Students with families

The Job Junction, Opportunity Place and NS works can help you with workshops or advice about finding employment in Nova Scotia.
The Connector Program is a great way to grow your professional network of contacts. The program is active in:

• Cape Breton (Marconi and Strait Area)
  
• Halifax (IT, Ivany and Akerley)
  
• Colchester, Cumberland, and Pictou counties (Cumberland and Pictou)
  
• The Valley Region (Kingstec, Annapolis Valley and COGS)
  
• The Western Region (Burridge)

The Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) is based in Halifax. Please contact  to register.
Sometimes, the YMCA Employment Centre may offer employment advice to clients on temporary work permits.   

Halifax Public Libraries offer English Conversation Groups that are free and open to everyone. If you don’t live in Halifax or Dartmouth, contact your local library.

The Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) in Halifax and offers basic language support to clients who have a work permit. You can have a volunteer tutor or join conversation groups. Please contact  to register.

The Valley Community Learning Association (Kentville and Middleton) offers English classes open to everyone.

Your local YMCA might also organize informal newcomer and conversation groups.

In Truro, the Colchester Adult Learning Association (CALA) supports adults with reading and writing literacy skills.

Nova Scotia has several private language schools where you can enrol and learn English. You may use the Languages Canada website to find an accredited language school.

You should start looking for childcare services as soon as you start finalizing your move to Nova Scotia, as wait lists to place your child are long. Here you can learn how to find childcare close to your area.

Watch this video to learn step by step how to enrol your child in school.
Each school has a parent navigator that you can contact for advice. In order to find one, refer to the Regional Centre for Education of your community.

• Annapolis Valley (Kingstec, Annapolis Valley, COGS)  
• Cape Breton-Victoria (Marconi)
  
• Cape Breton (Strait Area)
  
• Chignecto Central (Amherst, Cumberland, Pictou, Truro)
  
• Dartmouth, (Akerley, Ivany) * francophone resource*
  
• Halifax and Dartmouth (IT, Akerley and Ivany)
  
• South Shore (Lunenburg, Shelbourne)
  
• Yarmouth (Burridge)  

Other resources are available here.

Being the partner/spouse of an international student can be a bit lonely at times, especially if you don’t know anyone and if your significant other is busy with school.

• The International Student Ambassadors often have family members with them and can help you connect.
  
• Joining virtual/in person meet up groups in your area can be an option to (e)meet people and socialize. 

All animals entering Canada must meet import requirements. To check specific important requirements for cats, dogs and other pets, check this page.

Unfortunately, finding accommodation that is pet-friendly is very difficult. Consider bringing your pet to Nova Scotia once you have secured accommodation that accepts them.