News and Updates

August is Acadian Heritage Month. Acadian Heritage Month honors the rich cultural, social, and economic contributions of Acadian communities in Nova Scotia, dating back over 400 years to their original settlement in Port-Royal. Throughout August, people across Nova Scotia will have the chance to discover and celebrate the province’s vibrant Acadian heritage through events and activities that showcase Acadian history, culture, and traditions.

For more information on Acadian Heritage Month and National Acadian Day please visit these resources:

• Acadian Celebrations and Commemorations | Acadian Affairs and Francophonie
• National Acadian Day | Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
• National Acadian Day - Canada.ca

Acadian Day Celebrations

• Grou Tyme Festival: This August 14th and 15th, celebrate Acadian culture for free in Halifax. 

More Events to Attend

• Art of Disability Festival- Independent Living Nova Scotia: Independent Living Nova Scotia is hosting their 13th annual Art of Disability Festival showcasing the artistic talents of Nova Scotians with disabilities. The event is free and open to all! Visit: Independent Living Nova Scotia for more information.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
• Atlantic International Film Fest: The Atlantic International Film Fest will take place on September 10 throughout September 17, 2025, at the Park Lane Cineplex Cinemas in Halifax Nova Scotia. The Atlantic International Film Fest is proud to welcome film lovers from all walks of life to enjoy their programming.  You can find accessibility information on their events page as it becomes available. Visit these resources for more information about the festival.  Atlantic International Film Festival.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
• Prismatic Arts Festival: The Prismatic Arts Festival is a multidisciplinary arts festival that celebrates innovative work by Indigenous artists and artists of colour from across Canada. Based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Prismatic has been engaging audiences with bold, innovative new works across theatre, dance, music, film, visual arts, media arts, and spoken word. The Festival will take place on September 26 to October 5. For more information visit: Prismatic 2025 – Prismatic Festival                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
• Nocturn Festival: Nocturne's 18th annual Art-at-Night Festival will take place October 16th-19th with dozens of outdoor and indoor installations, performances, interactive projects, artist talks, workshops, and more. For more information visit: 2025 Nocturne Art-At-Night Festival  - Nocturne Halifax

Goods and Services Accessibility Standard: The Accessibility Advisory Board’s Goods and Services Accessibility Standard Recommendations to the Minister of Justice have been released. These recommendations will inform the development of an accessibility standard in goods and services. This work would not be possible without the input from Nova Scotians with disabilities, and the expertise and dedication of the Board, and the Goods and Services Standard Development Committee. The 10 recommendations address barriers in service delivery, including physical, digital, and systemic barriers. Government has begun its review of the recommendations and expect a proposed standard will be shared for public comment in 2026.

Built Environment Accessibility Standard: The Built Environment Accessibility Standard was approved, making it Nova Scotia’s first accessibility standard under the Accessibility Act! The standard introduces technical design requirements for new and redeveloped infrastructure starting April 1, 2026, as well as new accessibility planning requirements which are due April 1, 2026.

• Accessibility of buildings has been addressed through amendments to the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations. Together, the Built Environment Accessibility Standard and the Nova Scotia Building Code will make a more accessible built environment in Nova Scotia.
• The Accessibility Directorate will support organizations to understand and comply with the requirements of the standard. A series of awareness presentations will be made available. Materials are available on the Accessibility Directorate’s website, including an overview of the standard, a description of the standard in plain language and in ASL, and videos about the standard. 

More information about the standards is available on the Accessibility Directorate’s website.

• Sea Change CoLa: Sea Change CoLab offers various training opportunities on their website. Register for the following skill builders below!                                                                                                                                                                                                
  • AI for Accessibility and Social Impact
    • Date: September 25, 2025
    • Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    • Location: Online
  • Multi-generational Workplaces and Disability
    • Date: October 29, 2025
    • Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    • Location: Online
  • Accessible Customer Service
    • Date: November 27, 2025
    • Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    • Location: Online                                                                                                  
• Sea Change CoLab also offers resources on their website. This includes blog posts on accessibility best practices, learning and facilitation opportunities, guidebooks and much more. Visit the Sea Change CoLab website and explore what they have to offer.                                                                                                                                                                                      
• Halifax Central Library: The Halifax Central Library is hosting a drop-in Building Assistive Technology workshop on Sunday, August 24 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This hands-on Worksop will explore user-friendly devices, inclusive maker practices, and transformative solutions that bridge the accessibility gap and help you or your community gain better access to the world around you. For more information visit the Halifax Public Libraries website.                                                                                                                                                    
• Halifax Public Libraries: The Halifax Public libraries are offering access to free LinkedIn Learning and 16,000 digital courses available for the public! Visit Halifax Public Libraries for more information.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
• Accessibility Directorate Resources: Visit the Access Include Everyone website for resources to support your accessible event planning this summer.
  • Guide to Planning Accessible Meetings and Events (In person meetings- En)
  • Guide to Planning Accessible Online Meetings and Events (En)
  • Guide to Planning Accessible Online Meetings and Events (Fr)
  • Engaging with Persons with Disabilities (En)   
• Better Backstages: Accessibility Toolkit for Music and Art Spaces: The Atlantic Presenters Association (APA), in partnership with Eastern Front Theatre (EFT), and Music Nova Scotia, are proud to present the Better Backstages Toolkit! This resource is an accessibility toolkit for music and art spaces. It covers the Built Environment as well as other aspects of arts spaces. Visit Better Backstages: Accessibility Toolkit for Music and Arts Spaces - Home to read the toolkit.                                                                                                                                                                                           

• Accessibility News in Your Organization
  The Accessibility Directorate is interested in your news on accessibility progress and improvements in your organization. We may share your news in our Breaking Barriers newsletter, on our website or other communications. Please send your news to accessibility@novascotia.ca
   
• Personal Stories and Experiences
  Do you or someone in your organization in Nova Scotia have a short personal story you would like to share with us? The Accessibility Directorate is interested in hearing your personal stories and experiences related to accessibility. We may share your story on our website or in other communications. Please send your personal stories to accessibility@novascotia.ca