Accept the challenge. Make a difference for our youth.

As new challenges become available we will invite for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, organizations, government agencies, Indigenous organizations, and academic institutions to submit letters of intent. Interested in partnering with the Lighthouse or have an interesting idea you would like to discuss in between challenges? Let us know!

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Current challenges

Our philosophy

Our approach is guided by a series of opportunity statements that were co-developed with our Advisory Committee. These statements guide our philosophy to addressing childhood obesity.

Download Opportunity Statements
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Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project Principles

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The Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project is guided by the following core principles that provide direction in the development and delivery of the Innovation Challenge and ensure we continue to work toward meaningful and sustainable health outcomes and economic opportunities for Nova Scotia.

Innovation

  • Demonstrate new ideas and creativity to identify wellness-focused solutions.
  • Encourage disruptive innovation that can create new markets and economic opportunities. 

Economic Development

  • Emphasize the potential for creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and attracting further investment to Nova Scotia.
  • Acknowledge that economic development can manifest in various forms within complex systems and solutions.

Focus on Root Causes

  • Address the socio-economic and environmental conditions that promote health and reduce risk factors for obesity, such as inactivity, unhealthy eating, poor sleep, and stress.

Mental Health Support

  • Address the negative impacts of weight stigma and weight bias on the mental health and well-being of children and youth.
  • Recognize that health is shaped by socio-economic and environmental conditions and that physical, mental, emotional, financial, social, and occupational health are all interconnected.

Equity

  • Consider health equity, social determinants of health, and EDIRA (equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, and accessibility) principles.
  • Include people of diverse backgrounds in the design of solutions that affect them.
  • Benefit all segments of the population, including the most vulnerable.

Evidence-informed

  • Be guided by evidence or promising practices in ameliorating chronic disease.
  • Leverage data and research to support the economic viability and market potential of proposed solutions.

Scalability

  • Illustrate how a given solution could be scaled within Nova Scotia as well as Canada and internationally.

Empowerment

  • Empower individuals, families, communities, and populations to improve their health by restoring health, promoting resilience, and preventing diseases across the lifespan.

Sustainability

  • Design with long-term sustainability in mind to achieve lasting results.

Collaboration

  • Demonstrate collaboration among diverse partners to address the complex issue of wellness.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to stay agile and adaptable.