News
Moments That Matter: African Heritage in Nova Scotia
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February marks African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia. It is a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black communities, past and present. We wanted to share some uncommon “Did You Know?” facts that highlight Black history and its spectrum in Nova Scotia. These stories reflect the important role recreation, sport, and community spaces have played in Black communities across the province, and beyond.
We invite you this month to learn, reflect, and celebrate with us.
Did you know?
Most Canadians know the music of Bob Marley. Fewer know that one of his most powerful songs, Redemption Song, traces its roots to a 1937 speech by Black rights activist Marcus Garvey in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Garvey’s call to “emancipate yourselves from mental slavery” directly inspired the song’s most famous lyric. In the early 20th century, ‘Garveyism’ had a strong presence in African Nova Scotian communities, with active Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) chapters in Halifax, Sydney, and other Black communities across the province. These communities were part of a global Black freedom movement rooted in self-determination, pride, and resistance. The same themes echoed in Redemption Song.
Learn more: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-african-nova-scotian-roots-of-bob-marleys-redemption-song
Did you know?
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has a special connection to recreation and sport that ties back to Canada, including Nova Scotia. His father and Black Loyalist descendent, Rocky Johnson, was born and raised in Amherst, Nova Scotia and became a legendary professional wrestler, later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Dwayne not only followed in his dad’s footsteps into professional wrestling, but he also spent part of his early athletic career playing Canadian football with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL, an experience he has called one of the defining periods of his life.
Did you know?
In 1970, Saint Mary’s University made Canadian university hockey history when Bob Dawson, Darrell Maxwell, and Percy Paris took the ice together as the first and only all-Black forward line in Canadian university hockey. Their presence also made Saint Mary’s the first Canadian university to roster three Black players on its hockey team. At a time when Black athletes faced widespread racism and exclusion, their achievement was groundbreaking, not just for the sport, but for representation, resilience, and history in African Canadian communities.
Learn more: https://www.smuhuskies.ca/general/2021-22/releases/20220203sbi7nz and https://www.smuhuskies.ca/sports/general/2015-16/Releases/First_all-black_line_in_Canadian_university_hockey_honoured
Movie Media Meet Up Series Highlight
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This winter, Recreation Nova Scotia and the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre’s Every One, Every Day Program launched a powerful Movie Media Meet Up series focused on decolonization and anti-racism in recreation and the outdoors. Having held our first gathering in December, the conversations are already shaping how we think about access and our relationships to land and community.
Through four in-person sessions, this series uses Canadian films as a starting point for meaningful dialogue, inviting participants to examine how colonial systems continue to influence recreation spaces and outdoor experiences. Together, we are creating space to reflect and imagine more just futures in recreation, grounded in learning, accountability, and collective action.
The first session began by collectively creating community rules of engagement. Rather than arriving with a fixed set of expectations, participants were invited to shape how they wanted to be together in the space. This process centred respect, curiosity, and active listening, helping to build trust and set a supportive tone for the evening. This was an important step, as the group prepared to engage with complex topics.
Participants then watched There’s Something in the Water, a documentary that exposes how environmental racism and industrial planning have disproportionately impacted Black and Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia. The film raises critical questions about who has access to clean, safe, and joyful spaces, while also highlighting the power of community leadership and collective action in the fight for environmental justice.
Following the screening, several key themes emerged through thoughtful group discussion that connected the film’s messages to recreation and community well-being. Participants reflected on how environmental justice is closely tied to access to recreational spaces, health, and quality of life, with many sharing that they were newly learning about the realities of environmental racism in Nova Scotia and how uneven access to healthy land continues to impact communities.
The conversation also highlighted ongoing tensions between governments and land users, questions of decision-making and responsibility, and the importance of supporting communities that are leading change rather than speaking for them. Throughout the discussion, participants connected these themes to their own lives, sharing personal stories that deepened their relationships to land and recreation.
