Taylor (She/Her) is the HIV+ Support Coordinator at HEAL NS.

Taylor brings close to a decade of experience in client support and project management in disability, health, and 2S/LGBTQIA+ nonprofit organizations. Having pursued graduate studies in Critical Disability Studies, and drawing from lived experience as a multiply disabled person, Taylor approaches her work with both professional expertise and lived experience.

She is passionate about supporting people navigating health challenges and disability, and has spent much of her career designing and facilitating workshops on sexuality, disability, access, and identity. Taylor is also the founder of the Bisexual+ Network of Nova Scotia, a community network centering bisexual+ people, and is an advocate for bisexual+ visibility and activism.

Outside of her professional work, Taylor is a local performer in the performing arts community, a crocheter, and a big reader.

Pack your bags, slip on your sunglasses, and get ready to be whisked away to the sun-soaked Greek isles! In 2026, the Drag-Along Spectacular returns with a Mediterranean twist as drag and burlesque performers bring Mamma Mia! to life like you’ve never seen it before.

The Drag-Along Spectacular is a one-of-a-kind fundraiser that blends film, live performance, and community. As the beloved movie musical plays on two massive on-stage screens, local drag and burlesque artists take over the stage, weaving show-stopping performances directly into iconic musical moments.

Join us on Saturday, March 7th at the Light House Arts Centre. Doors open at 7:30 PM with the show starting at 8:30 PM. 

Tickets are $30 for first-come, first-served stadium seating, or $500 for a reserved table of 10 (plus fees).

The Light House Arts Centre is an accessible venue with gender neutral washrooms and there will be ASL interpretation for the performance. This is a 19+ event.

Following sold-out Drag-Along hits like Moulin Rouge, Chicago, and Grease, this is shaping up to be another unforgettable night of laughter, music, and magic - all in support of HEAL NS.

Mamma Mia, here we go again, and you don’t want to miss it.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Community Sponsor:

Labiba (She/Her) is a Fund Development and Marketing Intern at HEAL NS, and a third-year Bachelor of Science in Psychology student at Saint Mary’s University.

With a strong interest in people, community needs, and meaningful communication, Labiba brings experience in marketing, event management, and student leadership.

Creative and detail-oriented, Labiba enjoys designing graphics and short-form videos that support clear messaging and engaging storytelling. Outside of work and school, she loves dancing, especially blending classical styles with hip-hop,cooking traditional Bengali food, and connecting with new people through meaningful conversations. 

Wren (They/He) is a Program Coordinator at HEAL NS.

They are coming into the position with over five years of experience as a sexuality and gender educator, facilitating workshops that span topics such as pleasure, kink, sexual health, and supporting trans communities. For him, part of harm reduction includes making knowledge accessible so people can feel empowered to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions about sex, substances, and their health.

Beyond their work in sexual health, Wren has a background in visual arts as an administrative arts programmer and artist.

HEAL NS has an on-going partnership with the STI Care Now Initiative. This initiative offers a free, convenient, and confidential option for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV and linkage to care in Nova Scotia. With this initiative, you can:

• Order a Free At-Home Testing Kit: Complete a secure online form to request a kit delivered right to your home, or address of choice. Tests can also be picked up at the HEAL NS office, just remember to bring your health card with you!
• Speak to their team of pharmacists and social workers for a PrEP assessment, or for support around prevention, testing, or treatment.
• Test Privately and Easily: Follow simple instructions to collect your specimen.
• Get Results and Support: Receive your results and, if needed, access virtual assessment, prescriptions, or in-person care.

This service is designed to reduce barriers to STI testing and care, helping you take control of your sexual health with ease and privacy.

Website to access: The STI Care Now Initiative | Nova Scotia Health

Direct Access to the webform: Ocean

HEAL NS is planning our upcoming HIV, Health & Healing Forum (tentative title) —a weekend-long gathering for 15–25 people living with HIV (PLWH), taking place in early March 2026.

This intimate event will include speaker presentations, conversation circles, creative projects, and mindfulness activities, with a focus on HIV prevention, and other key topics identified through an upcoming needs assessment. It will also help lay the groundwork for a larger Knowledge Exchange Forum later in 2026, where PLWH, community support workers, and healthcare professionals will come together to learn from one another and explore ways to better support people living with HIV.

Keep an eye on this page, or our social media, for updates!

HEAL NS offers free online training to frontline and community-based service providers or staff in Nova Scotia. This training is facilitated by Shannon Hardy (MSW, RSW), content specialist in Trauma-Informed practices. 

We offer two different levels of this training, each twice a year. The first is the basics course. This training gives a foundational understanding of trauma-informed care and approaches, strengthening participants' capacity to provide culturally safe and stigma-free services to vulnerable populations. The second is trauma informed care at the organizational level. In these sessions we cover designing trauma-informed forms and procedures, implementing trauma-informed leadership practices and cultivating a trauma-informed organizational culture. 

Keep an eye on our social media for when new offerings are launched or contact Program Coordinator Hanley Smith to be added to the waitlist.

HEAL NS’ Check Me Out website and awareness campaign encourages community members to think about their sexual health practices. 

Check Me Out offers a tool to create a customized checklist that recommends STI tests, vaccines, and sexual health related exams. This tool is complemented by informational website sections around topics that are written from a Nova Scotian perspective. This checklist has been developed by our staff with input from community partners, doctors, and local healthcare providers. While the checklist has been built primarily for 2S/LGBTQIA+ people living in Nova Scotia, it can be used by anyone aged 18 and up. 

Zach Nicholson (He/Him) is the Fund Development Officer at HEAL NS.

He has a strong background in nonprofit leadership, event coordination, and community engagement that he is excited to bring to HEAL NS. Zach is committed to uplifting the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community and currently serves as the Board President of the Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus. He previously worked for Unison Choruses Canada as the Event Coordinator for the 2023 Unison Festival, Canada’s largest 2S/LGBTQIA+ choral festival. Zach holds a BA from St. Thomas University and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Brunswick.

When not at work or singing with HGMC, Zach enjoys camping, hiking and listening to history podcasts.

Hanley (They/Them) is a Program Coordinator at HEAL NS.

They have developed and implemented numerous queer youth and queer health-focused programs. Their award-winning contributions reflect years of volunteer service and professional experience, showcasing their passion for advocacy. With a strong interest in sexual health information and the evolving nature of prevention work, especially in relation to mental health, Hanley has collaborated with researchers to integrate trauma-informed practices into various initiatives and expand knowledge in these areas. As a musician and disabled artist themselves, Hanley has enjoyed being able to support the success of disabled artists within the community. Their work extends to other projects that intersect with their areas of expertise and interest.     

Outside of their non-profit work, Hanley is an avid fan of Dungeons & Dragons, with a special love for dice – their collection bag is larger than their head! They have been part of a home game that has lasted over four years and are always excited to share their enthusiasm for the game.