This description was written by Linda Wills, the Regional Liaison for Atlantic Canada.

Grandmothers groups are found in the four Atlantic Provinces of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. There are a total of twenty seven groups in the area, with the largest concentration in Nova Scotia. The potential for growth in our area is unlimited where people are known for their generosity. We look forward to developing and expanding into new towns and villages, including our Acadian communities, over the next few years.

For fundraising, we have held fashion shows, choir fests, breakfasts, Scrabble tournaments, bridge luncheons, bake sales, garage sales, craft sales, jewellery sales, African luncheons, hooked a rug, held house concerts and walked for Stride to Turn the Tide. We have developed partnerships with churches, artists, schools and universities. This is one of the magical aspects of the grandmothers movement. Kindred spirits abound with a strong sense of social justice.

We kicked off the AfriGrand Caravan in 2010, with Regina Mokgokong, and granddaughter, Nonkululeko Nowathe, the first of three sets of grandmother/granddaughter combinations to travel across Canada visiting 42 communities. They touched our hearts, and many in the communities, with their stories.

Our newsletter “Shore to Shore” was recently launched, and has proven valuable in keeping us all in touch.

The Atlantic Gathering in Fall 2011 was a huge success with keynote speakers, Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, Executive Director of SLF, and Makubuya Norah of the ROTOM project in Uganda. The Gathering brought together eighteen groups from across our region for workshops and a marketplace. The words of Ilana and Norah, who spoke of the challenges and triumphs in dealing with the ravages of AIDS brought home once again, the importance of what we do and why we do it.

• Click here to see if there is an upcoming gathering planned for this region.
• Click here to find a group in this region.