Canadian Tire JumpStart Program

Canadian Tire Foundation for Families has created a community-based charitable program to get children active called pdf Canadian Tire Jump Start(323 KB) , which will deliver assistance to financially disadvantaged children so they can participate in recreational activities and organized sport. Contact Pictou Recreation and Parks at 485-4372 for more information.

• pdf Jumpstart Application(323 KB)
• pdf Jumpstart Terms and Conditions(249 KB)

Kidsport (offered through Sport Nova Scotia)

Kidsport assists children by overcoming financial barriers which prevent, or limit, their participation in organized sport.

Download the Kidsport Application Form.

Gary Boone Leadership Development Fund

The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to new initiatives in leadership training development which result in:

1. Increased involvement in physical activity leadership roles
2. Increased and improved physical activity leadership skills of community recreation and sport leaders

Examples of eligible initiatives include courses to become certified instructors, coaching programs and more.

Contact Pictou Recreation and Parks at 485-4372 for an application form or download the   pdf Gary Boone Leadership Development Application(468 KB)  form.

This program is provided with the support of the NS Department of Health and Wellness and is managed by the Highland Region Recreation Coordinators Committee (A Collaboration between Pictou, Guysborough and Antigonish Counties). Applications must be submitted and approved before the course/event takes place.

Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage

 Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Division (For more information in Pictou County contact: 902-863-7380)

Regional Development Program

This program is designed to support activities that respond to the goals and priorities of communities and PASR priority areas including increasing physical activity, sport and recreation opportunities, capacity building, gender equity, volunteer development, physical activity levels of children and youth, fair and safe activities and responding to traditionally underserved populations.

Recreation Facility Development Program

Assists municipalities and community groups in the planning, construction, renovation, conservation or acquisition of facilities for public recreation purposes.

Community Recreation Capital Grants Program

Assists with the development of small scale indoor and outdoor capital recreation projects.

Planning Assistance Program

Assists organizations obtain professional assistance in planning, designing and researching proposed and existing facilities.

Sport Nova Scotia-Amateur Sport Fund

Established to assist and promote the development of athlete-centred amateur sport in Nova Scotia. It makes financial assistance available to individuals and organizations within the sport system. The fund is open to athletes, coaches, officials and community sport organizations. Deadlines for applications are March 1st and September 1st.

Sport Nova Scotia Fundraising Opportunities Nova Scotia offers a number of fundraising opportunities and ideas for your sports club or organization. They have ready-made hassle-free campaigns designed to raise money for sports teams, clubs and organizations throughout Nova Scotia.

Pictou-Antigonish Regional Libraries - Canadian Directory of Foundations

Thanks to the local Community Health Boards, copies of the Canadian Directory of Foundations are available to the public through the libraries in Pictou and New Glasgow. Pictou Library at 485-5021 & New Glasgow Library at 752-8233.

• Pictou Recreation and Parks
• Recreation at Home....Ways to Keep Active
• YMCA
• Local Groups and Individuals
• Mental Health
• Sports at Home
• Special Interests and Discovery
• Access the Library at Home

Recreation at Home...Ways to Keep Active

Daily movement is important, here are some fun ideas for individuals, with your family or partner.

Chair Exercise with Sharon Lynch

Watch video 

Pictou County YMCA

Daily online workouts are posted on Facebook or at the YMCA.

YThrive Home Virtual Workouts & YMCA Group Mossa Power Classes 

Exercise videos for all ages; free anytime, anywhere at YMCA at Home on YouTube.

YMCA 360 On-Demand Workouts

For details go to YMCA360

Brought to you by Local Groups and Individuals

Backyard Activities By Hike Nova Scotia - Re-Connect with Nature at Hike Nova Scotia Blog.

• Senior Chair Exercise with Sharon 

Your Way to Wellness - Nova Scotia Health Authority

Tools to live well with chronic conditions - online workshops at Your Way to Wellness.

Physical Activity at Home

Hike Nova Scotia - Hiker Challenge

Prizes and badges; themed challenges for all at Hiker Challenge.

Hike Nova Scotia - ReConnect with Nature Activities

for your backyard and other outdoor spaces at Hike Nova Scotia Blog.

