News
Introducing the 2026-27 RNS Board of Directors
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Welcome and congratulations to our new and returning 2026 Board of Directors!
The Recreation Nova Scotia Annual General Meeting was held on October 14th during the annual conference held at the Best Western Truro – Glengarry. Members gathered to hear updates about the past year from RNS, CCTH and CPRA.
Members also heard speeches from three candidates for the position of student director. A vote was held which saw Acadia University student, Jenna Gallant elected. RNS would like to thank R Kyra George and Maddie Stewart for putting their names forward for the student director position.
The AGM saw two additional new board members elected. Dawn Stegan and Elliot Hernandez were both elected as directors at large.
Dawn Stegan – Director at Large
Dawn Stegan brings over 45 years' experience in the recreation sector. Dawn graduated from the Recreation and Physical Education program at Acadia University in 1987. She worked with the Canadian Red Cross in Aquatic Safety Services, was the Executive Director of Recreation Nova Scotia from 1998-2009, Manager of Recreation with the Dept. of Health Promotion and Protection 2009-2011, Director of Regional Services for the Communities Sport Recreation Division with CCTH from 2011-2020, and Executive Director of the Accessibility Directorate with the Dept of Justice from 2020-2026. Newly retired, Dawn hopes to bring her relationship building skills to the board in hopes of supporting the continued growth and success of RNS.
Elliot Hernandez – Director at Large
Elliot Hernandez is a corporate lawyer with a broad practice spanning banking and finance, commercial real estate, general corporate commercial, and energy law. Elliot is a long-time soccer referee and has spent many years volunteering on a variety of boards and with uOttawa's Right to Play program. Elliot hopes to utilize his transferable skills as a member of the board, which include reviewing contracts, evaluating risk and problem solving, and communicating effectively.
Jenna Gallant – Student Director
Jenna Gallant is a 4th year Kinesiology Student at Acadia University. In addition to being a student, Jenna also has experience working in various recreational roles with the Town of Kentville, Scotia Pool and the Boys and Girls Club, Truro and Colchester. Jenna hopes to use her position on the board to enhance the lives of the youth population in Nova Scotia when it comes to recreation. She also hopes to combine the valuable insights of recreational professionals with her experiential knowledge to increase the engagement that students have with recreation.
Board of Directors for 2026-2027:
President: Laura Jacobs
Past President: Brendon Smithson
Vice-President of Finance: John Mitchell
Vice-President Monitoring: Clare Steele
Student Director: Jenna Gallant
Director at Large: Andrew Farrell
Director at Large: Jessica Allen
Director at Large: Elliot Hernandez
Director at Large: Wil van Hal
Director at Large: Dawn Stegen
Thank you to outgoing board members Tissy Bolivar, Ruth-Ellen Jackson and Agustina Cohen for their leadership, dedication, and contributions to Recreation Nova Scotia during their time on the RNS board.
The 2025-26 annual report can be viewed on the RNS Website, https://www.recreationns.ns.ca/reports.html.
Congratulations to the 2026 RNS Award Winners
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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.
Letting Their Imagination Run Wild: Loose Parts Play Event in Kings County
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September 2026
Written by: Kerri Jack
“We had so much fun watching the kids turn their ideas into reality!” – Pop-up Play event organizer, Maria Lahoud
This summer, The Municipality of the County of Kings teamed up with Canning Recreation to host a pop-up loose parts play event at the Canning Fire Hall. Children and their parents were invited to build, create, and let their
imaginations run wild using cardboard, a kid-friendly “Chomp Saw”, screwdrivers, screws, and all kinds of loose parts.The event was guided by the Municipality of the County of Kings Belonging Policy. Maria says the policy helped organizers create an inclusive and welcoming program where children and families could participate, be creative, and feel a sense of connection and belonging in their community.
Maria says it was a rewarding event to be a part of, “We had so much fun watching the kids turn their ideas into reality! They built fairy houses, little treehouses, airplanes, spaceships, and so many other creative inventions. It was wonderful to give kids the space and freedom to imagine, experiment, cut, build, and create something completely their own—and then take their creations home with them.”
The event wasn’t limited to the kids, parents were invited to join in on the fun as well, making this a fun experience for the whole family.
Maria shared one of her favourite moments of the event as an organizer, “One of the highlights was watching a family with three boys work together on a plane-building project. Each child took on a different part of the project, while the boys and their parents explored the room together, searching for all kinds of little pieces that could bring their ideas to life. It was wonderful to see them share ideas, help each other, and build together as a family, with each person contributing to the final creation.”
Maria said the event did not come without its challenges. Organizers collected enough materials to host 100 people at the event, but advertising challenges resulted in a lower attendance than expected. Maria says that they are considering making the program ongoing in the future, hoping that consistency would would help increase attendance.When asked if she had any advice for others considering hosting a loose parts program, she said to start small and not to be afraid to get creative with the materials you already have, “Most of the cardboard and loose parts can be collected for free from local stores.” She said the most important part of an event like this is to give kids the freedom to lead the project, “[Don’t] worry about what they are “supposed” to make. The best part is seeing where their imagination takes them!”
Celebrating Dr. Barbara Hamilton-Hinch: A Well-Deserved Order of Nova Scotia Honour
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Recreation Nova Scotia extends our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Barbara Hamilton-Hinch on being named a 2026 Order of Nova Scotia recipient, one of the province's highest honours.
