What does Partners for Care do? Why are you leading this initiative?

Partners for Care (PFC) is a nonprofit partner of Nova Scotia Health that brings organizations together to invest in healthier communities by making life easier for patients, providers, and communities across Nova Scotia. One of our strategic priorities is to enable new access to healthcare for Nova Scotians. By investing in WellTide Health, we are working toward that strategic commitment.

What is Partners for Care’s relationship with Nova Scotia Health?

Partners for Care is a nonprofit partner of Nova Scotia Health. With a shared commitment to supporting healthier communities, Partners for Care’s strategic priorities and mission activities complement Nova Scotia Health and the Government of Nova Scotia’s Action for Health plan.

Why WellTide Health – what's the purpose behind it?

Knowledge is power, and when community members understand their health and social support options, they feel greater control over their health and wellness journeys. Unfortunately, research shows that these options are not well understood and often feel out of reach. WellTide Health is a space that helps people feel informed and connected to accessible, community-centred health and wellness supports within and outside of the facility.

What makes WellTide Health innovative or unique?

With Partners for Care leading the initiative, we are building partnerships at the intersection of public, business, and community sectors, with a deep commitment to understanding the community's needs through a health equity and social determinants of health lens.  This work led us to a central principle: person-centered navigation. Meeting people where they are, which is often a state of uncertainty about where to go for support while navigating barriers such as transportation, housing, and income insecurity. Our goal is to connect individuals with accessible, community-centred health and wellness supports to help them feel informed and connected to their health and wellness journey.

What businesses and services will be available within WellTide Health?

WellTide Health is currently leasing space. The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is an anchor tenant within WellTide Health, designing a Community Hub featuring flexible spaces to create and grow, Fancy Pants Café, a commercial kitchen, a community event space for up to 100 people, . Partners for Care will also be a tenant and is currently designing a Collaboration Hub that aims to create an environment where person-centred navigation helps community members feel informed, cared for, and connected to information that enables them to make informed decisions about their health and wellness journey.

Will Primary Health Care be included within WellTide Health? Will this include Nova Scotia Health?

WellTide Health is actively engaging with health and wellness providers and businesses that have been identified as a gap or opportunity based on the community needs assessment. Primary health care was recognized as a need, and multiple opportunities are currently being explored, including the integration of Virtual Care programming to enhance community access to care through the Partners for Care Collaboration Hub. It is our hope that all sectors, including public, business, and community, will deliver services through WellTide Health or the PFC Collaboration Hub, whether that is by co-locating programs and services or connecting community members to information about programs and services available outside of WellTide Health, within the broader community and healthcare ecosystem.

Can Partners for Care or WellTide Health connect me with a doctor or book appointments?

Partners for Care does not deliver clinical care directly; instead, it creates an enabling environment where independent health and wellness providers can collaborate. If you do not have a family doctor, the first step is to register on the Need a Family Practice Registry. You can learn more here: Need a Family Practice Registry - Need a Family Practice. If you are unsure if you are on the list, please call 811.

What will the Partners for Care Collaboration Hub (PFC Hub) offer?

The PFC Hub is a 5,000 sq. ft. modern space located on the second floor of the WellTide Health facility, that serves as the operational heart for PFC’s community health efforts - reflecting the realities, strengths and needs of the region it serves. The PFC Hub is being designed to enable health and wellness providers to deliver care to address residents’ social determinants of health. Our team is actively engaging with health and wellness providers.

When will the building be open?

The WellTide Health facility will finish base construction by the end of February 2026. We anticipate fit-ups for most tenants will require a longer runway. For the PFC Hub, we are working toward a soft launch this summer, with a formal opening planned for the fall. The timing will vary for each tenant; however, we remain committed to keeping the community informed as each new tenant is confirmed, and their opening dates are ready to be shared.

Is this just for Lunenburg County residents?

While our initial focus is on serving Lunenburg County, Queens County and its surrounding areas, the potential to expand and benefit communities across Nova Scotia is a key consideration as we grow WellTide Health and its programming.