Spinal Cord Injury Nova Scotia

05/30/2026

Meet our Team! Next up is our Client Services Counsellor!

Deanna Palmer provides support and offers advocacy for those living with spinal cord injuries, as well as their families. Deanna is a great resource for accessing information, navigating systems, and accessing resources and support to build self-reliance and active participation in local communities.

Deanna holds degrees in Social Work and Psychology and has worked in the community for many years supporting people through complex health and life challenges. She believes that the people she supports are the experts in their own lives, and that her role is to support them as they move forward on their own terms.

Navigating life with a spinal cord injury comes with unique challenges. Deanna's goal is to make sure no one has to figure it all out on their own. Whether it's finding information, connecting to resources, setting goals, or just having someone in their corner, she is committed to making sure everyone who reaches out to SCINS feels supported.

For more information visit us online at https://www.sci-ns.ca/

05/29/2026

Meet our Team! Next up is our Peer Support Coordinator!

After sustaining a spinal cord injury from a diving accident in 2012, Chris Rice found purpose in giving back. He had been volunteering as a peer mentor since 2013 which inspired the development of our Peer Support Program in 2023.

Chris holds a Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting, and has extensive certifications in Crisis Intervention, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, and Peer Support Facilitation. He is also an active member of the Bridgetown Volunteer Fire Department.

His goal is to build a strong community of peers across Nova Scotia, ensuring that anyone who sustains a spinal cord injury has the support they need and to benefit from the lived experience of others to help them adapt and return to their community.

For more information visit us online at https://www.sci-ns.ca/

05/28/2026

Meet our Team! First up is our new Executive Director!

Jamie Matthews brings 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, working with numerous non-profit organizations across the Maritimes. Throughout these past 15 years of progressive non-profit experience in governance, operations, fundraising and fund development, Jamie has consistently provided organizations with the tools and resources they need to grow their capacity and meet the ever-growing demands placed on the non-profit sector. Jamie has direct experience working with marginalized communities by providing safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces so everyone can receive the equitable support they need.

He is looking forward to building upon the legacy of SCI-NS and ensuring that our programs and services reach even more Nova Scotians impacted by spinal cord injury!

For more information visit us online at https://www.sci-ns.ca/

05/25/2026

☀️ Summer is coming — and for those of us with SCI, heat is a whole different ballgame.

Join us for our June education webinar — open to ALL members, family, and caregivers!

📅 Monday, June 16, 2026 at 7pm
💻 Via Zoom

Beating the Heat: Thermoregulation & Summer Safety After SCI

Did you know that many people with spinal cord injuries have significantly impaired, or completely absent, sweating below their level of injury? That means your body can't cool itself the way it used to, and you may not even feel that it's happening.

This session will cover:

🌡️ Why SCI changes how your body handles heat
⚠️ The risks you may not see coming (including autonomic dysreflexia)
💧 Staying hydrated and eating smart in the heat
☀️ Sunburns, sun exposure, and why shade matters more than you think
🌊 Practical strategies to stay cool — including how to simulate sweating with a simple spray bottle

Whether you've been living with SCI for decades or are newly injured, there's something here for everyone. Bring your questions, your tips, and your experience — peer conversations are some of the best learning there is.

👉 Please email Chris at [email protected] or text him at 902 309 4911 to get the Zoom link.

This session is free and open to all SCI NS members, their families, and caregivers. A resource handout will be shared after the session.

See you there!

SCI Nova Scotia | Peer Support Program

Send a message to learn more

05/12/2026

Are you a partner, parent, sibling, or friend of someone living with a spinal cord injury?

At Spinal Cord Injury Nova Scotia, we know that the people who show up every day for their loved ones often go without support of their own. That's exactly why we offer a free monthly virtual education and support group designed specifically for family members and care partners. This is a space where your experience is the focus, your feelings are welcome, and you don't have to explain yourself to anyone in the room.

Each month, we gather over Zoom to explore topics that matter to you. These include managing caregiver burnout, navigating your own emotions, maintaining your identity and relationships, and simply connecting with others who truly get it.

If this sounds like something you or someone you know could use, we'd love to have you join us. Reach out through our page or by email to learn more about the next session.

Send a message to learn more

03/06/2026

03/06/2026

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/community/join-us-for-a-free-paralympic-watch-party-and-cheer-on-canadas-para-hockey-team-9.7082923

12/01/2025

It’s Official — We Have a New Name! ♿️

The Canadian Paraplegic Association of Nova Scotia is now called Spinal Cord Injury Nova Scotia.

Our new name reflects the people we support and the wide range of lived experiences within our community. You’ll notice updates rolling out across our materials and platforms in the coming weeks.

Thank you for being part of this next chapter.

11/20/2025

SCI BC has partnered with the University of Toronto on a research study offering online peer health coaching for people newly injured with a spinal cord injury.

Through a series of semi-weekly online or phone sessions, participants work with a trained peer health coach to develop skills in goal setting, problem solving, and action planning to better manage their health.

Eligibility:
• 18 years or older
• Have access to a computer or telephone
• Have a spinal cord injury for 3 years or less
• Discharged from their initial hospital admission

If you’d like to learn more or register, email [email protected]

More information can also be found on SCI BC’s Peer Health Coach Program page:

Our Peer Health Coaching Program helps people with a spinal cord injury or a related disability achieve physical activity or healthy weight goals.