News
Province-wide Parks & Trails Restrictions
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As of 4 pm on August 5, 2025, the Province of Nova Scotia has enacted a woods closure under the Forests Act, restricting all travel in wooded areas. This includes Crown and private lands, to reduce wildfire risk under the extremely dry conditions we have experienced.
What the Woods Closure Means:
- No hiking, camping, fishing, or vehicular access in any wooded area
- Applies to public and private lands – landowners can use trails on their own land, but cannot host others to use the wooded areas on their properties
- Areas like beaches and some open parks remain open, but trail systems within woodlands are off limits
Impacts on Recreation and Guidance for the Sector:
- Inform program participants and community members that wooded trails are closed until the proclamation is rescinded
- Identify areas that remain accessible and encourage outdoor recreation in these spaces, such as beaches, open parks, and maintained trails outside of woodlands
- Where possible, seek alternatives for programming settings for continuity, such as alternative open spaces not affected by the proclamation
- Remind staff, volunteers, and community members of the intent behind closures – protection of natural spaces, given the extremely dry conditions
- Stay informed via the Province’s Burn Map
To help guide your next steps, here are some examples of recreation department actions and statements from August 5, 2025:
- Town of Bridgewater: https://www.bridgewater.ca/news-events/latest-news/3564-parks-and-trails-closure-information
- Town of Kentville: https://kentville.ca/news/announcements/05-08-2025/new-provincial-restrictions-trail-use-and-access-woodlands-august-5
- Halifax Regional Municipality: https://www.halifax.ca/home/news/residents-advised-restrictions-woods-municipal-park-spaces
The forests, trail systems, and natural areas of Nova Scotia support recreation and leisure programming all year-round, but particularly in the summer months. We recognize the challenge that this presents to the work of the recreation sector, as well as all those community members who rely upon these outdoor spaces for supporting mental health, social connection, and promoting physical activity. However, by complying with the current proclamation, we play our role in protecting the people and places we care about and ensuring the safety of the woodlands for future activity once the restrictions are lifted and well beyond.
Full Nova Scotia News Release: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/05/travel-activities-woods-restricted-prevent-wildfires
RNS Seeking Proposals For New Training Program
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Recreation Nova Scotia (RNS) is seeking proposals from qualified consultants or consultant teams to lead the design and development of a new Recreation Leadership Training Program. This RFP is for Phase One: Development and Design, focusing on an environmental scan, curriculum creation, and ensuring alignment with sector needs through various engagement methods.
The final training program will serve as a recognized standard for frontline recreation leaders in Nova Scotia, reflecting the principles of equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging. RNS aims for this training to contribute to the long-term development of the sector and the sustainability of its organizations.
The Proposed Timeline:
Deadline for questions: August 15, 2025
Deadline for proposals: August 22, 2025
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September 2025 |
Phase One: Project Start, Committee Formation |
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September – October 2025 |
Phase One: Sector Engagement & Research |
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November 2025 – January 2026 |
Phase One: Training Design and Refinement |
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End of February 2026 |
Phase One: Final Deliverables Submitted |
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March-April 2026 |
Phase Two: Implementation planning, branding and marketing planning |
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May-June 2026 |
Phase Two: Training launch and roll out |
pdf View the Full RFP Here.(380 KB)
EDIA Highlight: The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg's PRO Fund
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"Adults deserve the same access to recreation as our youth, and funding opportunities for them to participate are few and far between."
Many programs in Nova Scotia support participation in recreation, but often, they focus on youth participants. The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has established a program that provides financial support to adults aged 19 and above to enjoy recreational activities. This month's Promising Practice/Success Story will highlight the PRO Fund, which is making recreation more affordable and accessible for adults.
The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is the third-largest rural municipality in Nova Scotia, with a population of over 24,863. The Municipality expanded its PRO Kids Fund in 2024 after a municipal councillor attended a session at the Association of Municipal Administrators Nova Scotia Conference. The PRO Fund is a financial assistance program for adults aged 19 and above who reside in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. It supports those who, due to a lack of financial resources, would not otherwise be able to participate in recreational, sports, or cultural activities.
Lunenburg's Program Coordinator, Tissy Bolivar, says that once the municipal council decided to move forward with the program, implementation was quite simple: "We received a grant from [the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage] to help launch the program. We had an existing policy for our PRO Kids program, which we amended to include the newly formed PRO Fund program."
