Our Blog

Imagine spending a Saturday morning walking along a familiar trail. The air is crisp, the trees are rustling, and for a little while, the busyness of everyday life fades into the background. Maybe you stop to take in the view, meet a friend for a walk, or simply enjoy some quiet time outside. For many of us, these moments in nature are a way to recharge, connect, and feel at home in our surroundings.

Sarah arrives at work at 8:30 a.m. By 9:00, she already feels exhausted.
Her day started with uncertainty about whether the accessible parking spot would be available. When she arrived, she found that the team meeting had been moved to a different room without notice. The new room was crowded and noisy, making it difficult to focus. During the meeting, the presenter spoke quickly and shared information verbally without providing written notes afterward. Sarah spent most of the meeting trying to keep up instead of contributing her ideas.

Salima stared at her computer screen, reading the same email for the third time.
Normally, she was organized, focused, and quick to respond. But lately, everything felt harder. Her workload hadn’t changed much, yet she felt constantly behind. Small tasks slipped through the cracks. She was exhausted, distracted, and increasingly worried that others were starting to notice.
During a team meeting, her manager asked if everything was okay.
Salima smiled and said, “I’m fine.”
The conversation ended there.

Being aware of mental health at work is not about eliminating stress; everyone experiences stress. Understanding mental health and its importance in the workplace creates conditions that enable people to do their work in a healthy, sustainable way. It means employees feel respected, included, and safe asking questions, raising concerns, or admitting when they are struggling without fear of judgment.

Psychological safety is a simple idea, but it has a big impact on how people feel at work. It means people feel safe to speak up, ask questions, share ideas, and admit mistakes without fear of being judged, ignored, or punished. When psychological safety is present, people feel respected and included. When it is missing, people stay quiet, even when something is wrong.

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to reflect and celebrate the contributions of people with autism while also considering how our workplaces can become more inclusive. Awareness is an important first step, but real impact comes from action. Creating neuroinclusive workplaces means designing environments where autistic and other neurodivergent employees can thrive, not just fit in. Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in how people think, learn,  and communicate. This includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences. 

I had not been directly involved in hiring for a few years. Recently, I found myself back on the interview side of the table, and I was reminded very quickly how much you can learn in these conversations.
Not just about candidates, but about communication styles, confidence, perspective, and how people understand the work they hope to do.
One moment early in the process captured this perfectly.
Partway through an interview, a colleague gently brought the conversation back to the question we had asked. The candidate had been sharing their career story in detail. It was interesting and thoughtful, but the original question had slowly drifted out of view.

People are at the heart of every organization. This includes leaders, staff, volunteers, partners, clients, and community members. Anyone who interacts with your organization is part of this dimension.
Accessibility at the people level is about inclusion, respect, and support in everyday experiences. It starts with how people are welcomed and valued. For example, accessible recruitment is a people issue. This can mean removing bias from hiring processes, clearly stating that accommodations are available in job postings, and offering accessible interview options by default. It also means supporting accommodations without stigma.

Nova Scotia is home to more than 50 historic Black communities, including North Preston, the largest Black community in Canada. Its original settlers were Black Refugees of the War of 1812. Across the province, Black communities were founded by Black Loyalists, Jamaican Maroons, and Black Refugees. Nova Scotia also participated in slavery, a truth that is often left out of mainstream Canadian history.