We will support the creation of a society that provides safe, fulfilling, and prosperous communities for all people, in all regions of Nova Scotia, regardless of gender, age, economic status, culture or ethnicity.
Improved Quality of Life for Nova Scotians considers the influences, barriers, and components that make up what it is to be human. This mission portfolio is closely linked to the other mission areas through its considerations for wellbeing, the environment, and economic development through a distinctly human lens. If you have any questions regarding the improved quality of life for Nova Scotians missions, please contact us.
Mission in Action
Drs. Karen Blair & Kathryn Bell
Psychology professors, Dr. Karen Blair (St. Francis Xavier University) and Dr. Kathryn Bell (Acadia University), are co-leading a study that will explore how Nova Scotians are coping during times of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our results will help inform Nova Scotia public health and allied professionals whose work during disease outbreaks directly impacts the well-being of individuals, couples, families and the LGBTQ+ community, providing evidence to guide optimal provincial responsiveness to the current outbreak, future COVID-19 waves and other disease outbreaks.”
How can research help?
This mission area includes the safety and security of our communities, the opportunities for meaningful work, the ways in which work and society are changing rapidly around us, the culture, arts and history that enable us to create and inhabit our identities, and the importance of place and space for wellbeing and inclusivity. Issues such as Universal Basic Income, productivity, education and skills gaps, reskilling and retirement ages, racism, regional disparity, poverty and inequality are serious challenges that we seek to address through truly inclusive economic growth. Digital and traditional arts, humanities, and languages contribute to a holistic picture of wellbeing—and benefit the economy in doing so.
Possible Research Areas
- Cultural, anthropological and sociological studies;
- Vulnerable communities, homelessness and inequality;
- Justice, racial oppression and systemic racism;
- Historical bases for the modern condition;
- Research on equity, diversity and inclusion;
- Arts, languages and digital media;
- Indigenous languages, culture and government;
- Regionalization, including rural versus urban divides, distinct communities, and placemaking; and
- The role of community, relationships and mental health in wellbeing.
Working Together
Researcher projects are to contribute to improved quality of life for Nova Scotians by generating evidence, outcomes and/or knowledge in support of one of the above four missions. Each mission will include opportunities identified by the researchers and their post-secondary institutions, such as Canada Foundation for Innovation match funding, as well as capacity-building initiatives such as student grants or partnership funding. These opportunities, as well as traditional funding calls, will be reviewed with the mission-oriented lens by Research Nova Scotia. Moving forward, we encourage post-secondary institutions and their researchers to shape their applications early in the process to align with one or more of our total 16 missions.
Have an idea about how we could work together to support Improved Quality of Life for Nova Scotians?