Celebrating Social Enterprises that Employ Adults with Diverse Abilities

All Nova Scotians deserve the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. Social enterprises across the province are helping adults with diverse abilities reach that full potential through programming and employment opportunities.

Premier Stephen McNeil proclaimed that the fourth week in February every year will be Social Enterprise Week. The focus this year, from Feb. 23 to 29, will be celebrating organizations that employ adults with diverse abilities who face employment barriers.

“We want to build a province with no limitations – a place where all Nova Scotians live their best lives,” said Mr. McNeil. “The social and economic impact social enterprises have on their participants and their communities is invaluable. I encourage all Nova Scotians to take a moment this week to celebrate and recognize Nova Scotia’s social enterprises for all they do.”

Social enterprises help adults with diverse abilities gain vocational skills while participating in their local communities. Through training and meaningful employment in areas like woodworking, food services, retail and more, participants work as part of a team and develop valuable social skills.

This year, the province will invest over $6.1 million to help disability service providers maintain or expand day programming services, which includes supporting several social enterprises.

Quick Facts:

• Carleton Road Industry Association in Lawrencetown, Annapolis Co., received $125,000 to repave their parking lot to ensure accessibility and safety for staff, volunteers and participants
• Colchester Community Workshops in Truro received $800,000 toward building renovations which will provide more space for programs and services
• Corridor Community Options in Enfield received a $1.5 million contribution from the province to support the build of a larger, more accessible building in a more central location
• the Flower Cart Group in New Minas received a $500,000 contribution to support a new building which will allow program participants to produce goods and services to provide to the public
• Haley Street Adult Services Centre in North Sydney received $1 million in funding to rebuild one of their buildings after it was lost in a fire last year
• Horizon Achievement Centre in Sydney received $2 million and 2.2 hectares of land from the province to support the building of a new facility, which will allow for expanded programs and services
• Summer Street in New Glasgow received $200,000 toward a number of capital projects that will support their various social enterprises
• In 2019-20, the province will provide over $21 million in operating funding for 44 day programs delivered by 30 Adult Service Centres, some residential service providers, and community-based organizations

Additional Resources:

Choice, Equality and Good Lives in Inclusive Communities: A Roadmap for Transforming the Nova Scotia Services to Persons with Disabilities Program: https://novascotia.ca/coms/transformation/docs/Choice_Equality_and_Good_Lives_in_Inclusive_Communities.pdf