About Me
Having grown up in Newfoundland during the social revolution of the 60's and 70's, I developed a strong believe that one person could make a difference. It was a time of activism and working with groups to make positive change. This shaped my future work and involvement with the many faces of social activism. This feeling that all thing were possible for me, as a women, encouraged me to work for the Iron Ore Company of in the 1970s when they first started hiring women in an industry that was solely male dominated. Today, my life and work have evolved into working with individuals on the margins of society as well as the community at large. I describe myself as an advocate "for women, children, seniors, teens and those who face systemic barriers", and my work as a Victim Services Coordinator requires not only empathy but a dogged determination to have a positive impact.
I'm currently working on a MBA degree in Community Economic Development and have attained a BA and a BEd, with strong emphasis in sociology, anthropology and psychology, and worked for over ten years with the Bay St. George Status of Women's Council. The Women's Council was actively involved in initiatives that worked to arrest the systemic barrier women face in their personal lives and employment. A great deal of effort was place on community capacity building, training and business development. While working with the Women's Council, I served on several advisory committee but. The work with the Women for Economic Equality group in Nova Scotia as they developed a user friendly guide on Community Economic Development was particularly rewarding.
Upon joining Justice, I had cultivated an enthusiasm for issues surrounding social responsibility. Though these issues may vary from community to community, I believe my community work with different groups has been effective. Through efforts, such as the anti-violence campaign, public awareness has increased. I have often worked behind the scenes with other agencies, like the John Howard Society, researching and developing policies and programs to deal with issues, such as stalking. My current job involves helping people get through a traumatic time in their lives. "People's lives can change in a second ... this is especially true for victims ... people need to be treated with the care and respect you would want for yourself or your loved ones".