This prestigious recognition celebrates Dr. Hamilton-Hinch's lifelong commitment to advancing community wellbeing throughout Nova Scotia. Her work has transformed institutions, inspired countless individuals, and challenged systems to become more inclusive and equitable for all.
Dr. Hamilton-Hinch is a professor in Dalhousie University’s School of Health and Human Performance and a former Assistant Vice-Provost of Equity and Inclusion. Through her work in Recreation and Leisure Studies, including teaching within the Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation programs, she has dedicated her career to examining the impacts of structural, systemic, and institutional racism, particularly as experienced by people of African descent. Her leadership extends beyond academia through initiatives such as co-founding Imhotep’s Legacy Academy, advancing Black student success, and supporting efforts to improve health equity for African Nova Scotian communities.
For Recreation Nova Scotia, Barb has also been an invaluable partner, leader, educator, and advocate as a recreation professional by trade. Through her guidance, presentations, and ongoing support, she has helped strengthen our understanding of equity and anti-racism within recreation. Her contributions have challenged our sector to think differently, build more inclusive spaces, and recognize recreation's role in creating communities where everyone feels they belong.
Barb's influence reaches far beyond classrooms, boardrooms, and research. She has helped shape conversations across Nova Scotia's recreation sector, encouraging organizations and leaders to move beyond good intentions toward meaningful action. Her work continues to inspire recreation professionals to create programs, policies, and environments that reflect the diversity and strengths of our communities.
Upon receiving the honour, Dr. Hamilton-Hinch shared:
"None of this would be possible without my family, community, friends, and working colleagues. I appreciate your ongoing support and working with me to continue to make a difference."
These words reflect the collaborative spirit that has defined her career and the countless relationships she has built while making a lasting impact across the province.
The Order of Nova Scotia recognizes individuals whose exceptional achievements have enriched the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our province. Dr. Hamilton-Hinch exemplifies this distinction through her unwavering commitment to justice, education, and community leadership.
Congratulations, Barb, on this remarkable and well-deserved honour! Thank you for the wisdom, passion, and leadership you continue to share with Recreation Nova Scotia and communities across the province. Your impact will be felt for generations to come.
Call for Conference Photographers
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We're looking for someone with a creative eye who can document the day's events through high-quality, engaging images that showcase the people, experiences, and impact of recreation in Nova Scotia.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: September 28, 2026.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (with breaks)
Location: Best Western Glengarry, Truro, Nova Scotia
What We're Looking For:
The successful photographer will capture a variety of moments throughout the conference, including:
- Opening remarks and keynote presentations
- Educational sessions and workshops
- Networking and social interactions
- Exhibitors and sponsors
- Awards and recognition moments
- Candid photos of attendees throughout the day
- General conference atmosphere and venue
Photography will be used in Recreation Nova Scotia's communications, including social media, our website, annual report, promotional materials, and future conference marketing.
Who Should Apply:
Professional photography experience is not required. We welcome applications from professional photographers, emerging photographers, students, and passionate hobbyists.
Applicants are asked to submit:
- A portfolio or examples of previous photography work
- A brief introduction about yourself and your photography experience
Honorarium: The selected photographer will receive an honorarium of $750 for the full day of coverage.
How to Apply:
Please follow the instructions on the JotForm - RNS Conference Photographer Application
Questions can be sent to
We look forward to seeing the conference through your lens!
RNS meets with Minister Ritcey of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
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In July, RNS leadership met with Minister Ritcey and senior staff to discuss key priorities impacting recreation and community wellbeing across Nova Scotia.
Representing RNS were President Brendon Smithson, President-Elect Laura Jacobs, and Executive Director Graham Mounsey. Our last meeting took place in early 2025 and so this provided an opportunity to provide updates on the key asks from 2025, as well as highlight opportunity and priorities affecting the recreation sector.
Recreation Leadership Development
RNS provided an update on the new Nova Scotia-grown Recreation Leadership Training program, developed with funding support from CCTH. With the training currently being piloted, we discussed the engagement process and the opportunity for a new provincial standard for recreation leaders in Nova Scotia.
Improving Community Use of Schools
RNS highlighted the work of multiple partners examining issues around community use of schools, identified as a key sector issue across the province. A working group is continuing to assist in moving forward to understand and address with focus of sector level benefit and collective impact with an open Community Use of Schools meeting on 15th September.
Recreation & Emergency Response
The meeting provided an opportunity to highlight the important role that our sector professionals, facilities, parks and outdoor spaces play during emergencies and in community recovery efforts. RNS discussed opportunities to strengthen connections between recreation and provincial emergency planning processes to support protection of and safe access to key community spaces during times of crisis.
National Framework for Recreation & Parks
RNS also highlighted Nova Scotia’s leadership role in the renewal of the National Framework for Recreation & Parks in Canada, expressing it’s commitment to supporting implementation efforts across the province.
We appreciate the Minister Ritcey’s time and willingness to engage in meaningful discussion about the future of recreation in Nova Scotia. RNS remains committed to being a collaborative partner and strong voice for recreation across the province.
Have an issue or opportunity we should be elevating?
We’d love to hear from you. The strongest sector conversations are grounded in the experiences of our members. Share the challenges, opportunities, and ideas that matter most in your community. Your input helps guide our work and strengthens our collective voice.