The Nova Scotia Digital Inclusion Awards celebrate the people and organizations working to close the digital divide in our province. Each finalist has made a powerful contribution toward creating a more connected, inclusive Nova Scotia.
Explore each award category below to learn more about the finalists and their inspiring work!
Business Champion of the Year
The Digital Inclusion Business Champion of the Year Award honours a Nova Scotia business that has gone above and beyond to help ensure everyone in Nova Scotia has what they need to be online.
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DataGuide Technologies
At DataGuide Technologies, we specialize in managed IT and cybersecurity services built for organizations that operate under strict compliance requirements. Whether you're in healthcare, education, or the nonprofit sector, we help you make sense of cloud security, digital risk, and hardware procurement, so that you can stay focused on your mission.
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Purple Cow Internet
What is Purple Cow's Neighbour in Need Program? We all know times are tough, and we want to help make a difference. That’s why we’re partnering with the herd to create positive change. We're asking members to donate just $2 a month, and Purple Cow will match each donation dollar for dollar. These funds will go directly to people who are facing financial hardship to keep their internet connected as they work to get back on their hooves.
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What We Make It
What We Make It™ is a user experience (UX) design agency specializing in government and public sector agency services. We collaborate with government and public sector team members, stakeholders, and citizens to reimagine the digital delivery of public services.
Community Champion of the Year
The Digital Inclusion Community Champion of the Year Award honours a Nova Scotia non-profit organization that is leading the way to ensure their program participants have the access, skills, and confidence to use the internet safely and effectively.
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Colchester Adult Learning Association
Colchester Adult Learning Association (CALA) is a community-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for all adults to pursue their learning goals. CALA helps adults in Truro and communities in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, improve their skills in reading, writing, and math to prepare for further education including High School equivalency prep, employment readiness, and other training programs.
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Prescott Group
Prescott Group’s mission is to support people with disabilities to experience choice and opportunity, with recreation, meaningful relationships, skills development, and work, in our communities. We create safe spaces where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), are valued, connected, and encouraged to succeed.
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Digby Area Learning Association
The Digby Area Learning Association (DALA) is a not-profit organization dedicated to providing education and career upgrading opportunities for individuals in Digby and surrounding communities. DALA facilitates many programs and offers a variety of services to the community such as Family Literacy, Learning Grove Childcare Centre, @NS Community Technology Site, Settlement Support for Newcomers, and Technology Help.
GEO Referral Agent of the Year
The GEO Referral Agent of the Year honours an individual who serves as Referral Agents for the GEO Connects Program. With over 250 Referral Agents across the province, these individuals stand out for the way they exemplify the goals and values of GEO Nova Scotia and serve their program participants with incredible care and compassion.
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Shannon Dove
Pallet Manager Ally Centre of Cape Breton
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Grace Reynolds
Instructor FutureWorx
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Tahirih Paul
Economic Development Officer Potlotek First Nation
Program Partnership of the Year
The Digital Inclusion Program Partnership of the Year celebrates innovative programs and partnerships that are finding new and better ways to ensure digital inclusion for everyone in Nova Scotia.
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NPower Canada
NPower Canada is a national employment program that provides participants with free in-demand digital and professional skills training, and connects them to new and rewarding career opportunities with some of Canada’s largest employers. Through consultation with a wide range of employers, NPower Canada’s comprehensive curriculum ensures participants are equipped with the in-demand technical and professional skills most sought after by industry.
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Truro Housing Outreach Society
Serving central Nova Scotia since 2014, the Truro Housing Outreach Society (THOS) is a registered nonprofit and charitable society that works to address housing insecurity in our community. Our facility, Haven House, provides emergency and transitional beds, personal care supplies, food, housing support, eviction prevention, and advocacy to anyone over the age of sixteen. We apply housing first, rapid re-housing, shelter diversion and harm reduction principles within our service delivery model, client case management and care plans. To date, THOS has served more than 650 individual clients.
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Atlantic Community Shelters Society
What We Make It™ is a user experience (UX) design agency specializing in government and public sector agency services. We collaborate with government and public sector team members, stakeholders, and citizens to reimagine the digital delivery of public services.
Government Champion of the Year
The Digital Inclusion Government Champion of the Year Award honours a government department or agency that has done exceptional work to promote digital inclusion in Nova Scotia.
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SchoolsPlus (HRCE)
SchoolsPlus is a confidential, free service available in every school in Nova Scotia. Our goal is to build positive relationships between families, schools, and communities.
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Department of Cyber Security & Digital Solutions
The Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions is here to make public services and technology better for everyone. The department is responsible for leading the digital transformation of government services and delivery, ensuring Nova Scotians have access to high-quality, citizen-centered services. It also provides information, communication, cybersecurity, and technology services for government, and serves as a partner in health care delivery.
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Status of Women
The Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women was established in 1977 under the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act. Our mandate is to bring issues affecting the lives of women and girls in Nova Scotia to the attention of the Minister. The Advisory Council is composed of citizen leaders who reflect the diversity of women across Nova Scotia and who have demonstrated interest and involvement in women’s issues. The Status of Women office provides research and policy advice in pursuit of equality, fairness, and dignity for all women in Nova Scotia.