How can we think of Easter 2026 when...?

 

By Kendall Worth

 

 

 

 

I am writing today’s BLOG post reporting on a question that is in the minds of many of the folks I advocate for, through my BLOG. On January 19^th. I posted This BLOG post here, reporting on how it is not too early to start thinking about and making plans to celebrate Easter. However lately I have been having conversations with Income Assistance Recipients who hare raising the question:

How can we even think about celebrating Easter this year when:

 

• Our homeless population here in Halifax as pointed out in This post here is showing no signs of decreasing anytime soon. .

• What we have to live on, struggling to keep up with rent and bills, as This post here points out, even if we did have friends or family members who we could invite over to our homes, we cannot afford to put Easter Dinner on the table.

• And yes as pointed out in IN this post here a small portion of us may get an invite to go to the home of a friend or family for Easter Dinner. However, the fact is that many of us will not get that invite.

• And further to all of that Easter this year is coming at a time that follows recent budget cuts made by our Provincial Government. See these posts where I reported on those budget cuts. https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2026/02/concerning-and-concerned-cuts-in-2026.html Here https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2026/03/downsizing-expectations-in-time-of.html and here https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2026/03/concerns-from-disability-community.html

   

  So the reality is this year Easter comes following cuts to Arts and Culture. Easter 2026 comes after Nova Scotians who are affected by these cuts, have already lost their jobs, or looking at a job loss coming in their near future. An Income Assistance recipient just last night, told me that her father who is usually pretty good at inviting over on holidays, recently told her, the bad news, that he cannot host her for Easter this year. She describes her father as semi retired. Up until recently, her father worked 18 hours a week, which he has been doing since leaving his full time employment at age 55. But he lost that job due to the cuts, in this year’s Provincial Budget. She told me that her father needs that time to himself, over Easter weekend, to figure out how he is going to afford to live, moving forward. Her example is just one example of what people are faced with this Easter.

  
  

  So it turns out, that this Easter, those faced with potential social isolation, is not limited to Income Assistance Recipients. Losing your job is nothing to celebrate. It is not known to the public as of yet whether or not Souls Harbour or any other organization will be hosting an Easter Dinner. However if any organization whatsoever is hosting an Easter Dinner this year, line-ups are expected to be long. Back at Christmas time 2025, many people including those NOT on Income Assistance, but struggling, had to cut back on their Christmas spending. The community is expecting that the same will be happening at Easter this year.

  I say let all celebrate Easter the best way we can and know how this year.