Designation Status

About Us

The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (CCTH) supports communities across the province to be welcoming, inclusive and accessible, providing a great quality of life for Nova Scotians and a memorable experience for visitors. We value the collective diversity of our heritage and our people and believe in the transformative nature of culture to help create healthy, active, growing communities. For more information visit https://cch.novascotia.ca/
 

Prescott House Museum features Acacia Grove, a refined Georgian home built between 1811 and 1816 by Charles Prescott, a merchant and politician from Halifax. Prescott is renowned for his role in developing Nova Scotia’s apple industry. He introduced over 100 apple varieties by grafting scions from Canada, the U.S., and England and generously shared his successes with local farmers. His estate also featured a garden filled with exotic fruits and flowers, reflecting his passion for outdoor living, wellbeing, and horticulture.
 

Prescott House Museum opened its doors to visitors in 1973 and operates seasonally from June to October. It provides a glimpse into the rich history of the Prescott family, Georgian architecture, and the horticultural legacy of the Annapolis Valley. It is one of the best-preserved Georgian houses in Canada and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1969. It is also a provincially registered property under the Nova Scotia Heritage Property Act.

About Our Opportunity

Prescott House Museum is excited to announce an opening for a Heritage Gardens Assistant. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team dedicated to preserving and sharing Nova Scotia's rich cultural and natural history.
 

In this role, you will be responsible for a diverse range of tasks that support the maintenance and promotion of the museum's historic gardens. Daily duties will include working with community partners
 

to maintain the gardens, caring for hedges, and performing general horticulture and grounds maintenance work that preserves the historic integrity of the museum and gardens.
 

You will also help with events, contributing to their planning, preparation, and execution to ensure success. Additionally, you will engage with visitors to share the story of the gardens, including Charles Prescott’s decision to focus on horticulture and country living to promote his health and well-being. This will involve providing tours, answering questions, and promoting an appreciation for the museum’s history.

Qualifications and Experience

We are seeking a high school, university, college student, or recent graduate interested in pursuing a career in horticulture, museum studies, environmental studies, history, or a related field. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic about working outdoors and has a strong interest in Nova Scotia's cultural and natural heritage and sharing their passion with visitors.

You are safety conscious, self-motivated, and can work independently and as part of a team. You possess strong interpersonal skills, as this role requires engaging with a diverse range of visitors, volunteers, and community partners, ensuring they feel valued. You are developing public speaking skills, and your passion for horticulture and history will be evident in every interaction.

Proficiency in basic gardening tools and techniques is an asset. Additionally, you should be developing your ability to organize tasks efficiently and communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally. Certification in First Aid and WHMIS would be an asset.

Working Conditions

Physical requirements include working outdoors, standing, walking, lifting, climbing stairs, crouching, and moving around for extended periods, exposure to dust, heat, and the use of common cleaning fluids.

Work Location: Prescott House Museum, 1633 Starr’s Point Road, Starr’s Point, Nova Scotia. Prescott House Museum is not on a transit route, therefore you must have reliable transportation. Please be aware that Prescott House Museum is not fully accessible.

The work schedule requires flexibility, including weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings. This position offers 35 hours per week at $18 per hour.

You must complete the necessary reference and background checks, including a criminal record check and a vulnerable sector search.

Additional Information

To be eligible, all applications for this posting must be received through the Province of Nova Scotia’s job competition website: https://jobs.novascotia.ca/. Please note the closing date for applications.
 

You must be registered in the Young Canada Works (YCW) on-line candidate inventory (www.youngcanadaworks.gc.ca) and meet the eligibility criteria of the program. A student may be eligible for employment if they:

• are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent resident status are not eligible);
• are legally entitled to work in Canada (have a valid social insurance number);
• are between 16 and 30 years of age inclusively at the start of employment;
• and are a high school, college, CEGEP, or university student.

This is a Student employment opportunity with anticipated start date of May 12, 2025 and end date of August  30, 2025.
 

NOTE: only résumés and cover letters submitted through the Public Service Commission by the closing date will be considered. The filling of this position is contingent upon receiving funding.