Westville welcomes wellness grants

The Town of Westville welcomed a new Workplace Wellness Grant Tuesday that will allow its employees to grow a vegetable garden on its grounds.

The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities and the Association of Municipal Administrators, Nova Scotia, awarded the Workplace Wellness Grants to 10 communities across the province, including both Westville and Pictou.

“It’s really great, it’s positive for all the staff,” said Westville’s recreation co-ordinator Clare Steele. “Everyone is really excited to be able to have something at work and go out at lunchtime and harvest.”

The plant beds will be laid by Pictou County-based Let Abilities Work Partnership Society, after which town employees can grow their plants.

The NSFM/AMANS wellness program aims to promote healthy lifestyles. The wellness grants are part of the wellness program.

They are intended to enhance existing resources and help start new initiatives that positively influence health outcomes and make healthy choices easier for those working in the area’s municipalities.

The NSFM/AMANS Wellness program first called for grant applications from municipalities in March.

“Local governments are leaders are the promoters of health and wellbeing,” said Rebecca Kolstee, NSFM/ AMANS Workplace Wellness Co-ordinator in a release Tuesday.

“Municipalities play an important role in the health of employees and these grants will help them address priority areas, including supporting physical and mental wellbeing.”

This year’s grant applications focused on healthy foods, physical activity, mental wellbeing and financial health.

Other communities who received grant money were Truro, Barrington, East Hants, Queens Municipality, Annapolis Royal, the District of Chester, Wolfville and the County of Richmond.