By: Sabrina Gannon, Chair of the Lunenburg County Community Health Board
On a blustery but beautiful October 17 morning, the Beyond Band-Aids (BBA) Coalition opened its inaugural day in recognition of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty with a series of riverside speeches at the Shipyard’s Landing gazebo in Bridgewater. Speakers included coalition member Shelley Moran, who provided a welcome and land acknowledgement, and Joanne McFadden, who introduced the theme of the day: “Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment by Ensuring Respect and Effective Support for Families.”
Coalition member Megan Macdonald read the poem “Enough” by Anna Quon, HRM’s current poet laureate, which provided a window into poverty. Coalition member Louise Hopper shared local statistics on poverty in our local communities.
The child poverty rate for Lunenburg County in 2022 was 24% or one in four children. A November 2024 homelessness count of Lunenburg County totalled 145 people, including 39 children, experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. These statistics are lower than actual numbers as only people accessing support services were able to be counted.
Stacey Godsoe, of Be the Peace Institute, made the connection between poverty and the epidemic of intimate partner violence, explaining how poverty increases vulnerability to violence due to a lack of resources, housing insecurity, and economic dependence. All these challenges make it hard for victims to leave unsafe situations.
Josie Rudderham, executive director of the South Shore Open Doors Association (SSODA) shared several stories about the people supported through their housing programs and Roof 25 Shelter. Lunenburg County Senior Safety Coordinator, Lisa Bennet, wrote remarks that were read by Lunenburg County Senior Safety Program Board Chair David Murdock, detailing how poverty impacts seniors in our communities, focusing in particular on the lack of access to services and transportation that keeps them isolated.
While workers who provide poverty-related support were well represented, Joanne shared that the coalition had made the difficult decision not to include the voices of community members currently experiencing poverty this year. This decision was informed by feedback that victims of poverty may feel unsafe sharing their experiences at such a public event due to a general lack of empathy for and the stigmatization of people who experience poverty and homelessness.
Bringing awareness to these issues and building understanding in our community is important work towards the goal of providing a space for the voices of victims of poverty to be shared publicly without harm or additional trauma.
October 17 saw more discussion and community connection, as the BBA Coalition also hosted an evening film screening at the Lunenburg Fire Hall, showing “A Human Picture,” a short film about the Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) pilot program in Ontario.
Presented by Roger Tatlock and Becca Green-Lapierre from Basic Income Nova Scotia (BIG-NS), the film provided an introduction to the topic of a basic income guarantee and its role in eradicating poverty and addressing the inequalities in our community. The event was well attended by approximately 35 engaged community members. The BBA Coalition is planning a follow-up conversation in Lunenburg to discuss potential actions for the community to take.
The Beyond Band Aids Coalition is dedicated to continuing this conversation across communities in Lunenburg County. The best way to stay informed of future events is by following the Lunenburg County Community Health Board (LCCHB) Facebook and Instagram pages. The BBA Coalition and the LCCHB hope to hear from you at the next community conversation.
