Congratulations to Dr. Krista Watson, the recipient of our 2022 Howler Award! 

​SSWC celebrates Persons Day every year by giving the Howler Award to a woman, girl or gender-oppressed person who is an exemplary, fearless community leader; an inspiring and hopeful champion who has found their voice and used it to mobilize others to effect change on issues of concern to women.

Dr. Watson has been living in Mahone Bay with her family since 2002. While she initially worked in Family Practice with a side of ER, Krista’s been working full time in the ER in Lunenburg since 2009. Through her work, Krista has been humbled to be part of such a compassionate and caring community.

Dr. Watson enjoys mentoring learners, and sharing the joys/realities of Being Human in Health Care. In spite of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, she remains grateful for the gifts of hard work worth doing, for her patient and instructive colleagues, and for the community resources that continue care beyond the hospital.

Many folks are surprised to learn that Nova Scotia has the highest rates of Human Trafficking in Canada and that Human Trafficking is ongoing in our communities. 

This new report, written after consultation with almost 150 people who have lived experience, lays out some of the reasons why human trafficking is so prevalent in our province. We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read this report, in the hopes of better understanding this issue and the work that needs to be done to address it and make our community safer.

You can access the report here.

Join us on Tuesday, October 18 from 2-3 pm on Zoom to celebrate the anniversary of women becoming persons under Canadian law in 1929.

RSVP: info@secondstory.ca or 902-640-3044 and we'll send you the Zoom link

The province is launching a new, province-wide mental health and addictions peer support line today.

The Peer Support Phone Service is a toll-free, non-crisis, province wide service, available to all Nova Scotians 18 years of age or older.  It is staffed by trained peer supporters, who have personal or family-based lived experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges.   

The service is intended for individuals who feel isolated, alone, anxious, concerned, or who need support and to talk to someone. Reasons for calling can be anything from having a tough day at work, feeling down, struggling with supporting a loved one, going through a rough patch in a relationship and so on. It is NOT intended for individuals who are experiencing a crisis. (Folks in crisis are still encouraged to call 911 or the NS Mental Health and Addictions Crisis line at 1-888-429-8167) 

The NS Peer Support Phone Service does not operate 24/7 like the Crisis Line, it's hours are: 

• Wednesday to Friday - 5pm to 11pm AT
• Saturdays and Sundays - 11am to 11pm AT
• Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Because the service is not 24/7, it is possible that some calls may need to be placed in a queue while peer supporters finish up with other callers. You may also choose to leave a voicemail with your name and phone number and if a peer supporter has availability during their shift, they will return your call.  Otherwise, you are invited to call back during the next service shift.

The number is 1-800-307-1686. For more information, visit supportyourpeople.com/peer-support-phone-service.

Coming Out Late is a new support group from South Shore Sexual Health for folks who are, or have, come out as 2SLGBTQ+ later in life (e.g. thirtyish and up) or are questioning. They are holding their second session next Tuesday, October 18!
Confidential, non-judgmental, no registration necessary.
​Held bi-weekly at SSSH's office (109 Logan Road in Bridgewater, Unit 1B out back). 6:30 pm start time, everyone (all genders and orientations) / new folks welcome, snacks provided. 

We're so proud to announce that last week, our very own Sally H. was the recipient of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia's 'Outstanding Healthcare Provider' award at the Let's Keep Talking Awards! 

Sally has been with Second Story for almost 20 years, and is a much-loved Support Worker at our Centre. We're so pleased to see her work supporting women and gender-oppressed people in our community recognized. We love you, Sally!

The government is asking Nova Scotians to provide feedback on housing needs. If you have a few minutes, you can take the survey online at nshousingneeds.ca until December 4. 

​We know that much needs to be done to address the housing crisis in our province, this survey will help the government better understand what is needed and where.

 would like to share some social media accounts that we highly recommend following for updates and information and calls to action on MMIWG2S, year-round.

• Families of Sisters in Spirit on Facebook - FSIS is an all-volunteer, grassroots, unfunded group of families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people and ally-friends.​
• Butterflies in Spirit on Instagram - BiS is a group of Indigenous performers who dance to raise awareness for MMIWG2S.
• ​NS Native Women's Association on Facebook
• National Family and Survivors Circle on Facebook - The National Family and Survivors Circle (NFSC): Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ family members of MMIWG2S+ and survivors of gender- and race-based violence advocating for transformative change for Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people.

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this year's Sisters in Spirit event with the Mi'kmaq Heritage and Sacred Sites Association due to illness.