As the Movie Media Meet Up series continues, we are carrying these reflections forward with intention. Each session builds on the last, creating space not only to learn and unlearn, but to imagine what meaningful change in recreation and outdoor spaces can look like. By the end of the four sessions, we hope to collectively identify a clear call to action. One that is informed by community voices and focused on tangible steps toward more equitable and decolonized recreation across Nova Scotia!
Looking for more information about our Movie Media Meet Up? Follow the link: https://www.halifaxiseveryone.ca/movie-media-meet-ups
Recreation Nova Scotia participates in Canadian Parks and Recreation Association's Forward Together Summit
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Recreation Nova Scotia (RNS) staff and board members travelled to Ottawa last week to participate in the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA)’s Forward Together: A Summit for Collective Impact, joining national colleagues to advance the role of recreation and parks in building healthy, connected communities.- Launching a national Collective Impact model to renew the Framework for Recreation in Canada
- Establishing a $100M annual Recreation Infrastructure Renewal Program
- Creating a $2M annual crisis-preparedness fund
- Positioning CPRA as a national partner for youth workforce development
EDIA Highlight: Hike Nova Scotia's Hiking Buddies Workshop
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Kerri Jack
"My takeaway is that helping the blind with hiking is 90% communication skills and 10% hiking" - Hiking Buddies Workshop Participant
Hike Nova Scotia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a culture of hiking throughout the province. They advocate for people and organizations who enjoy hiking, walking, and snowshoeing. This month, Recreation Nova Scotia is highlighting Hike Nova Scotia’s Hiking Buddies program, a workshop designed to help blind and partially sighted hikers enjoy the trails.
The program includes a workshop that trains volunteers on how to assist blind and partially sighted individuals safely and effectively while hiking. The ultimate goal is to create a network of volunteers who can help blind or partially sighted hikers not just individually, but also during organized hiking events, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to explore the outdoors. The concept for the Hiking Buddies workshop originated from Milena Khazanavicius, a blind hiker who wanted to share her passion for hiking with others facing similar challenges. Milena, a well-respected advocate for the blind and partially sighted community in Halifax, has extensive experience teaching workshops and volunteering with organizations like ReachAbility and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). Hike Nova Scotia applied for and utilized funding through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage to create the workshop.
During the workshop, sighted participants were given the chance to experience hiking from a blind or partially sighted person’s perspective. This hands-on approach teaches them the skills needed to guide someone safely on various types of trails. The initial workshop was met with enthusiasm, generating interest and media coverage prompting Hike Nova Scotia to organize a follow-up workshop. Feedback from participants highlighted the impact of the workshop. Many praised Milena’s passionate facilitation, emphasizing the importance of communication in assisting blind hikers. Participants appreciated the unique opportunity to understand the experience of needing guidance while hiking, helping to break down barriers and stigmas associated with sight loss.
With a growing number of trained volunteers, Hike Nova Scotia now faces the challenge of securing funding to help blind and partially sighted hikers access trails regularly. Transportation remains a significant barrier, and finding resources to support these efforts is crucial. Hike Nova Scotia is committed to collaborating with community groups that serve individuals with sight loss to expand their outreach. So far, the organization has hosted two Hiking Buddies workshops and is hosting it’s first ever “Escape to the Trails” event on November 30th.
Their hope is to continue offering more Hiking Buddies workshops and create enjoyable hiking experiences specifically catered to blind and partially sighted hikers. Through the dedication of volunteers and advocates like Milena Khazanavicius, Hike Nova Scotia is working to ensure that the great outdoors is accessible for everyone, fostering inclusivity and love for across the province.
Learn more about the Hiking buddies Program on the Hike Nova Scotia website https://www.hikenovascotia.ca/courses-hiking-buddies/ and watch their story on Global News https://globalnews.ca/video/11249299/workshop-teaches-how-to-assist-blind-hikers-on-the-trail and the CBC https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6807462.
