Staff and Regional Convenors

Arlene brings to the position her experience as executive director of the Pictou County Women’s Centre. Arlene is an active community leader, volunteer and advocate for the non-profit/voluntary sector.
amacdonald@csc-ns.ca
902-396-8456

Laurie Cook-Director, Strategic Development & Custom Learning

Laurie Cook is serial social entrepreneur with over 20 years experience in community development. She has been a community developer with the city of Halifax, worked in the film and television industry and is an active volunteer in her home community of Musquodoboit Harbour. She also has a Masters in Adult Education specializing in community development from St. Francis Xavier University. Laurie's passion is the great outdoors, and hiking the Musquodoboit Harbour Rail Trail whenever possible.
lcook@csc-ns.ca
902-719-7621

Nicole Cammaert-Director of Learning & Operations

Nicole Cammaert has over 20 years experience working with communities at the grass roots level. She also contributes years of experience working in diverse fields such as marketing and outdoor adventure tourism. Nicole brings a balanced, holistic and entrepreneurial ethos to her work as a community organizer, embracing complexity through systems change and social innovation. She has served in various community development capacities including most recently as Director of Community Engagement and Education for New Dawn Enterprises, as well as co-founder and manager of the North River Centre for the Performing Arts, Co-Chair for the St. Ann’s Bay Development Association, and Coordinator of the St. Ann’s Bay Community Health Centre, and Director of Marketing and Product Development for Tourism Cape Breton. Nicole is a recent graduate of the Coady International Institute’s program, Canadian Women’s Foundation Leadership Institute.
ncammaert@csc-ns.ca
902-549-0309

Alexandra Theroux-Operations Coordinator

Alexandra has worked in healthcare, non-profit, and post-secondary education. With over 8 years’ experience in administration, human resources, and project management as well as years of volunteer work – including acting as Chair for the Springhill, Oxford, Amherst, and Region (SOAR) Community Health Board from 2011-2015 – she is passionate about community engagement and seeing businesses succeed. Alexandra recently achieved a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Saint Vincent University in Marketing and Management and is enthusiastic about applying that education and her experience to help community organizations thrive.
atheroux@csc-ns.ca
902-223-7691

Corrina Petersen-Cape Breton Region

Corrina Petersen lives on beautiful Boularderie Island with her husband and three children where she has been involved in community development for the past twenty years. She has worked with non-profit organizations throughout Cape Breton as a Workforce Readiness Coordinator with the Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County, a Regional Coordinator for the Victoria County CAP Sites Association and an Instructor for the Cape Breton Seniors’ Community Learning Network. She has a great appreciation of life-long learning and has studied with the NS Literacy Practitioners Program, the Cape Breton Business College and St. Thomas University. Most of all she enjoys working with the wonderful people throughout Nova Scotia.
cpetersen@csc-ns.ca

Dana Perry-Central Region

Dana Perry is the Regional Hub Convenor for the Nova Scotia Community Sector Council, specifically administering the Central Region. Dana’s background includes a 20+ year career in the film industry, a lengthy musical career, and most recently as a Regional Coordinator for the Nova Scotia Community Access Program. His work related experiences in addition to his educational background in Science and History makes for a diversified approach to the Community Sector Council.
dperry@csc-ns.ca

Philip Girvan-Highland Region

Philip Girvan brings over a decade of adult education experience, and extensive training in network development to his role as Highland Region Hub Convenor. His professional projects and interests include citizen journalism, documentary film production, public health, community health, event production, publishing and IT. His volunteer experience includes serving as the Chair of Antigonish Town and County Community Health Board, as co-editor of the All-of-Us Society For Art Presentation Zine, and as a member of the Sustainable Antigonish Leadership Team.
pgirvan@csc-ns.ca

Brandi MacCuish-Northern Region

My name is Brandi MacCuish, I am 24 years old from Pictou County and a recent graduate of Cape Breton University with a Bachelor of Arts and Community Studies. I am a new intern for the Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia and will be closely working with the other convenors to expand my knowledge in the Community Sector. I am excited to be given the opportunity to work with the sector and keep my roots in my beautiful province of Nova Scotia.
bmaccuish@csc-ns.ca

Tara Jaskowiak-South Shore Region

Tara Jaskowiak has a passion for volunteer management and working with community organizations. Her instinct for bringing people together and developing great ideas has drawn her to creative leadership roles - from instructing at a YMCA outdoor centre in the Rocky Mountains and providing leadership to organizations on Vancouver Island, to supporting women and girls at Second Story Women's Centre and developmental evaluation with YouthScape Canada. She also has a strong background in event coordination and a penchant for volunteering herself. Currently, Tara is also the part-time Navigator with the Lunenburg Queens Volunteer Partnership and is dedicated to making connections and building capacity within the community.
tjaskowiak@csc-ns.ca

Helen J. Abel-Valley Region

Helen is an enthusiastic and engaging facilitator who lives vicariously through others succeeding. Helen has previous experience as a Business Counsellor, a Career Advisor and has worked with and for several community organizations located in the Annapolis Valley. Helen brings with her an entrepreneurial mindset and relishes exploring opportunities where she can maximize her skillset and transform something strong into something superb. Helen’s strengths lie in her positivity, ability to make connections with people and her tenacity to get the job done. An avid life-long learner, Helen has a BA in Business, a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and a Certificate in Adult Education. She has also started learning to play the piano!
habel@csc-ns.ca

These regional convenors play a vital role in giving a collective voice to the sector and enhancing the Community Sector Council’s capacity to address labour force and human resource issues across the province.