Each year, Recreation Nova Scotia's Awards recognize the individuals, organizations, communities, and partners whose outstanding contributions are strengthening recreation across the province. This year, the 2026 Recreation Nova Scotia Awards were presented during the Awards Banquet at the Recreation Nova Scotia Annual Conference in Truro.
This year's conference theme, Waves of Impact: Elevating the Value of Recreation in Nova Scotia, reflects the growing recognition that recreation extends far beyond sport and leisure. Recreation fosters physical and mental wellbeing, creates opportunities for belonging, supports inclusion and accessibility, strengthens community connections, and enhances quality of life for people of all ages and abilities.
The 2026 award recipients embody that impact through their leadership, innovation, dedication, and service.
This year's recipients received a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork created by Ursula Ryle-Gulliver, the selected artist from Recreation Nova Scotia's 2026 Call to Artists. Inspired by the conference theme, Ursula created eight original wool-felted land and seascapes that celebrate Nova Scotia's natural beauty and the connection between recreation, wellness, and our outdoor spaces. Each artwork serves as a lasting reminder of the ripple effects recreation creates throughout our communities.
Recreation Nova Scotia extends its sincere thanks to the 2026 Awards Committee for their time and dedication in selecting this year's deserving recipients: Clare Steele, Danielle Peveril, Kerri Jack, Michelle Richards, Peter Jollimore, with coordination from Lisa Fedoruk.
We also thank our banquet sponsor, the Lifesaving Society of Nova Scotia, for helping make this celebration possible, and extend our appreciation to our awards presenter, outgoing Recreation Nova Scotia President Brendon Smithson, and our banquet emcee, CBC’s, Jeff Douglas, whose storytelling and enthusiasm helped make the evening a memorable celebration.
Congratulations to all of our 2026 Recreation Nova Scotia Award recipients. Your leadership, passion, and commitment continue to create waves of impact across Nova Scotia, inspiring others and strengthening communities through recreation!
2026 Recreation Nova Scotia Award Winners:
Bluenose Achievement: Murray MacKay
Mayflower Community Cooperation: Municipality of the District of Chester – Community Use of Schools
Connecting People with Nature: Pictou County Hike Club
EDIA: Superheroes United Program
Event/Program Excellence: District of St. Mary’s Summer Day Camp Program
Heart of Recreation: Angie Tavares
Professional Achievement: Natalie d’Entremont
Honourary Lifetime Member Award 2026: Rick Gilbert
Bluenose Achievement Award
Murray MacKay
The late Murray MacKay, described as a dedicated and humble volunteer in the community of Tatamagouche, was a driving force in the community he loved. Murray strengthened community connections by always engaging and supporting recreational opportunities for people of all ages. Through his leadership at the North Shore Recreation Centre, involvement with the curling community, and dedication to the Tatamagouche Area Trails Association, Murray was a true community builder. Murray’s commitment to the development and maintenance of the trail network and many of the community spaces and events he was involved in ensured that residents had access to safe, welcoming spaces for recreation year-round.
Mayflower Community Cooperation Award
Municipality of the District of Chester – Community Use of Schools
Since 1990, the Municipality of the District of Chester (Chester) has progressively established formal joint-use of school (JUA) agreements with all five schools in their municipal unit. Starting with a community use agreement with the South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE, formerly the SSRSB) for the new build of Forest Heights school in 1990, Chester led the way in building a collaborative ‘can-do’ model for community use of schools that benefits their residents and the sector continues to learn from in 2026. Essential to this work is a strong working relationship with the SSRCE and their willingness to partner, problem solve and keep lines of communication open.
Connecting People with Nature Award
Pictou County Hike Club
The Pictou County Hike Club is more than a hiking group—it is a welcoming community that helps people get outdoors, connect with nature, and build meaningful relationships. Through guided hike series organized in partnership with Municipal Physical Activity Leaders (MPALs) and local recreation partners, the club introduces residents to trails and natural spaces throughout Pictou County in a friendly and supportive way. A unique feature of the program is its partnership with Hike Nova Scotia. Participants who completed the full guided hike series were recognized with a Pictou County hiking badge through Hike Nova Scotia. This badge program added an element of fun and achievement, encouraging participants to continue exploring new trails, challenge themselves, and celebrate their commitment to being active outdoors.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access (EDIA) Award
Superheroes United Program
Superheroes United was established in 2017 to create an inclusive and supportive community for families of children with differing needs across the South Shore. Founded as a partnership between Through the Years Early Learning Centre and The Municipality of Chester Recreation & Parks Department with the support of SchoolsPlus and Autism Nova Scotia, the program was developed under the volunteer leadership of Paulette Harnish Benight and Rhonda Buffet in response to a gap in accessible family programming and peer support opportunities. A key strength of Superheroes United is its whole-family approach. While children build friendships, confidence, and social skills, parents and caregivers gain access to information, support networks, and shared experiences with others facing similar challenges. This combination of recreation, advocacy, and peer support helps strengthen both individual families and the broader community.
