Accessibility Tools

 
Cycling
on the beach
Twilight over waves
Meat Cove
Winter Lodge
Rural Landscape
Road
Ocean Sunset
Mountain Road
Playing Golf
Lighthouse
Lake and Hills
Early Morning Boating
Coast
Camping
Beach

President, Brendon Smithson - Director of Regional Recreation Services for Halifax Regional Municipality

Brendon was the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Host Society in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), where the team delivered a safe and supportive environment to over 5,000 Indigenous youth from across Turtle Island. He is also a Board Member of the Aboriginal Sport Circle. He was also formerly with the province of Nova Scotia as a Sport and Recreation Consultant supporting the growth of sport, recreation and physical activity within the Mi'kmaw communities. Before his time with the province, Brendon worked in Municipal Recreation for ten years as a Director, focusing on creating inclusive environments for all participants. In Brendon's free time, you can find him in and around the lacrosse community in Nova Scotia, where he is a player, coach, board member and official. When not on the lacrosse floor, he enjoys all that Nova Scotia has to offer, especially its great outdoors and is a passionate football fan.

Past President, Rachel Bedingfield - Consulting Services for Acadia University

Rachel's (she/her) list of successes in sport and recreation includes being named to the Canadian Woman and Sports Association's 2015 list of the top 25 most influential women in Canada in the field of Sport and Physical Activity, being awarded the Community Leadership Award from Acadia University in 2019, and in 2022 the Queens Platinum Jubilee medal for her service to public recreation. She has served as a board member with Recreation Nova Scotia and an Individual Member with Commonwealth Games Canada. Currently, she sits on the National Parks for All committee on behalf of Recreation Nova Scotia. In 2016, Rachel helped spearhead the efforts to form WomenActive-NS, an organization focused on ensuring all women and girls in Nova Scotia have access to the benefits of sport and recreation. During this time, Rachel also sat as chair of the provincial committee for Access and Inclusion to Recreation in Nova Scotia. Advocating for sport and recreation as a tool to develop individuals and communities, Rachel passionately believes that all persons have the right to play. Her work continues to focus on access through the lens of equity.

Vice President of Finance, Chris Atwood - Executive Director, CBDC Blue Water

Bio coming soon!

Director at Large (2yr.), Tissy Bolivar - Program Coordinator for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg

Tissy Bolivar (she/her) serves as the Program Coordinator for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, bringing over 14 years of dedicated experience in municipal recreation. A graduate of Acadia University with a degree in Recreation Management, Tissy has consistently championed the role of recreation in enhancing community well-being. She is deeply committed to fostering inclusive, welcoming spaces that encourage participation for all. In her latest initiative, Tissy introduced the PRO Fund, an adult subsidy program designed to complement the existing PRO Kids program. This initiative ensures that all residents, regardless of financial status, can engage in recreational activities, reflecting Tissy's vision of recreation as a means to support and uplift every community member.

Director at Large (2yr.), Laura Jacobs - Manager of Recreation Services for the Town of Kentville

Laura Jacobs (she/her) is the Manager of Recreation Services for the Town of Kentville. She has worked as a kinesiologist in primary care clinics, in case management with WCB and Manulife Financial, and managed an integrated health centre in Miramichi, NB. Upon moving back to NS with her family she became the Recreation Director for the Village of Port Williams, from there she moved into an MPAL position for the Village of New Minas, then continued along main street to the Town of Kentville. Additionally, she has been elected President of Valley Recreation for the last 4 years and is entering her third year as a Director on the Board of Recreation Nova Scotia. All points of her career have returned to one intention and one goal: helping people. By joining the Recreation Nova Scotia Board, she hopes to further her interest in leadership development and capacity building and support the wider recreation community.

Director at Large (1yr.), Christena Curry - Manager - Parks, Recreation, & Youth for Millbrook First Nation

Christena Curry (she/her) is a Pictou Landing First Nation member and Manager of Parks, Recreation, & Youth for Millbrook First Nation. She has earned a diploma in Recreation Leadership, undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Brunswick (BRSS, MASRS), and has a research background in partnership development. Christena has been heavily involved in competitive sports both as an athlete and coach and has dedicated several years to developing her coaching credentials, with a specific focus on track and field. She was a member of Team Nova Scotia's Athletics Team and Head Coach for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) since 2008 and had a support role in Archery for NAIG 2023. She is passionate about community development, Indigenous sport, food security, and self-determination.

Director at Large (1yr.), Ruth-Ellen Jackson - Northwood Volunteer Coordinator & Community Recreation Lead

Ruth-Ellen Jackson's (she/her) passion for physical activity, recreation, and leisure has been lifelong. As a fine arts graduate of the University of North Carolina's School of the Arts, Ruth-Ellen established an international career as a professional dancer with New York City's prestigious Parsons Dance Company and the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble. Upon returning home to Halifax, Ruth-Ellen continued her professional dance career with Mocean Dance and received the 2016 Nova Scotia Masterworks Award. She has served on the Boards of Dance Nova Scotia and Kinetic Studio and is a certified Pilates teacher. After graduating from NSCC's Therapeutic Recreation Program, Ruth-Ellen joined Northwood as the Volunteer Coordinator and Community Recreation and Wellness Lead. In addition to her interest in recreation in community settings, Ruth-Ellen enjoys engaging people of all ages in dance, performance, Pilates, and the arts.

Vice President of Monitoring, Clare Steele - Active Communities Coordinator for Pictou County

Clare Steele (she/her) is passionate about community and making our beautiful corner of the world a healthier place to live and play. In her spare time, she can be found teaching yoga, paddling, or on a hiking trail with a couple of her four-legged sidekicks.

Recording Officer, Wallace Bernard - Mi'kmaw Physical Activity Leadership

Wallace Bernard (he/him) grew up in Wekoqmaq. He has earned a Recreation Leadership and Aboriginal Leadership Development diploma and has been heavily involved in Mikmaw sports and physical activity since then. Wallace has been on the Mission Staff for Team Mikmaw and Team Atlantic for the North American Indigenous Games and The Nation Aboriginal Hockey Championship. He was also on the Host Society Board for the North American Indigenous games. Wallace is very passionate about the outdoors. He likes finding new adventures, either a new waterfall, an epic mountain peak, or kayaking, no matter the season. Wallace likes showing people epic adventures and getting them outdoors. Wallace also volunteers with the local Cape Breton Search and Rescue.

Student Representative, Olivia Walker – Nova Scotia Community College

Bio coming soon!