The PRO Fund launched on April 1st, 2024. Tissy says the first year of the program was a big success: "We funded 22 adults [for] nearly $15,000 in the 2024-2025 fiscal year." Activities funded through the program include hockey, fitness memberships, pickleball, horseback riding, music lessons, sailing and curling. Tissy says people who received funding through the program were quite diverse, "Participants ranged in age from 19-75+, with varying abilities and backgrounds, from all across our Municipality." One program participant says the PRO Fund made recreation accessible, "I'm truly grateful for this opportunity that I would otherwise not be able to pursue without support. I'm excited!"
When asked if she had any advice for organizations considering a similar project, Tissy said to do it! "Adults deserve the same access to recreation as our youth, and funding opportunities for them to participate are few and far between," Tissy says. The municipality is grateful to be able to offer funding support for recreation to all residents of the Municipality!
Do you have a promising practice or success story you would like to share with the recreation sector? Contact Kerri Jack at
Nova Scotia Represented at the Canadian Inclusive Green Spaces Symposium
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The recreation sector of Nova Scotia was well represented at the recent Canadian Inclusive Green Spaces Symposium hosted in Saskatoon by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA). The event was organized in partnership with Park People and the Canadian Parks Council, with support from Parks Canada.
The symposium brought together leaders and professionals from across the country to explore strategies and share innovations that ensure everyone can enjoy the benefits of nature. This event served as a catalyst for long-term impact by building a connected national community of practice, supporting the development of a path forward for equitable park access, and setting a forward-looking agenda for the Canadian parks sector. It marks the beginning of an ongoing and collaborative dialogue, fostering a sustainable platform for consultation, partnership, and collective action to centre reconciliation and reimagine urban parks and green spaces across the country.
RNS Executive Director Graham Mounsey attended the event and engaged in strategic meetings with partners from coast to coast. RNS Board Member and Past-President, Rachel Bedingfield, co-hosted the symposium alongside Chúk Odenigbo, while Municipality of Chester's Gord Tate was appointed as CPRA’s new President during the week. This was an exciting milestone for Nova Scotia’s recreation leadership.
Fawn Logan-Young, RNS’s Equity and Anti-Racism Coordinator, made a meaningful contribution by opening the symposium with a powerful African Ancestral Acknowledgment. Adding to the Nova Scotian presence on stage, Dalhousie University MA Leisure Studies student Agustina Cohen presented their master’s research on empowering diverse youth voices to enhance equitable access to nature and well-being in Nova Scotia.
This gathering underscored the importance of collaboration and equity in the design and stewardship of inclusive green spaces, reinforcing RNS’s ongoing commitment to ensuring recreation and natural spaces are welcoming and accessible to all.
Congratulations Gord!
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Congratulations to Gord Tate!
We’re thrilled to celebrate Gord Tate, of the Municipality of Chester, as the new President of the Canadian Parks & Recreation Association (CPRA).
Gord was officially elected at the CPRA AGM in Saskatoon this week, ahead of the Canadian Inclusive Green Spaces Symposium, succeeding Howie Dayton as the Chair of the national organization for recreation and parks.
We’re proud to see Nova Scotia represented so well on the national stage. We wish Gord all the best as he leads CPRA in advancing recreation and parks for all Canadians!
Gord spent his early career working in recreation in Northern BC and Halifax. He owned a kayak outfitting company before relocating to the Municipality of Chester, where he has served as the Active Living Coordinator for the past fifteen years. In this position, Gord has sought to inspire and activate citizens, and create a culture of physical activity that is supported by the built environment and policy changes necessary to sustain the change. He’s recently transitioned to the position of Recreation Facility and Open Space Lead, where, on behalf of the municipality, he’ll help shape the next generation of recreation opportunities.
Gord is a highly respected leader in the recreation sector with a demonstrated commitment to advancing and supporting efforts to enhance the field. His work at the municipal level with the Municipality of Chester has exemplified innovation and collaboration while demonstrating alignment with and focus on emerging issues in the parks and recreation sector, such as equity and anti-racism, climate resilience, and workforce development.
In addition to being a former President of Recreation Nova Scotia, Gord has served on the Board of CPRA since 2019 and has chaired the Finance and Risk Management Committee for the past two years.
Nova Scotia Celebrates 2025 International Day of Play with Province-wide Events & Resources
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Play is a right, not a privilege! On June 11, 2025, Nova Scotia is coming together for the International Day of Play(IDoP)—a celebration of movement, creativity, and connection. Whether you're in Halifax or a small community, there are free events, tools, and resources to help you bring the power of play to life.
The IDOP celebrates and raises awareness of the right to play, as enshrined in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the most widely ratified human rights treaty.
From June 2-11, find key events happening in downtown Halifax and across Nova Scotia in celebration of this day and its theme, "Choose Play - Every Day."
For more information and resources visit the International Day of Play page and read the pdf official media release.(227 KB)