One Door

At Lindsay’s Health Clinic in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, a single exam room is serving women and gender-diverse people from across an entire region and beyond. Some patients are driving from Halifax, Cape Breton, and rural Guysborough County. Many haven’t seen a provider in years.In this episode, host Alex sits down with nurse practitioner Pam Reyes and clinic coordinator Denise McCarran Hart to explore what women’s healthcare really looks like in rural Nova Scotia today. They discuss:How provider retirements, long waitlists, and tech barriers are leaving seniors and families without careWhy patients are turning to the clinic for support with menopause, endometriosis, and other chronic conditions after feeling unheard elsewhereThe limits of virtual care for sensitive issues and why in‑person, trauma‑informed spaces matterHow gender-affirming care is evolving in the province—and the gaps that still exist in rural communitiesThe emotional toll of delayed care and what happens when people navigate serious health issues aloneThe vision for One Door: expanded hours, more providers, after-hours clinics, and true wraparound services under one roofFrom transportation and weather to work schedules and financial strain, Pam and Denise reveal the hidden barriers that keep people from getting care and how a collaborative, community-based clinic is trying to change that.At the end of the episode, you’ll hear how you can support the One Door project and help build a safer, more accessible future for women, families, and gender-diverse people across rural Nova Scotia.Learn More & Support One Door:To learn more about the One Door campaign, the new purpose-built centre, and how you can support this $5 million capital project, visit:  https://onedoor.awrcsasa.ca

Welcome to the first episode of the One Door podcast, a series that shines a light on the people, places, and ideas reimagining safety, support, and dignity for women, youth, and families in rural Nova Scotia and beyond.In our first episode, we explore the vision behind One Door, a purpose-built hub led by the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association (AWRCSASA). The goal: when someone walks through one door, they can access coordinated, wraparound support, so no one falls through the cracks.Host Alexandra MacRae is joined by:Anita Stewart – Executive Director, Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association  Natalie Leonard – Founding Partner & Senior Engineer, Passive Design Solutions  Barbara McLean – Former Deputy Chief, Toronto Police Service; former Investigations Director & spokesperson, Mass Casualty Commission  Episode 1 sets the tone for the series: real stories, honest conversations, and a clear vision for a safer future, one door at a time.About Lindsay’s Health CentreThe new One Door hub will include Lindsay’s Health Centre, opened in February 2005 in memory of Dr. Lindsay Myers, a respected Antigonish psychiatrist. Dr. Myers was a strong advocate for social justice, peace, and anti-poverty initiatives, committed to building a healthier community. Lindsay’s Health Centre continues her legacy through compassionate, community-rooted health services for women, youth, and families.Anita Stewart – Executive Director, AWRC & Sexual Assault Services Association Anita Stewart leads the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association, serving Antigonish and Guysborough counties. She and her team support women, gender-diverse folks, youth, and families navigating violence, poverty, mental health challenges, addictions, housing insecurity, and systemic barriers. Anita is a key driver behind the One Door model and capital campaign.Natalie Leonard – Founding Partner & Senior Engineer, Passive Design SolutionsWith a background in construction, Natalie Leonard is the Founding Partner at Passive Design Solutions (PDS) and a senior engineer. Driven by a commitment to equality and planetary health, she became the first certified Passive House Consultant and builder in Canada. Since 2009, PDS has focused exclusively on Passive House and Net Zero projects. Their values align closely with AWRCSASA’s community-based vision for the new centre.Barbara McLean – Former Deputy Chief, Toronto Police ServiceOriginally from Antigonish, Barbara McLean spent 32 years with the Toronto Police Service, retiring as a Deputy Chief overseeing Human Resources Command. She later served as Investigations Director and spokesperson for the Mass Casualty Commission, examining the police response to the events of April 18–19, 2020. Now retired in Nova Scotia, she continues to champion safer, more inclusive communities and the crucial role of grassroots organizations.Learn More & Support One Door:To learn more about the One Door campaign, the new purpose-built centre, and how you can support this $5 million capital project, visit:  https://onedoor.awrcsasa.ca

One Door is a podcast about courage, survival, and the urgent need to change how we respond to violence against women.For more than 40 years, the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre has been a place of safety, support, and connection for women, youth, and families across the community. But the reality is clear: violence against women is not a private issue, a rare issue, or someone else’s issue. It is an epidemic that reaches into homes, workplaces, schools, families, and communities — often quietly, often invisibly, and far too often without the coordinated support people need when they are ready to ask for help.This series tells the stories behind that need.Through conversations with frontline workers, survivors, advocates, community leaders, and those working to build a better future, One Door explores what it really takes to support women and families experiencing violence, trauma, poverty, housing insecurity, legal barriers, and isolation.At the heart of the series is a bold vision: a $5 million campaign to create a first-of-its-kind collaborative hub in Antigonish. A safe, dignified, supportive place where women and families can access coordinated, wraparound support under one roof.One door. Many kinds of help. A community choosing to respond.Learn more: https://onedoor.awrcsasa.ca/Hosted by Alexandra MacRae