Attention Gold River and area: Service Update in Gold River

Published: May 26 2020 13:47

Attention Gold River and area:

Our Adult Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor, Mike Ross is going on parental leave for the next year. In his place will be Shondalee Eisnor. She is currently offering telehealth appointments, until health centres and offices open. Any band member is welcome to access this service, but may require travel when the health centre opens. If interested, please contact Shondalee directly or through CHN Chelsea Sawyer at or 902-277-2297.

Please see Shondalee’s introduction and contact details below:

Hi everyone!
My name is Shondalee Eisnor and I will be filling in for Michael Ross for the next year, to continue to provide your community with mental health and addictions counselling support. I have been working with the Nova Scotia Health Authority for the past 11 years as a clinical therapist. During this time, I have worked mainly with adults who struggle with a range of concerns such as addiction, depression and anxiety. Previous to this role I worked with children and parents, around issues such children’s mental health, parenting, grief and general family stressors. When not at work I am with my family, as a mom to 2 young busy boys and an old chocolate lab. This leaves very little time for down time, but when I can I squeeze in some time in the garden, a movie or reading a good book. I look forward to working in your community and meeting you. Please reach out by phone 902-521-7158 (cell) or 902-543-5400 (office) and leave a message, or email

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Published: May 26 2020 13:43

This is a Questions and Answers sheet from CRA concerning the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)  CRA CERB Indigenous QA EN (447 KB)

Weekly Health Update #8 with AFN Community Health Nurse

Published: May 25 2020 16:50

Weekly health update with AFN Community Health Nurse

Hi Everyone,

Spring is finally here! The sun is shining, and hopefully its lifting everyone’s mood, even just a little bit. Don’t forget to enter the Get Up and Move contest. Email me () or post on our facebook page a video OR picture of you or your family getting active! You could win 1 of 3 $50 gift cards, we can email or mail to you!
As there isn’t much “new” with Covid-19 lately, I am going to reiterate that basic prevention measures are so important! We can see the light at the end of the tunnel of this first wave. Plans are being made for businesses and child care to reopen. The excitement is there. But this pandemic is not over, another wave will be coming. Until herd immunity is achieved either naturally (enough people have had the virus, and are immune) or artificially (through vaccination), we are still at risk and so is our healthcare system. We have to be smart, we have to take it slow, and we have to be vigilant in basic prevention measures! Let’s keep working towards our new normal.

I have included the new list of symptoms that were updated May 22nd. Testing criteria now states if you show ONE or more symptom to please call 8-1-1 for assessment and directions on testing.

• Wash your hands frequently, preferably soap and water if you have access, if not, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Gloves are not the best defense for the public in preventing infection of Covid-19. Gloves frequently give a false sense of security, and is seen to actually create more cross-contamination.
• The safest measure you can take is washing your hands after each interaction, and refraining from touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Maintain 6 ft/2 m distance between you in anyone you come in contact with that is not in your 2-house bubble
• Ensuring respiratory etiquette; covering coughs and sneezes with elbow
• Sanitize/disinfect high contact areas of your home frequently: doorknobs, counters, remotes, taps, phones, etc.
• If you have ONE or more symptoms of Covid-19 please call 811 to decide if you required testing
  • Fever (ie. Chills, sweats)
  • Cough or worsening of a previous cough
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Muscles aches
  • Sneezing
  • Nasal congestion/runny nose
  • Hoarse voice
  • Diarrhea
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Loss of sense of smell or taste
  • Red, purple, or blueish lesion on the feet, toes, or fingers without clear cause

It is so important for us to take this slow so we can keep progressing forward. Keep an eye on the provincial updates, as they give the most up to date information regarding restrictions and recommendations. Thank you for your commitment to the health of our people and province.

If there is a topic you’d like to see more about, such as nutrition, physical activity during isolation, coping strategies, child and youth health, etc. Please let me know and I can look into helping you as well as the community!

Stay safe and wash your hands

Chelsea Sawyer
Community Health Nurse
O: 902-627-1245
C: 902-277-2297

Best links to get information

Please see our Facebook page: AFN Community Health and answer the joining questions for access. Frequent updates, resources, and links will be posted there

Nova Scotia Government: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/

Nova Scotia Health Authority: http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus

Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

WHO advising on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding

Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line: call 24/7 1-888-429-8167

Kids Help Phone: call 24/7 1-800-668-6868
text CONNECT to 686868
or chat online on their website

Youth Job Opportunities

Published: May 21 2020 14:27

Below you will find two new oppotunities for youth in our community:

Youth Ambassador
The Public Youth Engagement Strategy through Atlantic Published Texts (PYEACT)
YouthAmbassadorJobDescription PYEACT May 2020 (152 KB)

Youth Outreach Coordinator
Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMKNO)
2020 Youth Outreach Coordinator Job Posting (123 KB)

Atlantic Indigenous Mentorship Network Emergency Relief Bursary (COVID-19)

Published: May 21 2020 14:17

Please find the Atlantic Indigenous Mentorship Network Emergency Relief Bursary for COVID-19 application here (324 KB) .

Acadia First Nation Is Looking for Support from The Community

Published: May 20 2020 11:16

Acadia First Nation is interested in purchasing home-made face masks from community members.

If you or someone you know has been making or is interested in making face masks/coverings, we are interested in purchasing these items from you.

We are currently offering $10.00 per mask. Please see below for contact information to arrange for pickup and payment.

If you are interested in making a mask but are not sure how to make one, please use the below template as a guide. 

Adult Surgical Mask Template (524 KB)

Please use this document as a guide for the use of Non Medical Masks:

  Mask Insert (14 KB)

Acadia First Nation Thanks You for Your Support During These Difficult Times.