SNS Staff Column
In every corner of Nova Scotia, from busy towns to rural communities, sport plays a powerful role in building stronger, vibrant communities. Sport Nova Scotia’s Regional Team is working to ensure that every Nova Scotian has the opportunity to experience the lifelong benefits of sport.
Sport Nova Scotia’s Regional Sport Consultants (RSCs) are based in six regions across the province: Cape Breton, Highland, Fundy, Central, South Shore and the Valley. These consultants live and work in the communities they support—helping local sport organizations, recreation departments, First Nations communities, volunteers and leaders create inclusive and sustainable sport opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
A big part of what the RSCs do is consult with community groups, listening to their challenges and helping them plan for the future. Last year alone, the RSCs held 476 consultations with local leaders, coaches and volunteers.
One example comes from the Valley Region, where the RSC supported the Ice Breaker program, a learn-to-skate and try-hockey program for kids aged 8 to 14. The program, created in partnership with Acadia Minor Hockey and Canning Recreation, with support from Schools Plus, gave kids the chance to try hockey for the first time.
In the Highland Region, a new Pictou County Sledge Hockey program was created with support from the local RSC and a group of passionate volunteers. Together, they tackled common barriers to participation and made sure the program was welcoming and accessible for all.
Last year, the RSCs facilitated 106 connections between local communities and provincial sport organizations. These partnerships are crucial for aligning programs with age-appropriate standards, equipment needs and safe sport practices. For example, during Basketball Nova Scotia’s regional visits and discussions on the provincial priorities, the RSCs shared how Sport Nova Scotia programs and services could support their community efforts.
Many communities simply don’t know what support is available and that’s something the RSCs are actively changing. They hosted 64 community presentations, often partnering with provincial and municipal offices to bring local groups together to share information about funding, organizational effectiveness supports, leadership development opportunities and overall sport system navigation. On the South Shore, the RSC worked with municipal partners to host grant information sessions with more than 50 community organizations attending two learning events focused on local resources.
The RSCs are also working beyond traditional sport groups, forming 49 non-traditional partnerships last year. In the Fundy Region, this included launching an Inclusive Sport in Schools grant to support before, during and after-school programming across the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education (CCRCE) as a response to the Mass Casualty Commission report.
Perhaps the most inspiring work was the 68 underrepresented initiatives supported by the RSCs. In Cape Breton, the RSC co-facilitated an Unama’ki Sport Gathering with Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, bringing together all five Mi’kmaw communities in the region to share knowledge, identify needs and build capacity for sport.
In the Central Region, the RSCs hosted inclusive events for 2SLGBTQIA+, Filipino and Ukrainian communities, giving participants the chance to voice how sport can be more welcoming and inclusive for them.
The RSCs don’t just offer guidance, they also help community groups access funding. In 2024–25, more than $655,000 was distributed through the Sport Fund and EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility) funding, supporting 132 community projects. These funding projects have supported helping girls and women access sport, supporting youth and newcomers and building inclusive opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and persons with disabilities. Organizations have been able to purchase new equipment for programs and support professional development for their coaches and leaders.
The work of the RSCs is helping to build stronger communities, developing local leadership and ensuring every Nova Scotian has the chance to be active, included and inspired through sport.
Want to learn more?
Visit sportnovascotia.ca to discover program and services available to support community sport organizations across Nova Scotia.
