Communities across Nova Scotia can now apply for funding to attract and retain healthcare professionals as the province’s Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) opens applications for its 2025 Community Fund.
The program offers grants of up to $100,000 to support local initiatives aimed at addressing the social and cultural barriers faced by healthcare workers and their families. Eligible projects include recruitment campaigns, mentorship programs, multicultural events, and solutions to transportation challenges.
Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for OHPR, said the fund is designed to help communities create an inviting and supportive environment for healthcare workers. “We need healthcare professionals all across the province,” Thompson said. “The community fund helps local organizations welcome these professionals into their communities and support them in staying.”
Since its launch, the fund has provided support to 58 initiatives, including a mentorship program and career fairs, as well as community projects that foster long-term connections for healthcare workers.
This year’s fund prioritizes projects led by equity-deserving groups, those addressing the needs of internationally educated health professionals, and initiatives offering settlement support such as housing, schooling, and transportation assistance.
Community groups, non-profits, and municipalities have until February 21 to submit applications. Weekly virtual information sessions are available to guide interested applicants.
The fund is a key element of Action for Health, Nova Scotia’s healthcare improvement strategy, which emphasizes recruitment and retention as part of its broader goals.
Martha Marchand, Physician Settlement and Retention Coordinator at the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore, credited the fund with enabling her organization to improve recruitment efforts. “This funding has enabled us to create a website and marketing materials, engage a consultant, host retention events, and elevate our medical student experience,” she said.
In Cape Breton, New Dawn Enterprises used the fund to launch a program connecting the families of internationally educated healthcare professionals. Erika Shea, the organization’s president and CEO, said the initiative exceeded expectations. “We wouldn’t have had the ability to facilitate these spaces without OHPR’s support,” she said.
The OHPR also aims to encourage collaboration between groups within the same community, offering two funding streams: community-identified projects and community readiness supports.
