Maria Cain– Executive Director

Maria started at HeartWood in May of 2008. She has two Master's degrees in Environmental Studies and Women's Studies and previously worked at Clean Nova Scotia (a non-profit organization focused on the environment) for 8.5 years in a variety or roles delivering and coordinating programs as well as writing proposals and managing staff.

Maria loves working at HeartWood because the impact of this work changes people's lives in amazing ways. She also loves working with such a talented, skilled and hard-working groups of staff and volunteers. Maria leads by example in creating a supporting, engaging and innovative work environment. She supports staff to pursue their interests, takes time for themselves when needed, and to actually take lunch breaks!

Maria's other passion is her family, especially her two beautiful daughters and her supportive husband. She also enjoys yoga, swimming, dancing, country music (her secret yet not-so-secret love!), reading and traveling.

Isabelle LeVert-Chiasson- Program Facilitator

Isabelle has been working with HeartWood full-time since 2008. Previous to that, Isabelle worked for HeartWood on contract for a variety of programs over the years.  Through this work (and play), she facilitates group processes that seek to meaningfully engage youth in our communities. The community tool kit that Isabelle uses to bring diverse groups of people together includes fun methods such as the outdoors, popular theatre, art, music, technology, story-telling, open space, world café, appreciative inquiry, participatory action research methods and "magic" (transforming ordinary situations into extraordinary wonders!).

Isabelle considers herself an community development practitioner, having worked a great deal across the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, Latin America, South East Asia and West Africa. She's had the opportunity to work and learn from a variety of groups, including government, the business community, the voluntary sector, youth, community groups and the homeless population.

In her spare time, Isabelle loves to knit and do crafts, play sports, go on adventures in the outdoors, eat and cook yummy food and spend time with loved ones. She believes building relationships is the essence of any community development work. She's consequently always interested in meeting new people. Isabelle also loves to drink coffee; therefore an open invitation is always there for going out for a hot beverage and sharing ideas and stories!

Lori-Ann Nunn- Accounting & Office Administrator

Lori-Ann is a huge asset to HeartWood with her knowledge, skill and work ethic. She has many responsibilities including bookkeeping, data-entry, cheque writing, financial reports, filing and answering phones – to name just a few! Lori-Ann has 10 years experience in financial and office administration in the private, government and non-profit sector. She enjoys working at HeartWood because it’s a fun place to work and there are always new things to learn. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors and singing karaoke.

HeartWood’s Board of Directors

Current Occupation:  Senior Associate, True Potential Consulting

Board Member since: October, 2009

Chris Hayes is first of all defined as: a son to wonderful parents, a husband to a wonderful wife and a father to two children. Due to his service ethic and having been a HeartWood Staff in its early years, Chris gladly serves as co-chair of the board. His values are consistent with that of HeartWood and he hopes his skills contribute to its future successes. As a professional Chris operates a company named True Potential Consulting. Focusing on leadership training and team building, he attempts to increase the capacity and effectiveness of all Atlantic Canadian organizations, companies, and individuals. In his spare time, of which there is very little, Chris enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including rock climbing. Several years ago Chris volunteered as both Chair and Treasurer for Climb Nova Scotia over a period of 5 years. Chris states that he is honoured to have been asked to support such a worthy organization in such a critical role.

Current Occupation: Project Support, Management & Administration (Contractor)

Board Member since: January, 1989

Maureen Langbo has spent over twenty years working with youth in many different environments and locals. In 1989, she co-founded HeartWood Centre for Community Youth Development, with her husband, Marc Langlois. She happily worked as part of the HeartWood team for 15 years, as programmer, administrator, manager, director and volunteer.
Maureen’s professional passion lies in work that supports young people achieving their personal best - in service to themselves, their family and their community. Of particular interest is young people empowering other young people to do the same.
Beyond treasured times spent with family and friends, Maureen also enjoys world travel, outdoor pursuits, choral singing, yoga and good food!
Maureen and her family split their time between London, ON, where she is now working and studying, and NS, where she continues to volunteer with HeartWood as a Board Member.

Current Occupation: Management Consultant, The Barrington Consulting Group Inc.

