Malagash Mine Café in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, has come alive with laughter, coffee, and connection through a grassroots initiative called “Come as Neighbours, Leave as Friends.”
Funded by local community health boards, the Rock Salt Café in Malagash Mine is a pop-up, café-style gathering place that welcomes newcomers, older adults, and youth to enjoy conversation, tea, and treats during the colder months. Each Wednesday, up to two dozen regulars come together despite the cold, reflecting that a sense of community can thrive in any condition with a warm and welcoming space.
The Rock Salt Café was created after COVID-19 to support mental health, wellness, and community connection. The local health boards provided about $3,000 in funding to help launch the project as part of their efforts to improve health by supporting programs focused on food, housing, transportation, and social participation. Malagash Mine has a long history of neighbours helping one another, and the café aims to revive that strong sense of community.
Named after the area’s historic salt mine, the Rock Salt Café invites newcomers to learn about local history and meet long-time residents under the slogan, “Come as Neighbours, Leave as Friends.” The hall is now a registered charity with about 70 members and nearly 200 active participants who join events like crib nights. Volunteers have been the café’s biggest success, as their energy and effort have turned it into more than just a program and into a true place of belonging.
