Community Fund Supports South Shore Groups to Attract, Retain Healthcare Workers

Three organizations are planning a variety of promotional projects and cultural and community events to welcome and support healthcare workers on the South Shore.

The activities are community-led and funded through the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) Community Fund.

“Through the community fund, we are supporting actions that welcome newcomer healthcare providers and show they are valued members of our community,” said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and MLA for Lunenburg West, on behalf of Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment. “Thank you to these organizations for bringing us together, building connections and creating events and opportunities to share the rich and diverse cultures and traditions of our community members – both existing and new.”

The organizations, projects and funding amounts are:

• Health Services Foundation of the South Shore – $32,300 to deliver cultural events, expand and enhance its website, create promotional materials, host social events and prepare appreciation gifts for healthcare workers

• Town of Bridgewater – $32,000 to expand its Explore Bridgewater project that includes a relocation guide, welcome packages, updated online materials about the town and its lifestyle, and marketing support for local open house events

• South Shore Multicultural Association – $29,625 to host events, including family skate nights, bowling, swimming, canoeing, parents and tots events, and an array of cultural celebrations.

In total, 30 organizations across the province are receiving support through the OHPR Community Fund this year.

The fund, established in 2022, is an action item in Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare. It supports community healthcare recruitment and retention initiatives organized by local non-profit organizations, charitable community groups, cultural organizations, member-based organizations and boards, municipalities and chambers of commerce.

Quotes:

“This allows us to share the diversity of our cultures with our South Shore communities, whether it's the food and dancing of Diwali or the excitement of Lunar New Year. It all helps us appreciate and learn from each other. We welcome our newcomer healthcare professionals and look forward to helping them settle in their new home here in Lunenburg/Queens.”
— Samir Upadhyay, Chair, South Shore Multicultural Association

“This funding will help to build on our community’s recent success attracting newcomers by allowing us to update our marketing materials, provide more support for site visits, and effectively share information that we know newcomers will need. We’re very excited that Bridgewater will be better prepared for new arrivals to come here and make a successful, seamless move into our community.”
— David Mitchell, Mayor, Town of Bridgewater

Quick Facts:

• the OHPR Community Fund supported 28 community-led recruitment and retention initiatives in 2022-23, investing more than $1.5 million into a range of projects, including healthcare worker recognition events, online support tools, marketing videos and even a community garden

Additional Resources:

OHPR Community Fund news releases: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=287

Fund guidelines and details are available at: https://novascotia.ca/ohpr-community-fund

Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/

Mandate letter for the Minister of Health and Wellness and Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf