Leadership and community training opportunities

A photo of a volunteer, smiling behind a laptop screen. Text reads: "Halifax | Parks & Recreation logo. Neighbourhood & Volunteer Services (NVS). Check out the spring 2026 Community Development Training Catalogue" in white font.

The community development team offers a range of training workshops designed to support community leaders, volunteers and grassroots organizations. Whether you're looking to develop new skills, strengthen your board or enhance your community programs, our team is here to help. Explore our training catalogue for upcoming sessions and submit your requests for personalized workshops. 

Register for an upcoming workshop

We offer a selection of introduction level workshops that are available to residents on a regular basis. These FREE workshops are offered regularly across the municipality and are suitable for learners of all levels. 

Check out our training catalogue and register for upcoming workshops at halifax.ca/myREC.

These are the upcoming Spring workshops:

Date Workshop name Time Location Course code
Date Workshop name Time Location Course code
Apr. 20 Board Administration Basics 6 – 8 p.m. North Preston Community Centre - Boardroom 53846
Apr. 23 Mapping Community Resources 6 – 8 p.m. Cole Harbour Community Centre - Meeting Room 53835
Apr. 29 Boards 101 6 – 8 p.m. Chocolate Lake Community Centre - Multipurpose Room 53828
May 6 Conflict as Opportunity 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Findlay Community Centre - Room 101 65570
May 14 Engaging Communities: Networking & Empowering Neighbourhood Action 6 – 8 p.m. Cole Harbour Community Centre - Meeting Room 53837
Jun. 3 Communication & Conflict Resolution 6 – 8 p.m. LeBrun Recreation Centre - Tucker Room 54876
Jun. 23 Micro Neighbourliness 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Halifax Central Common - Multipurpose Room 54279

About the workshops

These introductory workshops are designed to give you foundational knowledge and practical tools to strengthen your board and volunteer efforts.

  • Boards 101
  • Engaging Communities: Networking & Empowering Neighbourhood Action
  • Volunteer Recruitment & Retention
  • Planning Community Events & Neighbourhood Placemaking
  • Strategic Planning 101
  • Mapping Community Resources
  • Navigating Grants & Funding Opportunities
  • Leadership and Teamwork
  • Communication & Conflict Resolution 

To request a training session, either from the workshop catalogue or a customized one, please fill out our training request form.

Individual requests: If you are requesting a workshop for yourself, your request will be forwarded. A local Community Developer will reach out to you to confirm the details. If there aren't enough participants to run a session, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified about future offerings.

Group requests: If you are part of a community group or not-for-profit organization, a local Community Developer will reach out to coordinate the details and schedule a session that works best for your group. 

The program is an eight-session course developed by volunteers, for volunteers. It covers a wide range of topics to help you develop leadership skills and build strong communities.

The program is available upon request by groups with a minimum of 10 participants. If your not-for-profit organization, board or community group is interested in participating in the Step Up to Leadership program, please reach out to your local Community Developer.

To learn more about the topics covered in the program, visit the Step Up to Leadership program page.