Holiday Inn
Sydney, Cape Breton
October 21-24, 2025

 

Full-Conference Registration Rates:

*Includes: 4 meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches), snacks and beverages, Pre-Event Social, Opening Ceremony, Keynote Address, RNS Strategic Planning Session, Open Hearth Park Tour, RNS AGM, 4 breakout sessions, Grant Potter Memorial Hockey Game, Regional Games & 2 Closing Presentations.

• RNS Member Conference Registration - $400
• Non-RNS Member Conference Registration - $450
• Student Registration - $120

Conference Add-Ons:

• Pre-Conference Events
  • RNS: In-Person Anti-Racism Training, New Dawn Enterprises: Sowing Seeds and Planting Roots
    • Price: RNS Member: $30, Non-RNS Member: $40, Student: $20
  • NSCC Tour & Student/Professional Networking Social
    • Price: Included within Registration Fee

• RNS Awards Ceremony & Banquet - $65
  • The Recreation Nova Scotia (RNS) Awards pay tribute to exceptional individuals, organizations, and communities that, through their programs, events, projects, and passion, have made outstanding contributions to building healthier communities and enhancing the quality of life for Nova Scotians through recreation.

• Supper Social at Flavour H20 - $40
  • Located just a short walk down the waterfront boardwalk, join us at Flavor H20 for an evening of food & drinks.

Accomodations:

Holiday Inn Sydney – Waterfront
Rooms available at $159 per night (plus taxes and fees)
Limited rooms, group rate available on nights 20th-23rd of October
Reservation deadline: September 15, 2025
To reserve, call 902-562-7500 and mention Recreation Nova Scotia. 

The Simon Hotel Sydney
Rooms available at $175 per night (plus taxes and fees)
Limited rooms, group rate available on nights 20th-23rd October
Reservation deadline: September 21, 2025
To reserve, call 800-565-9466 and mention Recreation Nova Scotia.

 

For further information regarding program schedule, Recreation Showcase, Sponsorship Opportunities & Regional Games; visit our RNS Conference webpage.

For accessibility requests or inquires, please email Kerri Jack at inclusion@recreationns.ns.ca

 

To register, proceed through the form while confimring your participation in scheduled events. Submit payment at checkout.

*Any members who have not yet paid for their 2025/26 RNS Membership can expect an invitation to register/renew their membership in our new membership platform on Playfinder in the coming weeks.*

11:45am – 12:00pm - Registration, Holiday Inn 

12:00pm – 2:30pm- Recreation Nova Scotia: Anti-Racism in Recreation Training, Holiday Inn

RNS's Anti-Racism in Recreation Training Module is to provide individuals and organizations with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to recognize, address, and mitigate racism in recreation programs and environments. 

The training aims to increase awareness regarding colonialism and racism, and how we can learn and change by reflecting on the lived experiences of Nova Scotians. By offering accessible, comprehensive education on anti-racism, the training empowers leaders, staff, and volunteers to continue their learning journey.

*Lunch not included, snacks will be provided between presentations*

3:00pm – 4:00pm – New Dawn Enterprises: Sowing Seeds and Planting Roots, Holiday Inn

Join us to discover how newcomers in Sydney, NS, are actively cultivating vibrant community connections by growing their own herbs, vegetables and self-sufficiency through the CBICI Seed Project and New Dawn Garden Club. This initiative empowers individuals to grow their own food at home and on-site at the North End Community Pantry, increasing food access, sharing skills and reducing social isolation.

Learn how this hands-on recreational approach helps newcomers build a sense of belonging and reinforces the principle that communities have the resources to meet their own needs. This session offers valuable insights into fostering meaningful integration and community well-being through inclusive programming.

 

 

6:00pm – 8:00pm – NSCC Campus Tour & Student/Professional Networking Social

Details TBD

 

9:30am – 10:30am - Registration, Holiday Inn Main Lobby

10:30am – 11:00am- Opening Ceremony

11:00am – 12:00pm – Keynote Address

Bradley Daye, Co-Founder/CEO of Placemaking 4G

Bradley Daye is on a mission to transform how we learn, grow, and build cultures of belonging. Born and raised in Halifax, Bradley is deeply connected to community development, carrying forward the legacy of his grandfather, Delmore Buddy Daye. His journey from professional sports—playing and coaching football at the university and professional levels—to shaping values-based leadership, has made him a sought-after guide for teams navigating meaningful change.