Event /Program Excellence Award
District of St. Mary’s Summer Day Camp Program
The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s Summer Day Camp program provides high quality summer recreation experiences for children ages 4 to 12 for eight weeks each summer. What makes this program unique from others throughout Nova Scotia is that it is completely free for children who reside in the Municipality and has been offered free of charge for more than 40 years. Over the years, considerable effort has also gone into identifying and addressing barriers that may prevent children and families from participating, including an evaluation of the program in 2019 that resulted in significant changes to the program structure that reduced barriers for working parents and caregivers.
Heart of Recreation Award
Angie Tavares
When the Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex opened in 2016, Angie Tavares recognized that creating a recreation facility was only the beginning. The greater challenge was ensuring it became a place where every member of the community felt welcome, safe, and that they truly belonged. At a time when rural communities were experiencing increasing social isolation, financial barriers to participation, and growing mental health and wellness needs, Angie supported her municipal team to choose to lead with a “people first” lens. Rather than viewing the CLC simply as a municipal recreation facility, Angie transformed it into a community hub. She consistently went beyond the responsibilities of operating programs and managing a facility by building meaningful relationships with schools, health partners, community organizations, volunteers, and residents. She listens to what the community needs and responds by creating opportunities, opening doors, and bringing people together. That lasting impact on the community is a reflection of Angie's leadership and illustrates how she truly embodies the Heart of Recreation.
Professional Achievement Award
Natalie d’Entremont
Natalie's 39-year career in recreation has been marked by countless accomplishments, but what truly distinguishes her is the way she has invested in people and inspired others through her unwavering belief in the value and impact of recreation.
One of Natalie's greatest contributions has been her commitment to mentorship. Throughout her career, she has mentored well over 100 summer staff, many of whom have gone on to careers in recreation, municipal government, education, and community leadership. Rather than directing every decision, Natalie encourages staff to think independently, solve problems, and develop confidence in their own abilities.
Natalie's support extends far beyond mentoring those new to the profession. Across the South Shore, she has become a trusted sounding board for recreation professionals at every stage of their careers. Whether navigating complex challenges, exploring new ideas, or seeking an objective perspective, colleagues know they can rely on Natalie for thoughtful advice, and practical solutions.
Whether working with a first-year summer student, an experienced recreation professional, or a volunteer board member, she consistently empowers others to succeed. Her willingness to invest in people has strengthened organizations, developed future leaders, and elevated the recreation profession throughout Nova Scotia.
Natalie’s influence extends beyond the people she has touched to the practical tools, frameworks, and resources she has helped develop for the recreation sector in Nova Scotia, including her work as the first Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) facilitator on the South Shore; the lasting standards for inclusive recreation that exist in part due to her work as the Chair of the Municipality of Argyle Accessibility Committee and her time served on the Provincial Accessibility Directorate Building Standards Committee, and the impact she has had on improving program quality for children as a certified High Five Trainer.
Honourary Lifetime Member Award 2026
Rick Gilbert
Rick worked in the recreation field in Nova Scotia for 50 years, serving in key roles including Coordinator of Outdoor Recreation with Province of NS; Executive Director of NS Youth Secretariat; and Director of Active Healthy Living/Corporate Services with Province of Nova Scotia. Rick played a key leadership role the development of both the national “Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015: Pathways to Wellness” as well as the Provincial Shared Strategy for Advancing Recreation in Nova Scotia, work that has guided the development of recreation throughout Canada for the past decade.
Rick has remained a lifelong learner, participating in hundreds of conferences, workshops, and symposiums over the past five decades, as a learner, presenter, and organizer. He has made it his personal mission to promote the benefits of recreation at every opportunity. He truly was, and continues to be, one of the strongest advocates for recreation that this province has ever had.