Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women

Purpose

Through this 54-month project, the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, in collaboration with the other three Atlantic provinces, will develop and pilot GuysWork, a transformative school-based program for male identified students across elementary, middle, and high school grades designed to help boys navigate the intense pressures and expectations around masculinity that shape their identities as men. This program will support and strengthen efforts to engage young men as allies in reducing Gender Based Violence (GBV) and increase capacity for action. The work will help grow a population of young men who want to challenge and change social norms that contribute to GBV. By implementing this promising practice of teaching healthy masculinity in the Atlantic Region and ensuring a formal evaluation, the model will then be shared for possible replication by other jurisdictions. With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women will further develop Guyswork by updating the curricula content reflecting the changes in the social landscape with regards to toxic/healthy masculinity. 2026-2027 will also see the full implementation of Guyswork to Grade 9s across the province and continue efforts in rolling out GuysWork across the Atlantic provinces, building on key lessons learned and experiences from the first four years of the project. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.