Partners

Nova Scotia Health’s (NSH) vision is healthy people, healthy communities—for generations. NSH Public Health works with others to understand and take action together to improve the health of our communities, with a strong history of leading work collaboratively with education partners at the local, regional and provincial levels via the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) approach. UpLift will advance the goal of HPS, which is to improve student health and learning outcomes by changing and impacting the school setting where children spend a significant portion of their time. Public Health has played a significant role in co-designing and supporting UpLift by co-chairing the Advisory Committee, participating on working groups and creating NSH Youth Engagement Coordinator positions, which are funded by UpLift. Public Health is committed to working with partners to strategically embed UpLift efforts within existing structures to help accelerate outcomes and ensure sustainability.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) is the provincial government department responsible for all early childhood education programs as well as the school system. The DEECE, along with the Regional Centres for Education (RCE), has committed significant time and resources to UpLift.

The department supports UpLift with overall strategy, capacity building and the planning and evaluation processes. It also supports translation services & communication. The Department of Education also brings expertise in existing programs in the education system and the daily operation of the school system that could enhance healthy behaviours.

 The Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) is the provincial government department responsible for all community and individual health services. The DHW has contributed significant human resources to UpLift and brings expertise on the existing health-related programs for children and youth, and how they can be aligned with UpLift.

The Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage (DCCH) has been a proud partner of UpLift since 2018. The DCCH brings valuable expertise on the unique aspects of communities across Nova Scotia, local partners to engage, existing programs, policies and areas of need.

 The Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Multi-sectoral Partnerships to Promote Healthy Living and Prevent Chronic Disease has pledged to fund UpLift up to $5 million subject to securing the same amount in private sector contributions. In addition to funding, PHAC provides guidance and support for UpLift, and connects UpLift with community partners to ensure all aspects are efficient and streamlined with existing programs and policies.

The Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (Csap) is the only French-language school board in Nova Scotia, serving the entire province with 21 school and 19 pre-kindergarten sites. It offers a quality education in French, taking its cultural mandate into consideration.

Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education (CCRCE) is comprised of approximately 2,800 staff, all striving to provide a well-rounded education for almost 20,000 students in Pre-primary through to Grade 12. We create engaging learning experiences in inclusive environments that support each student’s well-being and social-emotional development.

Through their healthy schools initiative, Health Promoting Schools, Uplift continues to support their evidence-based approach to supporting student well-being and academic success in a planned, integrated, and holistic way.

 Healthy Populations Institute (HPI) is a senate-approved research institute at Dalhousie University. They focus on capacity building and combining knowledge to gain an essential vision of a healthier community over time and into the long-term future. The UpLift office is housed under HPI, and provides many resources for day-to-day activities and needs.

IWK Health is the Maritime region's leading health care and research centre dedicated to the well-being of women, children, youth and families. In addition to providing highly specialized and complex care, the IWK provides certain primary care services and is a strong advocate for the health of families. IWK Health is a global leader in research and knowledge sharing, and a partner in educating the next generation of health professionals.

The Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia is an inclusive and professional association of school and system leaders. Their mission is to represent the diverse interests and voices of educational administrators at the school and regional levels whose leadership is central to building strong systems and strong schools, where staff and student success are the priorities. 

 Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) is a registered charity founded in 1979. They fund medical research at Dalhousie University Medical School in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They became an UpLift partner in a fundraising capacity, and have helped raise $2.65 million in funding so far. DMRF has also supported the UpLift team in communications and marketing strategies to aid with raising awareness.

 The QEII Foundation and its donors drive healthcare innovation at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. With the support of the community, the foundation raises funds for life-saving research, state-of-the-art facilities, the latest medical technology and clinical trials in Atlantic Canada.
The QEII Foundation works with donors and informs them about UpLift, in an effort to create healthier schools, communities and, ultimately, health care today and in the future.

Nourish Nova Scotia

Established in 2012, Nourish Nova Scotia is a registered charity that helps students to be healthy learners so they can reach their potential in the classroom and in life. They want to equip students with knowledge and food literacy skills so they can better understand what nourishment means to the body, what local farmers mean to the economy and how to connect the dots between the garden and table. You can learn more about them here.