Kids Run Club - 8 Week Challenge; 2-5km

Find them on Facebook or visit Kids Run Club.

ParticipACTION

Live Fit Breaks - every weekday at 12 pm at Participaction. You can also download their APP for ideas and tracking.

Mile Happy Walk at Home Workout

1.0 Mile Happy Walk | Walk at Home | Walking Workout

Joe Wicks Free Daily Workouts

For kids, seniors, everyone! Go to The Body Coach TV on YouTube.

Cosmic Kids Yoga

15-30 minute sessions based on stories and your favourite characters at Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube.

57 Awesome Dance Party Jams - by Active for Life

57 awesome family dance party jams

• 57 awesome family dance party jams
• Yoga with Adrienne
• Fitness Blender

Mental Health

Rehab 4 Addiction

A guide about guarding mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• ARK Behavioral Health + - COVID 19 Mental Health and Addiction Resources
• Addictions Resource: Drug & Alcohol Abuse Hotlines | 24/7 And Confidential

Sports at Home

Online training and skill development

• Free Footie Online - soccer skills online, Instagram, Facebook, or TV Channel check it out at FreePlay for Kids
• Kids Run Club - Let's Keep Moving Campaign - follow them on Instagram for daily challenges; a Doctors Nova Scotia Healthy Tomorrow Foundation activity.
• Tumblebugs at Home by Annapolis Valley Recreation Sta(y)cation - Ages 3+yrs at Home Edition Tumblebugs on YouTube
• NCCP Coaching Courses Online - Baseball Canada NCCP
• National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Home Study Program - various courses to choose from; Competition Introduction and Competition Development levels at NCCP Home Study

More activities will be added as they become available.

Special Interests and Discovery

Spending more time at home can be a time to explore and expand on your interests and skills, here are a couple of ideas to fill your day or enjoy a new activity with your family.

Maple Murples’s Popping Purple Wordspinning World - Join Sheree Fitch, poet, author and storyteller from River John in an online Journey of imagination and creativity at Maple Murples’s Popping Purple Wordspinning World

Canada’s National Ballet School - Bring Dance Into Your Home, Free Resources for all Ages at Community Dance

Brilliant Labs (a not-for-profit, hands-on technology and experiential learning platform based in Atlantic Canada) - join them every day at 10 am for a new make at home activity or 1 pm for an outdoor activity. Go to Brilliant Labs.

Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams - Learn to draw with a notable illustrator, Mo Willems.

• BOKS Canada resources
• Active for Life kids activities
• Simple STEM Activities to do at Home

Did You Know...You Can Access the Library Online

All the library services online are free - from downloadable or streaming eBooks, eAudiobooks & eMagazines for all ages (Tumblebooks to OverDrive, and RB Digital), to language learning programs, and a few other information/database sources and some new services coming soon! These online services do require a library card to access (your library card # + a passcode)... and can be under Collections, Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library.

If you need a free library card, please call/text the library, at 902-759-2310, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 3 pm.

There is a lot of other informational resources on our webpage, under Subject Resources, including the Health & Wellness section. Also included, is access to the digital copy of all/most of the NSHA pamphlets too (in the regular library collection, online), at Health & Wellness Resources.

Check out the Libraries Social Media accounts to share information about other free, online resources and activities for Stay-at-Home... for all ages. From author readings to gardening tips, mental wellness, crafts & more!

In your own backyard...

• Go on a nature scavenger hunt
• Create nature art, build a bird feeder
• Start an indoor garden...tip: start planting late spring
• Go for a daily walk around the block
• Exercise with your pet
• Light up your house with Christmas lights, brighten your neighbourhood
• Create a bear hunt activity, go online and find out how
• Become a chalk artist; your driveway is your canvas
• Find a favourite family recipe and cook together

Contact Pictou Recreation and Parks for more information on other programs.

National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP)

The NCCP is a training and certification program for coaches, offered across Canada in over 60 sports. The program was designed to meet the needs of a wide range of coaches, from those who introduce youngsters to sport, to those who work with Canada's high-performance athletes.