12:00pm – 1:00pm – Lunch
Build Your Own Crafted Rice Bowl

• Base Choices: Whole grain rice, basmati rice.
• Hot Proteins: Sesame ginger tofu, Spicy Asian pulled pork, honey soy marinated chicken.
• Cold Vegetable: Sweet potato, edamame, grilled veggies

1:00pm - 2:00pm - RNS Strategic Planning Session

2:15pm - 3:15pm - Education Session Series #1

3:30pm - 5:00pm - Open Hearth Park Walk & Lawn Games

Join Donnie Burke from Build Nova Scotia, as he outlines the unique history of the Open Hearth Park's transition from "The Sydney Tar Ponds" to the public recreation space it is today.

The Park tour will explore various aspects of the space including: paved walkways, natural open spaces, outdoor concert venue, skating area, and playground. 

Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and footwear appropriate for walking on paved pathways and weather on the day. 

6:00pm - 8:30pm - RNS Awards Ceremony & Banquet ($65)

The Recreation Nova Scotia (RNS) Awards pay tribute to exceptional individuals, organizations, and communities that, through their programs, events, projects, and passion, have made outstanding contributions to building healthier communities and enhancing the quality of life for Nova Scotians through recreation.

 *Purchase added to overall total at checkout

8:30pm - Kitchen After-Party, Holiday Inn

Once the awards are wrapped up and the banquet plates are cleared, it’s time to keep the good times rolling! Join us for our Kitchen After-Party, where we’ll celebrate the Nova Scotian way—with live music, plenty of dancing, and lots of laughs.

In true kitchen party style, you can count on great company, plenty of fun, and moments worth remembering.

8:00am - 9:00am - All Canadian Breakfast Buffet, Holiday Inn

9:00am - 10:15am - RNS Annual General Meeting (AGM)

 10:30am - 11:25am - Education Session Series #2

11:30am - 12:30pm - Lunch & Recreation Showcase

Artisan Sandwiches with Seasonal Soup of the Day

In place of a traditional tradeshow event, recreation-related organizations and businesses are invited to participate in the Recreation Showcase as part of the 2025 RNS Annual Conference.

By setting up a display table to be explored by over 175 delegates on October 23, the Recreation Showcase is an opportunity to share information about relevant services, products and projects within the sector.

12:30pm - 1:25pm - Education Session Series #3

1:30pm - 2:25pm - Education Session Series #4

3:00 - 4:30pm - Grant Potter Memorial Hockey Game, C200

In honour of the vibrant, active lifestyle, blades on ice, life of Grant Potter. Join in for the game or just come to cheer on the players.

• All abilities welcomed
• Bring your own equipment
• Refreshments and cash bar available

5:00pm - 7:00pm - Fiddles and Flavor - Supper Social at Flavor H20 ($40)

Located just a short walk down the waterfront boardwalk, join us at Flavor H20 for an evening of food & drinks and live entertainment.

*Purchase added to overall total at checkout

8:00pm - 10:30pm - Regional Games, Holiday Inn

Introducing this year's Regional Games theme - Rec-tacular Carnival Night. That's right, we are hosting a carnival for regional games that will include individual games of chance and skill, opportunities to challenge regional opponents and a regional tug-of-war tournament. Regions can collect points in the tug-of-war tournament, participate in thecostume competition, and collect tickets at games. 

Costume Competition: Represent your region with your best carnival attire. Get creative and think of carnival/circus characters, such as clowns, jugglers, acrobats, or circus animals- or maybe one of each!

Volunteers Wanted: The Social Committee is looking to add some extra fun to regional games this year, featuring face painting, Henna tattooing, tarot card reading, balloon art, and more. If you are interested in sharing your skills as a volunteer for a portion of time at regional games, contact Kerri at inclusion@recreationns.ns.ca.

9:00am - 10:00am - Continental Breakfast

10:00am - 11:00am - Mike Maguire & Kael Hueston, The Landscape of Recreation Post-Secondary Education in Canada

 11:15am - 12:15pm - Engage Nova Scotia - 2025 Quality of Life Survey