participants to support one another.

The Palliative Care Society of Antigonish Town and County
$10,300.00

Last Aid is an international course, similar to First Aid, designed to teach community members how to support people during dying, death, grief, and bereavement. In Canada, it is offered by trained volunteer facilitators through the Canadian Hospice and Palliative Care Association. The program planned for Antigonish in 2026-2027 will be hosted in community spaces such as libraries, schools, and community centers. Each course serves about 20 people, and it will be offered 10 times, targeting local organizations, volunteers, and community staff. The goal is to increase understanding and comfort around death and grief, fostering greater compassion and support in the community. The program aims for lasting impact by encouraging participants to apply this knowledge in supporting others and normalizing conversations about death and bereavement.

Victoria County Home Support Services
$10,000.00

The “After Loss” project will provide regular grief support for field staff, using creative tools developed in the previous program. Staff will be able to process professional losses (such as clients moving to hospital, long-term care, or passing away) as well as personal grief, while recognizing the interplay between the two. The project responds to staff requests for regular gatherings to share experiences and support one another. Its goals are to help staff manage grief in a healthy way, strengthen relationships with colleagues, clients, and families, enhance personal well-being, and integrate grief support into the organizational culture.

Maggie’s Place – A Resource Centre for Families
$30,000.00

This project is designed to support the emotional well-being of LGBTQI+ refugees and newcomers who are dealing with grief, loss, and trauma related to their resettlement experiences in Canada. It will provide a combination of group activities, therapy sessions, and community healing initiatives aimed at helping individuals navigate the emotional challenges stemming from cultural changes, as well as discrimination, violence, and lack of safety faced during their refugee journeys. Delivered in collaboration with Divers Roots Therapy, a local 2SLGBTQIA+ focused therapy team, the project will also create lasting resources to support future LGBTQI+ refugees in their healing and recovery processes.

TREY Trauma Recovery for Exploited Youth Society
$15,000.00

Roots of Resilience is a one-year project strengthening TREY’s support for young women healing from commercial sexual exploitation, many of whom carry grief from trauma and loss. It equips staff with practical skills while providing survivors with a safe, structured space to explore emotions. Key activities include hiring a Wellness Care Lead, staff training and coaching, reflective circles, creative grief expression, emotional regulation skill-building, and culturally informed healing, with ongoing evaluation to guide improvements.

Front Street Community Oven Society
$40,000.00

The Compassion in Community project, led by Front Street Community Oven with Empathy Village Community Mediation, builds community capacity to support grief, loss, and emotional well-being. It trains volunteers in empathic listening and “holding space,” helping people feel heard and supported without judgment. Key activities include a 16-part training program, practice at weekly Community Cookouts, and creation of a replicable toolkit for other Nova Scotia communities. Training emphasizes trauma-informed, inclusive approaches, emotional regulation, and preventing compassion fatigue.

Pictou County Council of Senior Citizens/Seniors Outreach
$29,754.00

Pictou County Seniors Outreach, in collaboration with the Mental Wellness Roundtable, has identified a need to support older adults’ mental health in rural communities, where issues are often under-discussed and resources are limited. This project will expand the use of the Pictou County Mental Wellness & Resilience Toolkit, specifically revised for older adults and including a new module on grief and loss. The project will train facilitators across six rural counties to deliver community workshops using a train-the-trainer model, combining co-facilitation and mentorship approaches. Pilot workshops in Pictou and Richmond Counties will guide older adults in exploring mental wellness, coping with grief, and building emotional resilience, with support for referrals if needed.

Scotsburn Recreation Club (SRC)
$20,000.00

This project, led by the Scotsburn Recreation Club, promotes emotional wellness, grief support, and community resilience in Pictou County using the new Recreation Pavilion and Healing Garden as gathering spaces. The project will establish facilities, launch programs, build partnerships, and recruit volunteers. The initiative aims to normalize conversations about grief, strengthen connections, and support vulnerable groups. Overall, it seeks to foster long-term resilience, social cohesion, and wellbeing across the community.

Thriving Twogether Society
$20,000.00

R.I.S.E. Model 2 is an 8-week program for youth ages 12–18 supporting their transition from self-discovery to leadership and real-world impact. Participants explore self-advocacy, resilience through community service, career planning, mentorship, emotional growth, financial literacy, and storytelling through interactive, project-based learning. The program offers trauma-informed facilitation, peer mentorship, practical learning tools, transportation, and a final showcase celebrating participants’ growth. It aims to strengthen leadership, confidence, and emotional skills while empowering youth to become compassionate, community-minded leaders.

Seniors Take Action Coalition of Richmond County
$24,530.00

This project aims to improve grief literacy and increase community comfort with conversations about grief, loss, and death, particularly in rural areas. Inspired by the Canadian Grief Alliance’s 2025 recommendations, it focuses on education, awareness, and community-based activities. The central event is the “Good Life, Good Death Expo,” featuring exhibitors, speakers, and workshops on topics like palliative care, advance care planning, green burials, MAiD, and grief support. Ongoing activities will include year-round workshops, discussions, and creative sessions delivered with local partners.

