Poutine Fest raises funds for Recovery Support Centre

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, …. The first-ever Pictou County Poutine Fest raised $3,250 for the Recovery Support Centre at Aberdeen Hospital in early September, thanks to the grassroots efforts of local community member Megan Hartling.

Megan planned the event to coincide with National Suicide Prevention Week (September 7–13), partnering with six local restaurants that each offered their own poutine special. For every order sold, $2 was donated to the Recovery Support Centre, which provides mental health and addiction support services in the community.

For Megan, the event was a personal project. “Over six years ago my cousin, who was always more like a big brother to me, took his own life after not being able to access the mental health services he needed,” she says. “I really wanted to do something to honour him and maybe help other families avoid that pain.”

Photo caption: Megan Hartling (far right) presents the first Poutine Fest donation to staff from the Recovery Support Centre at Aberdeen Hospital. An additional $250 donation brought the total raised to $3,250. Front row, left to right: Michelle Ferris, Executive Director, Aberdeen Health Foundation; Megan Manuel Murphy, Administrative Coordinator; Ashley Campbell, Secretary, Mental Health & Addictions (MHA) Northern Zone (NZ) Withdrawal Management; Monika Thompson, Manager, Addiction Services, MHA NZ Withdrawal Management. Back row, left to right: Laurie MacKinnon, RN2, MHA NZ Withdrawal Management; Mary Norris, Nurse Rehab Counsellor, MHA Withdrawal Management; Donna Pirnie, Nurse Rehab Counsellor, MHA Withdrawal Management; Jami Cameron, RN Team Lead, MHA Withdrawal Management; and Megan Hartling.

When the idea for Poutine Fest first came to mind in the spring, Megan reached out to the Aberdeen Health Foundation to ensure proceeds could go directly to the Recovery Support Centre. “It made sense to go through the Foundation because I felt I could really trust them,” she says. “I knew the money would go where it’s needed.”

After connecting with the Foundation, Megan began reaching out to local restaurants to see who might be interested in taking part and started spreading the word throughout the community. “I had no budget for advertising, so I created a Facebook event and hoped people would notice,” she says. “By the beginning of September, more than 3,000 people had joined. The response was amazing.”

Each restaurant came up with its own version of the dish and saw a welcome boost in business during what Megan says is often a slower time of year. “It was great for everyone,” Megan says. “The restaurants loved it, the community loved it, and we raised money for a program that really matters.”

Monika Thompson, Manager of Addiction Services at Aberdeen Hospital, says the program offers a new approach to recovery. “It’s a new model of care designed to increase access to outpatient support so people can stay better connected to their daily lives while getting the help they need,” says Monika. “The Recovery Support Centre provides education, recovery, and harm reduction support, along with one-on-one and group treatment for people struggling with substance use or gambling.”

While the fundraiser itself was a great success, what stood out most to Aberdeen Health Foundation Executive Director Michelle Ferris was the awareness it created.  “I saw people talking about mental health and recovery, picking up brochures, sharing stories. It opened the door for conversations a lot of us don’t often have,” says Michelle. “Community-led efforts like this go beyond the dollars raised. They bring people together and help build that understanding. We’re so grateful to Megan for that.”

Following such a strong first year, Megan says Poutine Fest will be back again in 2026. “Next year, I’m hoping to get even more restaurants involved,” she says. “It’s something fun that brings people together for an important cause.”

To stay updated or get involved in next year’s event, visit Poutine Fest on Facebook.

The Aberdeen Health Foundation is the leading charity for enhancing health care in Pictou County. In 2024, the Foundation invested over $2.7 million to fund medical equipment and enhance health programs at the Aberdeen Hospital and in the community. Your contribution can be the catalyst for even greater change — find out how you can make an impact here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle Ferris
Executive Director
Aberdeen Health Foundation

902-752-7600 ext. 4442
Michelle.Ferris@nshealth.ca