News release

Community Grants Help Not-for-Profit Groups Across Province

Health and Wellness

NOTE: A list of organizations announced today, Nov. 3, receiving grants follows this release.


Nova Scotians living with mental illness and addictions will get help from community organizations receiving provincial grants.

Two new organizations will receive funding this year from the grant program, along with 18 groups receiving second-year funding for the next phase of their initiatives. The grants total $1 million this year.

"This provincial support will help us launch an innovative program to help reduce stigma associated with mental health challenges," said Ken Schwartz, artistic director, COASTARTS Two Planks and a Passion theatre group, Annapolis Valley. "This program will encourage students to take a leadership role in positive change within their schools. We are confident that our work will not only have an immediate impact, but a lasting legacy as well."

"The Creative Collaborative Communities Project will increase collaboration among community stakeholders through innovative creative processes and recreation," said Margaret Murray, branch co-manager for the Canadian Mental Health Association, Halifax-Dartmouth branch. "This project will help improve the mental health of our overall community and build on the association's Framework for Support."

The mental health and addictions community grant program helps to improve the lives of people living with mental illness, substance use, gambling problems and their families' lives as well. It is a part of Together We Can, the province's mental health and addictions strategy.

"There is clearly a need for more access to mental health and addictions supports," said Leo Glavine, Minister of Health and Wellness. "We can never lose site of the critical role community support plays in the recovery and well-being of someone living with mental illness or addictions."

Grants are available for community organizations to create and run programs for youth, aboriginal and diverse communities, mental health and addictions promotion, community supports, reducing stigma and discrimination, people with disabilities, the workplace, substance abuse and gambling.

Organizations can apply annually for grants.


The following organizations are receiving one-year grants:

  • Creative Collaborative Communities, HRM, $100,000
  • COASTARTS Two Planks and a Passion theatre group, Annapolis Valley, $100,000

The following organizations are receiving second-year funding for the next phase of their initiatives:

  • Working Together, Antigonish, $81,000
  • Hope Blooms Mentorship Program, HRM, $20,000
  • Be, Think, Feel Aboriginal Mental Health Awareness, HRM, $80,000
  • Kids First, New Glasgow, $21,000
  • Youth Resiliency: motivation for Success, HRM, $25,000
  • Autism Nova Scotia, provincewide, $50,000
  • St. George's YouthNet, HRM, $45,000
  • Free Spirit Therapeutic Riding, Berwick, $30,000
  • Rainbow ConneXtions, Truro, $15,000
  • Eating Disorders Project, provincewide, $49,000
  • Supporting Knowledge Mobilization and Capacity Building, provincewide, $83,000
  • Newcomer Wellness Project, provincewide, $99,000
  • First Link Program, HRM, $35,000
  • AIDS Coalition Cape Breton, Sydney, $33,000
  • Youth Wellness Drop in Program, Yarmouth, $29,000
  • Growing Provincial Community-Based Volunteer Network, provincewide, $60,000
  • Friends for Life, Spryfield, $23,000
  • Recreation, HRM, $22,000