Social worker excited to build a new life and career after moving to Nova Scotia

Kayden Burns is still processing everything that has transpired in the months since first arriving in Nova Scotia with partner Grace Mahoney.

The couple had been contemplating a move from their home in Worcester, Massachusetts for more than a year when they finally decided to leave the United States as the climate for 2SLGBTQ+ people became more unsafe.

“Grace has always been open to adventure, and this was something that she was very open to,” says Kayden, who is non-binary.  

“And then for me, I never thought about leaving Massachusetts, I was content there. But then political stuff started shifting how I felt, so it wasn’t until after the last presidential election that I started to think that it was time for a change.”

Canada had been high on the couple’s list of potential destinations and decided to move to Nova Scotia after Kayden, a licensed social worker, had been offered a job working at a clinic in Dartmouth for the Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP).

They both immediately felt at home after first arriving here in February.

“My head might be spinning constantly, but all these interactions I am having in real life with real humans has been wonderful. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this type of safety.”

Based on everything Nova Scotia had to offer, the couple says it immediately felt like the right fit.

“We did have a broad lens of looking all over Canada, we were actually looking at B.C. as well, and this place just kind of chose us,” Kayden says.

Kayden graduated from Boston University in 2014 and has been working as a licensed social worker for almost 12 years, a career that felt like a good fit.

“I’ve always just had a real interest in systems and equity, so social work for me was just the next natural step,” Kayden says.

Working in a different system than what they were used to has been a big adjustment for Kayden, but says they are happy to be part of the MHAP.

“I just always had that ethos of healthcare as a human right, and I think for me that was a big draw for Canadian healthcare. So just the fact that I’m able to work in a system that mirrors my values is a huge gift,” says Kayden, whose current role involves helping adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health concerns.

“There’s something very qualitatively different about patient care here, including having a team of other clinicians that I can talk to. And many of them have honestly been here for more than 10 years, which shows their commitment and dedication to the population and that is really admirable.”

The couple have been enjoying living life in an environment that feels safe for them and Grace’s six-year-old child. Both nature lovers, they have been exploring all Nova Scotia has to offer, with Kayden saying being close to the ocean was another big draw for their family.  

“We’re just outside all the time, it’s so beautiful here,” Kayden says, adding that they are calmer and more relaxed than they were before the move.

“I’m still processing, I would say. I think I didn’t know how wound tight I was until I got here.”

Grace has built a sizable following on social media, with several of her videos on Instagram and TikTok going viral, as she recounted the couple’s experiences since moving to Nova Scotia, including their relief in being in an environment in which they are free to be themselves and live their lives like everyone else.

“I’m not particularly for the limelight, but the work that she’s doing is very powerful and I know she’s going to be able to help a lot of people,” Kayden says.

Between the unexpected attention that Grace is getting on social media, and Kayden learning how to practise social work in a different system, it’s been a whirlwind year for the couple.  

And while it will take a bit of time for the reality of their new life to fully set in, Kayden says they are looking forward to things settling down and laying down roots in their new home.  

Photo of (L-R): Kayden Burns with spouse Grace Mahoney.