NOTE — Participation in all Chess Nova Scotia events is subject to Government of Nova Scotia guidelines. See policy here. Participants must also abide by the Covid-19 policies of the event host.
Intergenerational Chess Project
The Intergenerational Chess Project (ICP) is aimed at promoting meaningful and purposeful cross-generational engagement through chess. As part of the project, Chess Nova Scotia is renewing its work to connect with older-adult residential, community & recreational centres, libraries, and other organizations across the province to promote chess as a recreational activity for all ages. The idea is to help youth, adults and seniors to learn & play chess together. If you are interested in starting a chess activity in your community, please contact us at info@chessns.ca.
Chess Nova Scotia acknowledges the Department of Seniors (2020), Nova Scotia, for its generous grant in support of the older-adult program initiatives and related components within the ICP.
Chess at the Library
Chess is a pastime that has been embraced by young and old alike. It can help develop logic, spatial thinking, and improve planning, memory, judgment, creativity, and concentration.
Chess Nova Scotia and participating libraries invite Nova Scotians to join in at instructional and recreational chess programs when scheduled. While the program’s goal is to teach novice players the basic strategies of the game, the emphasis is on fun, enjoyment, and learning something new. New program listings will be posted here in the fall of 2022.
Chess Wise: Chess for Older Adults
Chess Nova Scotia’s mandate encompasses development and support of chess learning, competition and enjoyment across the age spectrum.
While chess is well known as an aid to early childhood education, recent research indicates cognitive benefits for the aged as well. Chess Wise will offer chess activity and programs for older adults in residential homes and community & recreation centres.
If you or your organization would like to know more, please contact Chess Nova Scotia at info@chessns.ca. If you are eager to get started, see Learn to Play.
Pawn Waves: The Nova Scotia After-School Chess Program
Pawn Waves is an after-school project for all schools in Nova Scotia (starting September 2022). Its interactive design will allow adults or seniors with no previous knowledge of chess to facilitate immediate chess learning & play.
With chess, children learn courtesy, patience, and self-reliance as they concentrate, analyze, imagine, and decide. Chess is also universal. It accommodates the full diversity of cultural and individual difference.
Educators are invited to try the introductory component: www.lichess.org/learn#/. Details of the program will follow at Pawn Waves: Nova Scotia After-School Chess
Pawn Wise: The Atlantic All-Ages Chess Festival 2022
Pawn Wise aims to spark awareness of chess as a medium for social and cognitive health across the spectrum of age.
The Canadian Seniors Chess Championship will be held in the Atlantic region for the first time. The inaugural Nova Scotia Mayflower Open, open to all ages, takes place alongside it.
On July 31, Sunday evening, keynote speaker Shruti Patelia, School of Kinesiology & Health Science, York University, will speak on research on chess, aging, and the mind.
See Pawn Wise for more information.