Board Member since: November, 2008

Adrien, who is a strong believer in building strong, inclusive communities, joined HeartWood’s Board of Directors in September 2008. She has actively volunteered with numerous organizations over the years, including the Metro Immigrant Settlement Association, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Bicycle Nova Scotia and the Bluenose Marathon.
In her personal life, Adrien is an avid alpine skier and road cyclist and enjoys most other sports, too. As a certified Level 2 ski instructor with the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance, Adrien has long enjoyed sharing her passion for the sport through teaching both adults and children.
In her professional life, Adrien works as a Senior Management Consultant with the Barrington Consulting Group. Prior to joining Barrington, Adrien worked with an Atlantic Canadian human resources consulting firm and a Fortune 100 corporation that provides energy optimization and operational efficiency services and solutions to clients. She has provided professional counsel to a wide variety of private, public and not-for-profit sector clients, and has also led the development of large scale infrastructure renewal and energy efficiency projects with Canadian public sector clients.
Adrien has earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees, and is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) Candidate.

Dr. Michael Bowdridge - Co-Chair

Current Occupation: Teacher and Department Head, Citadel High School

Board Member since: June 2011

Michael has a strong interest in youth engagement, leadership and empowerment. His doctoral work examined outdoor and experiential education, with an emphasis on curriculum theory and implementation. As a teacher, he has been involved with a number of initiatives that have focused on fostering student engagement, and he looks forward to working with the Heartwood community. Michael has done extensive scuba diving and hiking, and previously was involved with the Halifax Regional Search and Rescue.

Current Occupation: Executive Vice President Sustainability, Nova Scotia Power

Board Member since: Fall 2010

Robin is Executive Vice President Sustainability with Nova Scotia Power responsible for development and increasing the use of renewable resources in the company's generation mix.  He has previously been responsible for a variety of development initiatives with Emera affiliated companies including the Brunswick Pipeline. Prior to joining Emera, Robin worked with KPMG consulting's Halifax office.
Robin has a long history of working with youth as a volunteer coach andorganizer within the minor basketball and soccer organizations in which his three children were active.  He has also been a volunteer with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Saint John Board of Trade and Public Legal Education. Robin first heard of Heartwood when he wondered who developed the excellent training that his daughter had received as an adventure camp leader with the HRM recreation department.  Robin hopes to be able to support the marketing and fund raising committees of Heartwood and increase connections to the region's business community.

Kerry Jennex - Treasurer

Current Occupation: Accountant, NS Power

Board Member since: June 2011

Current Occupation: Student

Board Member since: October 2009

Margaret MacDonald has studied Public Relations for the past three years at Mount Saint Vincent University after moving to Halifax from her hometown of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She is an infrequent but avid traveler, having lived on the west coast of Canada twice in both Victoria and Vancouver, respectively. While on a work placement in Vancouver, she witnessed the 2010 Winter Olympic Games first hand, working in the heart of downtown. She has also worked as a Marketing and Communications assistant with the Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), working with local business people and promoting the beauty of Halifax. As lover of music and art, and with past volunteer experience with the Halifax International Busker Festival, she hopes to become involved with East Coast entertainment in the future. Her volunteer experience, alongside witnessing a lack of motivation for youth growing up in a small town, have ultimately led her to the Heartwood community.

Current Occupation: Provincial government

Board Member since: Fall 2010

Emily’s connection to HeartWood began fifteen years ago when she was a participant on a wilderness canoe trip. Over the years she has been a staff member and volunteer and is excited to be part of the organization once again as a Board member. Emily currently works for the provincial government.

Current Occupation: Custumer Service, TD Canada Trust

Board Member since: Fall 2010

Kyle DeYoung

Current Occupation: Law Student at Dalhousie

Board Member since: June 2011

James Arron

Current Occupation: Student - Dalhousie University and Vice President of Student Life (Dalhousie Student Union)

Board Member since: June 2011

The search for a slower life, for deeper forms of community, for a deeper connection with nature, brought me from my hometown of Markham, ON (the high tech capital of Ontario) to the East Coast. This fine city of Halifax did not disappoint. Over the past 5 years I've found myself involved with some wickedly cool people and projects - helping to establish youth service learning programs (with the support of Heartwood, Department of Education and the HRSB, and countless partners); trying to plant the seeds for deeper forms of municipal civic engagement as a special assistant to Mayor Kelly (that was an experience); turning the Dal campus pub into one of the best live music venues in the city; planning Orientation Weeks and other large scale events for my university; building a leadership development department within my student union; and dabbling in lots lots more. I've learned a ton along the way, but the truth is I'm not exactly sure what, only that the more I learn the more I realize how much more there is to learn - and so I look forward to learning with you!