What is an Equipment Loan Program?
Equipment loan programs provide equipment for free or low-cost with the intention of self-directed recreational use. These programs help to increase recreational opportunities in communities. Programs are maintained by a wide variety of organizations, including, but not limited to, municipalities, community centres and groups, non-profit organizations and provincial recreation organizations. Equipment Loan Programs in Nova Scotia offer a wide variety of recreational equipment such as kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, skates, snowshoes, bikes and sporting equipment. Organizations are also adding adaptive equipment to their loan programs such as hippocampes, sledges, accessible bikes and accessible sleds. Recreation Nova Scotia is happy to support recreation practitioners in navigating the logistics of starting and maintaining an equipment loan program.
For more information or support, please contact
Equipment Loan Community of Practice
Recreation Nova Scotia has launched a new Equipment Loan Program Community of Practice which will give program managers and staff an opportunity to come together and share best practices, learn about new initatives and ways to improve their programs. The first Community of Practice took place on November 26th and had 30 participants. The first session focused on the development of the Community of Practice and reviewing data on Equipment Loan Programs throughout Nova Scotia.
The next Community of Practice Session will take place on July 22nd, 2026 from 10am - 12pm and will focus on equipment maintenance.
A Equipment Loan Program directory is being created. Community of Practice members will have access to the directory, which will help connect managers and staff to leaders in equipment loan throughout the province.
To join the Community of Practice, register here: https://form.jotform.com/261173196046255
Equipment Loan Program Resources
Starting an Equipment Loan Program
The following links are resources to support the development and maintenance of equipment loan programs.
- pdf ‘How-to’ Equipment Loan Program Guide(19.98 MB)
- pdf Adapted Equipment Resource(25.27 MB)
- Summary of Equipment Loan Share and Discuss
Maintenance Resources
- pdf Cross County Ski Maintenance(2.86 MB) - This resource was developed by Ski Enthusiast Ike Whitehead for a presentation at an Equipment Loan Program Community of Practice Session on July 22nd, 2026.
- pdf How-to Guide to Creating Community Bike Repair Spaces(1.95 MB) - This document was created by the Ecology Action Centre. In addition to providing guidance on how to create a community bike repair space, this resource also provides check lists, suggested tools and worksheets to help support bike maintenance.
2023 Equipment Loan Grant
In 2023, Recreation Nova Scotia was able to support 38 recipients with funding for their Equipment Loan Program through funding received from the Province of Nova Scotia.
View the full list of recipients here.
The following educational video was created in 2025 by Recreation Nova Scotia with funding from the Province of Nova Scotia's Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage to celebrate National AccessAbility Week. The video highlights the Municipality of the County of Antigonish Adaptive Equipment Loan Program.
Promotional Material
The following promotional video was created to encourage the use of adapted equipment to promote physical activity and was developed by the Northern Inclusion and Access Committee in 2022.
The following video was developed in 2025 to celebrate National Accessibility Awarness week,