The African Nova Scotian (ANS) Hope Within Society
$34,880.00

The Healing Through Remembrance Program is a community-based initiative supporting African Nova Scotian women and their families to navigate grief in a healthy, culturally grounded way. Through workshops, storytelling, art therapy, remembrance circles, and mindfulness, participants learn to honor loved ones while fostering healing and resilience. The program provides facilitators, safe spaces, materials, meals, transportation, and cultural supports, along with a one-day wellness retreat. It aims to strengthen emotional wellbeing, build community capacity for grief support, and create sustainable, culturally rooted spaces that help participants move forward with hope and connection.

Portapique Market Cooperative Ltd
$24,000.00

Portapique Market will launch a biweekly wellness program, Bond Building for Resilience and Well-Being, offering inclusive activities such as mindfulness, movement, cultural celebrations, and community games during market hours. Designed for all ages and abilities, it aims to support emotional well-being, social connection, and a sense of belonging in a community impacted by collective grief. The program will provide a welcoming space for healing and relationship-building, with funding supporting facilitation, materials, outreach, and operations. Overall, it seeks to strengthen resilience, foster community connections, and establish the market as a lasting hub of care, inclusion, and well-being.

Empowerment for Hope Society
$35,000.00

The Empowerment for Hope Society (EFHS) will run the By Survivors, For Survivors program to support survivors of intimate partner and gender-based violence. The initiative offers healing, connection, and leadership development through a two-day retreat, a peer-led Survivor Leadership Circle, and a Healing Workbook. Funds will also compensate facilitators and practitioners. The project aims to create safe, inclusive spaces, build leadership and wellness skills, and promote survivor-led advocacy. Expected outcomes include improved emotional well-being for participants, a sustainable peer network, and strengthened community capacity to prevent gender-based violence, fostering resilience, hope, and leadership across Nova Scotia.

Boys & Girls Club of Preston
$25,000.00

Focus Forward: Healing Through the Lens is a creative wellness program that uses photography as a tool for healing, self-expression, and community pride among children ages 9–12 in the Preston communities. Through guided workshops, mentorship, and a community photo exhibit, children will explore how capturing images of their surroundings, families, and culture can help them see beauty in themselves and their community. This program will support emotional healing, cultural connection, and personal growth through creative arts. It provides a safe, positive space for African Nova Scotian children to explore identity, build confidence, and tell their stories through photography.

Nova Scotia Community Living Organizations
$35,115.87

Nova Scotia Community Living Organizations (NSCLO), in partnership with All About Inclusion, will develop and pilot accessible grief, loss, and end-of-life resources for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and disability support professionals. The project includes visual, plain-language communication tools, a training program for support staff, and “Train-the-Trainer” sessions to build sector-wide capacity. First-voice individuals will guide the design to ensure tools reflect lived experiences. Resources will be hosted online for ongoing access. The initiative aims to strengthen community-level support, improve emotional well-being, and enhance dignity for people with disabilities experiencing grief or end-of-life transitions.

Kemptown and Area Recreation Association
$11,949.00

The Kemptown and Area Recreation Association will host a Music Circle Wellness Workshop at the Kemptown Community Hall with 14 sessions, each lasting approximately 3 hours, led by a local musician. Participants will sit in a circle and create music together through singing, instrument playing, rhythm exercises, and movement, while sharing stories and songs connected to experiences of grief. No prior musical experience is required, and the focus is on the collaborative and creative process rather than formal performance. The workshops are completely free, with all materials provided, as well as Ukrainian and Russian translation and transportation support. Community members unable to attend in person can join via live stream.

Music In Communities
$2,736.60

This project offers one-day training for music therapists on grief literacy, legacy projects, and recording techniques for clients at end-of-life, in long-term care, or experiencing anticipatory grief, as well as their grieving loved ones. Held at Ross Creek Annex in Kings County, the workshop includes lectures on grief literacy, introductions to legacy recording, and hands-on digital recording practice. Facilitated by Sarah McInnis, an experienced music therapist, the training aims to fill gaps in university education, equipping therapists with the skills to better support clients and communities in healthcare settings.

West Colchester Medical Society
$8,659.00

The “Supporting Young Minds” project helps children and caregivers manage emotions, build resilience, and strengthen relationships through family-based learning, nature experiences, and community activities. Highlights include evening equine-assisted learning sessions, therapeutic garden pot-making, classroom calming corners, a board game library, a wildlife park field trip, and a year-end wellness celebration. Through connection, mindfulness, and joyful experiences, the project provides both immediate emotional support and lasting tools for personal growth and well-being.

Bass River Fire Brigade
$5,950.00

The Bass River Fire Brigade will lead Stronger Together: Building Wellness and Connection Across Rural First Responders, a program focused on enhancing emotional resilience and mental wellness among firefighters in western Colchester County. The project provides trauma-informed wellness training to four rural departments—Economy, Five Islands, Great Village, and Debert—through facilitated sessions on stress, trauma, communication, grief, and mindfulness. Participants also receive resource kits to support ongoing self-care. Follow-up sessions will bring departments together to encourage continued connection, reflection, and peer support across the region.

Tajikeimɨk Mi’kmaw Health and Wellness
$50,000.00

The Healing Through Loss Framework will be developed with all 13 Mi’kmaw communities through an advisory circle of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, men, women, youth, and Two-Spirit people. The circle will meet both in person and virtually to share experiences and teachings on grief, loss, death, and palliative care. Funds will cover honoraria, travel, accommodation, venues, and catering.

To make these grants possible, funding has been provided by the Province of Nova Scotia.