Equipment Loan Program Community of Practice
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Recreation Nova Scotia is excited to announce the creation of a new Community of Practice (CoP) aimed at supporting Equipment Loan Programs (ELPs) across the province. The first meeting of the CoP will take place on November 26th, 2025 from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Those interested can email Kerri Jack at
RNS announces the 2025 Honourary Lifetime Member Award recipient: Mary Lou MacPherson
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“After graduation, I was fortunate to spend five summers working as a recreation leader. It was a full-circle moment—moving from participant to leader—and it confirmed for me that recreation was not only something I loved, but something I wanted to dedicate my life to. Those summers were the true catalyst that led me to a career as a physical educator, where I could continue fostering the same opportunities for others that I had once been given.” - Mary Lou MacPherson
Recreation Nova Scotia’s most prestigious award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding, significant, and consistent contributions to recreation in Nova Scotia for over 20 years, has left full-time association with the field, and is someone the community wishes to acknowledge publicly. RNS is thrilled to announce that this year’s award will be presented to Mary Lou MacPherson at the 2025 RNS Conference taking place in Sydney, Cape Breton on Wednesday, October 22.
Mary Lou MacPherson’s athletic and professional journey is a testament to passion, perseverance, and a trailblazing spirit. Born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, she first discovered her love of sport in her backyard, playing baseball with neighbourhood kids. When she was barred from Little League due to gender restrictions, she turned that setback into motivation—embracing opportunities offered by the local summer recreation program.
Those programs quickly became the highlight of her days. Each morning, she would run to the ball field for softball, and in the afternoons, she was in the gym, playing basketball, floor hockey, or whatever activity was on offer. These formative experiences not only provided a safe and welcoming place to play but also sparked a lifelong passion for sport, recreation, and community.
Mary Lou went on to shine in basketball, serving as the starting point guard at Nova Scotia Teachers College, where she majored in physical education. She later earned her Bachelor of Education from St. Francis Xavier University before beginning a 40-year career in education with the Northside and Cape Breton-Victoria School Boards. She served as both a physical education teacher and an Active Healthy Living Consultant, making lasting contributions at the school, district, and provincial levels.
Her career highlights include:
• Innovation & Creativity – initiated and established school-wide theme days that became a beloved tradition, fostering creativity and a strong sense of community. Additionally, created unique opportunities for students to participate in activities they might not otherwise have the chance to experience, encouraging innovation and broadening their horizons.
• Student Connections – Built lifelong bonds with students, such as one Primary child who, after initially refusing PE, became a devoted participant and still visits her today.
• Partnerships – As a champion of Health Promoting Schools in the Cape Breton region, was at the forefront of the partnership for many years, supporting schools in reaching healthy living goals along with partners from Public Health, the provincial government (CCTH) and municipal recreation.
• Coaching Leadership – Coached basketball, softball, and soccer at multiple levels.
• Consultant Work (25 years) – Organized the district-wide torch relay and track and field; pioneered the use of iPads in PE; launched a district-wide curling program; introduced Girls Play 2; and championed initiatives such as Mindfulness in Schools, Restorative Practices, and Active Smarter Kids.
• Professional Leadership – Chaired and presented at Teachers Association for Physical & Health Education (TAPHE) conferences, served on the Quality Daily Physical Education (QDPE) National Committee, and co-authored PE and Health curriculum.
Her excellence has been recognized with numerous honours, including the TAPHE Dorothy Walker Award, the NSTU Teaching in Excellence Award, and induction into the Northside Sports Hall of Fame. As an athlete, she continues to excel—winning the Seaview Golf Club championships 22 times and capturing a gold medal in hockey at the National 55+ Games.
Beyond her career, Mary Lou is an active participant in many sports and activities, including golf, hockey, curling, cross-country skiing, pickleball, and hiking. Her lifelong dedication to recreation has inspired countless students, colleagues, and community members, making her a most deserving recipient of the 2025 Recreation Nova Scotia Honourary Lifetime Member Award.
There are still tickets available to attend the RNS Awards Banquet on October 22. Find details about the 2025 RNS Conference and register for the conference and/or the banquet at https://www.recreationns.ns.ca/rns-annual-conference.html. Registration deadline is this Friday, October 10. Following this date, please email Lisa at