Halifax Communauté Nouvelles

Prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health are topics traditionally popular only in the smallest of circles. However, the very creative and successful Movember campaign is changing all that, taking popular culture by storm. The idea — a charity focused on men’s health — took form during a 2003 conversation between two friends at a bar drinking beer in Australia. Today the campaign is so popular, memes and photos of babies, kittens and Elmo dolls donning the recognizable moustache are sprinkled all over social media platforms.

While entertaining soldiers with her piano accordion during the Second World War, Charlotte Guy Jeffries never imagined that more than 70 years later she would be recognized for her volunteer work. “I guess we made a lot of people happy,” said the 96-year-old Halifax resident. “The city was full of service people and something had to be done to occupy and entertain them.”

“I grew up caring about community, volunteering and wanting to give back,” says Simone Spears, raised in the small community of Liscomb on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. This, and a passion for working with youth, made Spears a perfect fit for the position of Community Engagement Officer at Family SOS (Services of Support), where Spears started in January.

Every non-profit has a story. Colleen Gosse moved to Halifax in 2014, from Port Hawkesbury. On her own, she looked to build networks, maybe even plant some roots. Gosse, already a seasoned volunteer, says: “It always feels good to volunteer, to give back, to be part of something bigger.” So she kept an ear open for a place to donate some time and talent.

About 12 years ago, a group of volunteers living in the northwest corner of HRM envisioned a cultural arts centre in their own region. The idea was to secure a multipurpose performance and learning space in a facility that would accommodate every type of artistic application, from theatre to music, dance and even an art gallery.

Moving to Halifax as a new student is daunting for many reasons. Moving here from another country and culture can increase the challenges. Not only are there questions and concerns about school-related things, like navigating campus and choosing your classes, but there is the adjustment of trying to find out where to live, the best places to eat and how to meet new friends.