News release

Community Projects Support Healthcare Recruitment, Retention

Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment
OHPR Community Fund
health workforce
Action for Health
NOTE: A list of funding recipients and project descriptions follows this release.

Twenty-four organizations are receiving grants to help welcome and support healthcare professionals as they settle into Nova Scotia communities this year.

The grants will fund a wide range of projects, from multicultural celebrations to social networking to mentorship programs, all with the goal of attracting talented healthcare professionals to Nova Scotia and keeping them here.

“Nova Scotians take great pride in their communities, and they know what makes the place they call home a great one to live and work,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment. “There are so many creative ways we can work together to make Nova Scotia an attractive place for healthcare professionals. Through our community fund, we’re helping Nova Scotians be leaders in welcoming healthcare professionals.”

The Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) Community Fund is providing $1.4 million to support the projects. Examples include:

  • Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre will host networking events for healthcare professionals and develop an art access program for newcomers in Antigonish
  • the Municipality of Inverness County will connect new professionals with a healthcare navigator, housing assistants and mentors and will develop cultural awareness resources
  • across the province, the Association of Nigerians in Nova Scotia will be leading a mentorship program, creating promotional materials and hosting focus groups to better understand community needs.

The OHPR Community Fund supports community healthcare recruitment and retention initiatives, an action item in Action for Health, the government’s strategic plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia.

Quotes:

“Our healthcare workers give so much to our communities – this support allows us to give something back. Through theatre, we’re building a sense of home, belonging and joy for those who care for us every day.”
— Caleb Marshall, Managing Director, Festival Antigonish

“We are already seeing such positive outcomes from work already underway. We are thrilled to continue our efforts within the community to attract and retain healthcare professionals, including initiatives that reduce social and cultural barriers to recruitment and retention in our communities.”
— Lynn Carter, healthcare navigator, Municipality of Inverness County

“This investment will be instrumental in enabling us to develop and implement impactful programs that support the recruitment, integration, settlement and retention of Nigerian healthcare professionals in Nova Scotia. Our partnership not only strengthens the province’s healthcare system but also fosters a more inclusive, diverse and resilient workforce. We look forward to building on this collaboration to ensure that Nova Scotia remains a welcoming and supportive destination for Nigerian healthcare talent.”
— Azuka Onwuka, President, Association of Nigerians in Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:

  • the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment works to connect groups within the same community to encourage collaboration

Additional Resources:

OHPR Community Fund guidelines and details: https://novascotia.ca/ohpr-community-fund

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

2025 OHPR Community Fund Grant Recipients:

  • Association of Nigerians in Nova Scotia, multiple locations – $100,000 to create promotional materials and a mentorship program, and host focus groups to better understand community needs

  • CB Health Navigation Society, Cape Breton Regional Municipality – $37,000 to host recognition, social and networking events

  • Community Navigation Physician Retention Services Association, Antigonish – $73,640 to develop a settlement toolkit for new healthcare professionals and to host recognition and social events

  • Digby and Area Health Service Charitable Foundation, Digby – $74,037 to create a recruitment campaign strategy and host events for healthcare professionals

  • Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Centre, Port Hawkesbury - $89,169 to develop a local medical student recruitment campaign and host recognition events

  • Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre, Antigonish – $15,000 to host healthcare professionals networking events and develop an art access program for newcomers

  • Global Humanitarian Initiative Association, Halifax – $100,000 to complete a community needs assessment and to host networking, social and cultural events

  • Healthy Pictou County – $75,000 to create marketing videos to attract healthcare professionals

  • Health Services Foundation of South Shore, Lunenburg County – $36,000 to host networking events and for support related to residency applications

  • Mid Valley Region Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee, Aylesford to Bridgetown – $98,984 to host community events, create connections for healthcare students and professionals, and grow cultural awareness

  • Municipality of Barrington, Shelburne County – $54,633 to develop promotional materials and welcome baskets

  • Municipality of Cumberland – $56,000 to host site-visit recruitment events, create welcome baskets and host appreciation events

  • Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s, Guysborough County – $33,150 to create a community guide and host appreciation events

  • Municipality of Inverness County – $98,200 to connect new healthcare professionals with a healthcare navigator, housing assistants and mentors, and to promote career opportunities and develop cultural awareness training resources

  • Municipality of Shelburne – $51,500 to create a community welcome guide and host events to show appreciation and raise cultural awareness

  • New Germany and Area Medical Centre Association, Lunenburg County – $25,000 to conduct a consultation to explore ways to promote living in the area

  • Our Health Centre, Chester – $22,138 to create organizational policies for inclusivity and create an organizational evaluation framework

  • Preston Area Board of Trade, East Preston – $50,000 to support site visits, host community walks and appreciation events in the Prestons area to retain local healthcare professionals

  • Sheet Harbour & Area Chamber of Commerce, Halifax Regional Municipality – $65,916 to host recruitment fairs, create promotional materials and offer community tours and appreciation events

  • South Shore Multicultural Association, Lunenburg – $29,625 to create settlement supports through events, sports rental equipment and a multicultural festival

  • Surfing Association of Nova Scotia, Lawrencetown, Halifax Regional Municipality – $18,000 to offer surf programs aimed to welcome health professionals and their families to Nova Scotia

  • Truro and Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity, Colchester County – $75,000 to create marketing videos, digital marketing, and host recruitment and appreciation events

  • West Hants Regional Municipality – $75,000 to create promotional materials and videos, and to create youth multicultural events and a community connection fair

  • Yarmouth & Area Chamber of Commerce, Yarmouth – $51,750 to create marketing materials and host social and appreciation events

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