“It is vital for businesses to support and get involved with the non-profit community. Non-profits help our communities prosper, they provide opportunities for employee engagement and play an important role in staff retention and attraction. The natural partnerships between business and non-profits enable communities
to thrive and challenges us to embrace the future, together.
Businesses Grow when Our Community Thrives
Not-for-profits are the bloodline of our communities, keeping programs, and support systems alive. In order for our local businesses to grow, we need a healthy community that encourages economic growth, and a positive outlook. One that attracts residents and supports diversity and inclusion. Not-for-profits are the root to many of these key programs.
Engagement with your employer
Some of my most memorable work/employee experiences are those spent volunteering with my colleagues. Like when we planted flowers with children at the library, releasing fish with students or helped organize and collect donations for the local food bank. It is a time when colleagues can get to know each other and make a difference
together. It is through these times that make me proud of my employer for encouraging us to give back to our community. With strong teams, come strong results.
Family and Work Balance
Other great memories I have acquired, are taking my children along with my work team to make a difference. It is an opportunity to provide some work/family balance and instill the values and importance with our children of “giving back”. Dollar donations are great and needed, but so are hours and our time, and I think this is an important lesson for our youth to learn, they are the future of this sustainability.
Attract employees
In a very competitive staffing environment, having a focus on community is definitely an attraction for those seeking an employer. There are so many ways that employers can support their employees with being involved in the community through encouraging “team involvement”, encourage payroll deduction/donation, right up to setting up matching programs for donation/time.
We can’t individually control inflation, interest rates, and supply chain, but we can control our ability to live our values, and our roles in our community.”
Pictou County’s Human Services Sector Needs You!
Our non-profits are at work every day to ensure a healthier Pictou County.
Consider the difference you can make by volunteering. These organizations are looking
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PICTOU COUNTY
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County serves children and youth throughout Pictou and Antigonish counties to ensure they reach their potential by matching volunteers and youth
in quality mentoring relationships.
Executive Director: Margie Grant Walsh
Phone: 902-752-6260
Email: margie.grantwalsh@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca
CHAD TRANSIT
CHAD Transit is a critical part of the non-profit community in Pictou County, helping the disabled, seniors and anyone who requires transportation assistance. CHAD Transit is also now contracted by Stellarton and New Glasgow as part of a 3 year pilot project known as Pictou County Transit.
Executive Director: Danny MacGillivray
Phone: 902-928-1234
Email: danny@chadtransit.ca
HIGHLAND COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL SERVICES (HCRS)
HCRS fosters personal growth, independent living and a quality of life for persons with a developmental disability
and/or dealing with a mental health challenge. Their goal is to provide lifetime opportunities for individuals to live as independently as possible within their community.
Acting Executive Director: Mary Clare MacIntosh
Phone: 902-752-1755
Email: mmacintosh@hcrsweb.ca
PICTOU COUNTY WOMEN’S RESOURCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE
The centre offers non-judgmental services for women and adolescent girls including support counselling, information, referrals, advocacy and programs. They are dedicated to the empowerment and support of women and to a process which embodies social change and equality for all.
Executive Director: Shelley Curtis-Thompson
Phone: 902-755-4647
Email: ed@womenscentre.ca
SUMMER STREET
Summer Street creates and facilitates opportunities for people with intellectual disability, one person at a time. They strive to create opportunities that are mutually beneficial for participants, employees and the community and believe that engaging all abilities benefits everyone.
Executive Director: Bob Bennett
Phone: 902-755-2057
Email: bob@summerstreet.ca
KID’S FIRST ASSOCIATION
Kid’s First Association is a non-profit registered charity providing family, child and adult programming to provide
supports to families, especially those experiencing challenges related to income, isolation, gender, race and cognitive disability.
Executive Director: Michelle Ward
Phone: 902-755-1213
Email: mward@kids1st.ca
UNITED WAY
United Way works to support marginalized and vulnerable persons in the community, tackling issues like domestic violence, social isolation, education, poverty, housing, mental health, unemployment and hunger. They focus on providing individuals and families in Pictou County with the supports they need, when and where they need them.
Executive Director: Darcy MacDonald
Phone: 902-755-1754
Email: execdirector@pictoucountyunitedway.ca
YMCA OF PICTOU COUNTY
The YMCA of Pictou County fosters a commitment to nurturing the potential of children, youth and seniors through the promotion of healthy living. The YMCA ensures that every individual has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow and thrive.
Executive Director: Tammy Goodwin
Phone: 902-600-6236
Email: tammy.goodwin@pcymca.ca
TEARMANN SOCIETY FOR ABUSED WOMEN
Tearmann Society for Abused Women is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and
promoting the dignity and human rights of women who have been abused and their children through provision of safe shelter, direct services, education, advocacy, outreach and community action.
Executive Director: Rayann Toner
Phone: 782-440-3978
Email: director@tearmann.ca
SENIORS OUTREACH
Helping seniors meet their individual needs, Seniors Outreach focuses on finding and accessing services in relation to housing, home maintenance, daily living activities, food, transportation, financial support, communication, medication, health and mental health.
Coordinator: Mary MacLellan
Phone: 902-752-8400
Email: marymaclellan100@hotmail.com
LESLIE OTTER
Commercial Account Manager, RBC Royal Bank
