IONS is situated in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaw people. Unceded means that the Mi’kmaq have never relinquished, sold, traded, or transferred ownership of their land to European settler colonies, yet land was taken over without their consent through various processes of settler colonialism. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, which the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik people first signed with the British Crown in 1726. These Treaties did not involve the surrendering of rights to the lands and resources they had traditionally used and occupied. We are all Treaty People.

We further acknowledge that Nova Scotia is the birthplace of Black culture and heritage in Canada. People of African descent have shared these lands for over 400 years, and over 50 strong and resourceful African Nova Scotian communities exist here today.

We are committed to the struggle against systems of oppression that have resulted in profound inequities and the denial of self-determination rights. We are working actively to deepen our learning at an individual level, provide learning opportunities about anti-racism and decolonization, and to develop partnerships with organizations serving and led by underrepresented groups.

  • Youth Food Program Assistant

    Halifax NS

    $23/hour

    Youth Food Program Assistant
    Company Website

    Position: Youth Food Program Assistant 
    Start Date: June 1, 2026 
    Location: Halifax, NS 
    Hourly Wage: $23/hour  
    Hours: 35 hours/week (12-14-week term position) 

    Reports to: Program Manager 

    Overview of Nourish Nova Scotia: 

    Nourish Nova Scotia is a registered charity working to cultivate healthy food environments for children and youth in Nova Scotia. We know that the development of skills, knowledge, and attitudes in relation to food are essential for developing healthy habits and nurturing positive experiences with food. We also know that when young people have opportunities to play an active role in shaping the food system around them, they build their own capacity to lead meaningful change. 

    We inspire and equip young people in Nova Scotia to learn about food and transform the food systems around them. This means working across school and community settings to increase equitable access to nutritious foods; strengthen community food infrastructure, and support youth engagement in programs and policies that enable young people to grow, harvest, prepare, and cook nourishing foods. Through our work, we are cultivating generations of youth food leaders – confident and capable of supporting individual, family and community health through food, and activating positive food systems change – now, and for generations to come. 

    Nourish is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applicants from the following groups to self-identify: African Nova Scotian, Mi’kmaq or Indigenous, other visible minorities, 2SLGBTQIA+ or person(s) with mental or physical disabilities. For additional information on our organization, please visit www.nourishns.ca. 

    Position Summary: 

    Nourish Nova Scotia is seeking a passionate, motivated, and skilled Program Assistant to support activities related to the planning, development, and delivery of our summer programming. This includes engaging diverse youth in activities and skill-building related to food safety, food preparation and cooking, planning and maintaining food gardens, and storytelling around food. This role is ideal for a student who is passionate about food justice, youth engagement, and community-building. You’ll work closely with the Nourish Nova Scotia program team, community partners, and youth participants to bring workshops to life, care for garden spaces, engage in resource development, and support our evaluation and storytelling efforts. 

    This position is partially funded through The Government of Canada Summer Jobs program.  

    To apply for this job, you must: 

    • Be aged between 15 and 30 years old on the start date of the job; 
    • Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN); and 
    • Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person who has been granted refugee status in Canada.  
       

    International students and other temporary residents of Canada are not eligible. 

     

    Responsibilities: 

    The Program Assistant will provide on-going support and assistance related to Nourish Nova Scotia programming and on-going program development. 
     

    Specifically, this includes: 

     

    • Assist in planning, organizing, and delivering engaging food literacy workshops (food preparation and cooking, nutrition education, food systems, etc.) 
    • Support youth-led initiatives and ensure youth voices are centered in all aspects of program delivery. 
    • Help maintain and facilitate garden programs, including planting, harvesting, and education activities. 
    • Contribute to outreach, engagement, and communication with youth participants and community members. 
    • Assist with the design and development of Nourish Nova Scotia workshops materials and resources, with a focus on creating fun and engaging activities for children and youth. 
    • Support the continued development of our Nourish learning hub for new and existing resources. 
    • Support communication activities related to Nourish Nova Scotia programs, including but not limited to, social media content creation, writing newsletter content or blog posts, and storytelling across platforms. 
    • Participate in team meetings and provide general program support, including administrative and logistical tasks as required. 

     

     

    Skills & Experiences: 

    • Recent completion of or current enrollment in post-secondary education, preferably in a related field (nutrition, health promotion, community development, etc.) 
    • Experience working or volunteering with youth in a community or educational setting. 
    • Demonstrated interest in health equity, food justice, food literacy, food security, community food systems, and/or youth engagement. 
    • Strong critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and organizational skills. 
    • Creativity and a willingness to learn and contribute to a dynamic, supportive team. 
    • Ability to work some evenings or weekends (as needed for workshops or events). 
    • Experience using a range of social media platforms to communicate information and share compelling stories. 
    • Confident with a range of technology applications including Microsoft Office, virtual meeting platforms, Canva, Google Suite. 
    • Has a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle. 

     

     

    Terms of Employment: 

    • Hourly pay of $23 by bi-weekly direct deposit; 35 hours/week for 12-14 weeks (starting in early June). General job hours are 9-4 with some evening and weekend hours required for programming and engagements. 
    • Work Location: Primary office located in Halifax, NS, with hybrid work possible depending on on-going activities. The Program Assistant will be required for hands-on program/event support on a regular basis at locations across the Halifax Regional Municipality. In such cases, travel reimbursements will be available. 

     

    To apply, please send a cover letter and resume in one document to [email protected] referencing the position title in the subject line. Application deadline is on or before May 8th, 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. Interviews will be conducted on May 19th and 20th.   

    Apply for Job

    [email protected]

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