The story resonated with our experience and made me tear up a couple of times.
As part of Scotiabank Centre's Community Ticket Program, over 1,400 tickets to non-profit organizations and charities across Nova Scotia are donated each year. Launched in 2018, the Community Ticket Program is designed to give more of our community more access to our events. In 2022, Scotiabank Centre and the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) became partners. ISANS is the leading immigrant settlement agency for over 10,000 newcomers annually, and offers programs that support language training, employment, and community integration. This can include introducing newcomers to Canadian culture and traditions like hockey, lacrosse, and even national theatre productions.
In November 2023, nine performances of the smash Broadway hit, Come From Away, came to Scotiabank Centre. The acclaimed 2013 musical brings to life the town of Gander, Newfoundland, just after 38 planes were grounded following the 9/11 attacks in New York. In the play, a group representing more than 7,000 stranded travelers are first put-off by the generous Atlantic hospitality and charm, but through traditional song and music, they soon feel welcomed in a time of crisis. Come From Away is powerful demonstration of finding belonging, and how our region can be a new place for hope.
With the help of ISANS, Scotiabank Centre invited two special guests to the opening night of Come From Away: Tetiana, a determined Ukranian mother, and her daughter who, amidst the chaos of the Russian occupation, sought refuge in Canada. Facing challenges, Tetiana and her daughter lived in a hotel for two weeks, but when unable to secure housing, they were left on the streets. Out of options, Tetiana's daughter posted on Facebook seeking help. Within 30 minutes, a local Halifax family offered them a warm home, but it wasn't just shelter; it was an embrace of friendship and belonging. Their host family's support extended beyond the home, helping to secure Tetiana's daughter a job, and through that, community. Watching Come From Away at Scotiabank Centre, Tetiana felt wasn't just a performance -- it was a reflection of the kindness they found here in Nova Scotia, and a moment when newcomers from away felt at home.