Provincial release:
Twenty-three organizations across Nova Scotia are receiving grants to help attract, welcome and retain healthcare professionals in communities throughout the province.
The funding will support a wide range of community-led initiatives, including cultural celebrations, settlement and welcome activities, networking and professional support. These projects are designed to help healthcare professionals and their families build connections, feel supported and establish long-term roots in Nova Scotia.
“Communities are powerful partners in healthcare recruitment and retention,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment. “This funding helps communities create welcoming environments that encourage healthcare professionals to choose Nova Scotia and stay for the long term.”
The Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) Community Fund is providing about $388,000 to support the 23 groups. The fund, for community healthcare recruitment and retention initiatives, is an action item in Action for Health, the government’s strategic plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia.
“The community fund has helped us do more than welcome physicians, medical learners and their families to the Yarmouth area – it has helped us make them feel a sense of belonging in our region. We’ve been able to connect newcomers with the people, resources and experiences that make our community special, strengthening our ability to support medical professionals in putting down roots. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and the role it continues to play in creating lasting connections and success stories in our region.”
— Charlene d’Entremont, community navigator, Yarmouth and Area Medical Partnership
“As a Mi’kmaw non-profit organization, we are committed to a strength-based approach to wellness that supports people with disabilities and youth in our communities. This investment helps us strengthen staff recruitment and retention, ensuring we can continue providing culturally grounded supports and services for years to come. Together, we are building stronger communities for the next seven generations. Wela’liek – thanks from all of us.”
— Rosie Sylliboy, Executive Director, Mawita’mk Society
2026 OHPR Community Fund Grant Recipients:
– Antigonish & Guysborough Immigrant Support Program – $14,145 for community welcome and settlement, including a welcome guide, translated brochures and family integration programming
– Antigonish Community Navigation & Physicians Retention Services Association – $20,980 to collaborate with Muslim physicians to host a family Eid celebration open to all physicians and to support medical education and appreciation events
– Association of Nigerians in Nova Scotia – $23,300 for cultural discovery camps for children, provincewide healthcare community meet and greets, and a healthcare licensing and career navigation forum
– Black Nurses Association of Nova Scotia – $18,300 for the ‘Building Belonging’ initiative designed to support settlement, professional integration, community connection and sustainability
– Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Centre – $20,425 to host a retreat for medical residents, outreach to local high schools and recognition and retention activities
– Digby and Area Health Service Charitable Foundation – $11,950 for appreciation and welcome events, a recruitment video and a healthcare opportunities booklet showcasing community resources and opportunities
– Health Association of African Canadians – $22,137.50 for a retention and advancement pilot for black healthcare professionals already contributing to Nova Scotia’s healthcare system
– Healthy Pictou County – $14,000 for healthcare professionals and family appreciation events, medical student events and conference recruitment marketing material
– Lunenburg Board of Trade – $5,750 for community orientation sessions for newly arrived healthcare professionals and employer workshops focusing on communication, cultural awareness and strategies to support the successful integration and long-term retention of internationally educated healthcare professionals
– Mawita’mk Society – $13,050 for an Indigenous healthcare provider healing and wellness retreat and a Mi’kmaw Health and Healing Career Pathways series to introduce participants to a range of health career opportunities
– Multiculturalism Association of Cape Breton – $23,500 for the community match program to pair incoming doctors and their families with local community champions, cultural welcome and networking events, and interactive anti-discrimination workshops
– Municipality of Clare – $9,600 to design and produce booth marketing material for campus visits to meet with bilingual medical students
– Municipality of Cumberland – $20,300 for resident learner support and the creation of a local registry of students from the Cumberland region who are pursuing a career in medicine, the creation of a relocation guide and for recognition and welcome events
– Municipality of Shelburne – $16,450 to celebrate the contributions of local healthcare professionals and for appreciation events to foster a positive workplace culture, as well as ongoing healthcare professionals recruitment efforts
– Sheet Harbour Chamber of Commerce – $15,640 for healthcare worker appreciation events, marketing materials and recruitment efforts by increasing youth awareness of healthcare roles
– South Shore Multicultural Association – $17,595 to host recreational events, activities and cultural festivals to promote community integration and improve retention
– Town of Amherst – $14,500 to support local recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals through resident learner support, relocation guides and recognition and community inclusion events
– Truro & Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity – $23,544.50 for website support, appreciation events Indigenous cultural competency training and resident support
– Ummah Society – $18,000 to create direct dialogue between Muslim and African healthcare professionals and Nova Scotia’s healthcare system by identifying barriers
– Valley Regional Hospital Foundation – $17,250 for a community settlement and support initiative for doctors and their families, supporting volunteers, appreciation events and a women in medicine community of practice initiative
– Victoria County Healthcare Professionals Welcoming and Recruitment – $5,700 for a welcome and community fair for recently arrived healthcare professionals in Victoria County
– West Isle Community Development Society – $22,000 for Inverness medical alumni digital hub, networking events, settlement navigation and rural practice readiness workshops and toolkits
– Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce – $20,000 for physician appreciation and recognition, welcome and community integration events, resident engagement and medical learner community engagement initiative**end of message**
