The Nova Scotia Connect database shut down on March 31, 2025.
Effective March 31, 2025, the Nova Scotia Connect database (novascotia.cioc.ca) will cease operating. This closure will extend to all its affiliated regional websites. A full list of impacted sites is below.
Since its inception in 2012, NSConnect has been a valuable resource for the recreation sector in Nova Scotia. Hundreds of thousands of users have been connected to recreation opportunities in their communities across the province, and people from around the world have learned of the best we have to offer.
However, with changing user expectations and the evolving online environment, and without the dedicated human and financial resources to continue maintaining the sites, the NSConnect Management Team has decided to shut down the database and its online presence. This decision followed many months and years of searching for a viable path forward.
What does this mean for our local partners?
- The entire database has been secured, and the information is available for you to use in the future should you choose to migrate it to a new platform. Please contact your NSConnect Management Team member or Recreation Nova Scotia if you need help with this.
- Before March 31, existing links and APIs were removed or redirected from local municipal and organizational websites.
- Contacts were alerted to this change.
- A banner notice was placed on Connect database sites in mid-February to alert the public of the impending closure.
The bright light in this story is the emergence of a new made-in-Nova Scotia platform called PlayFinder.ca. PlayFinder.ca aims to integrate various public services (recreation opportunity information) with the necessary sector functionality (registration, scheduling, billing, etc.). If you’re interested in learning more, please contact PlayFinder.ca directly at
We sincerely thank all partner organizations, municipalities, the Province of Nova Scotia, and users who contributed to the success of Nova Scotia Connect over the past 13 years in promoting recreation opportunities across the province.
If you have any questions regarding the closure of NSConnect, please do not hesitate to contact your regional NSConnect Management Team member.
Nova Scotia Connect family of regional websites impacted:
- Novascotia.cioc.ca
- Southshoreconnect.cioc.ca
- Valleyconnect.cioc.ca
- Fundyconnect.cioc.ca
- Highlandconnect.cioc.ca
- Capebretonconnect.cioc.ca
- Novascotiatrails.cioc.ca