Our board strives to create a more inclusive and welcoming community for all in Truro and Colchester County.
Jillian Toonders (she/her)
Chair
Jill is excited to help lead Truro Pride in creating community for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks in Colchester County and Truro. Jill moved to the area in 2019 after living in rural Ontario. She works in the community at Burchell-MacDougall as a Lawyer. When she has free time in her busy schedule, Jill loves hiking in Victoria Park, working on puzzles, embroidery projects or other crafts. She also enjoys watching the variety of shows that the Marigold has to offer! Jill was excited to see Truro Pride exist as someone who grew up rurally, “As someone from a rural area, I want to help create a welcoming and safe space for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community that I always wish existed in my rural hometown. When I moved to Truro I was excited to find out about Truro Pride and see everything they were doing to help make Truro a more vibrant community. I knew I wanted to be part of it!”.
Alana Weatherbee
Vice Chair
Bio coming soon!
Amanda Hemsworth (she/her)
Secretary
Amanda is happy to be on the board and help make a difference in Colchester County! She is originally from Halifax, and moved to Colchester County in 2016. With her background in Social Work, Amanda currently works for the Disability Support Program. When she is not working Amanda enjoys crafting and going on small adventures! You might see her beachcombing at a local spot or exploring down the 311 to Tatamagouche to hangout on the Waugh River. Amanda joined the board as a part of her coming out process, “… I was looking for community. Searching for a community can be intimidating with additional challenges when living rurally. Board membership gave me the opportunity to connect to the community and participate in actions that support our community”.
Paige Evergreen (she/her)
Treasurer
Paige is grateful to serve the community on this board. She holds a degree in Environmental Science and Studies, and have been an active community volunteer for most of her life. Paige have previously sat on a student newspaper board during her education, as well as recently working with Colchester East Hants Public Libraries to deliver food literacy programming in our communities. In her free time she is reading through her book list, trying out a new craft, or hanging with her kitties.
Saribel Deslauriers (she/her)
Member-at-Large
Bio coming soon!
Paula Whittaker (she/her)
Member-at-Large
Paula is thrilled to be a board member, and Chair of the Social and Trans-Action Committees!
Born and raised in southern Ontario, Paula moved to Truro in 2022. Paula is now retired, but spent 30 years working with adults with cognitive disabilities. She uses her time in retirement to volunteer and be a board member with the Colchester Food Network. When she’s not busy volunteering, Paula enjoys spending time with her family and grandson exploring her adopted province. She also keeps up with her three favourite sports teams; the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Buffalo Bills. Paula recognizes Truro Pride’s importance to the community, “Truro Pride is a very important part of the fabric of this community. We need to continue to serve the people who need us the most and strengthen our relationships with everyone who lives here”.
Mathew Shannon (he/him)
Member-at-Large
Mathew is excited to join the board in giving back to the community. Mathew grew up in Cape Breton and moved back to Nova Scotia 2 years ago after 14 years in Calgary, Alberta. He currently lives outside of Truro on a hobby farm. When Mathew is not running his carpentry business he spends time volunteering for the Colchester County Fire Department, baking, making wine/beer, gardening and gaming (when he has time!). Mathew enjoys helping people whenever he can, including helping with carpentry projects, this is a big reason why he joined the board, “I’m looking to help build a community where every person can feel seen, heard and know that they are not alone”. When Mat leaves the woods he likes to grab a pint in Truro or go for a walk in Victoria Park with his beagle Olliver.
Emily Cairns-Rousseaux (she/her)
Member-at-Large
Emily is thrilled to join the board to be able to give back to the community she moved to in 2022. Originally from Ottawa, this is the first time she has lived in a more rural community, “…now that I volunteer with my little brother with BBBS, it’s given me insight into how much fear and lack of understanding drives hatred and how different the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ kids are depending on where they grew up.” Emily enjoys spending time at Victoria Park, grabbing a cozy drink at NovelTea or taking a dip in the RECC pool! When not at Victoria Park, Emily is a graphic designer and marketing specialist. She lives in Colchester county with her partner Sophia (she/they) and Goldendoodle Margaret Houlihan.
Katherine Pike (she/her)
Member-at-Large
Katherine is excited to join the board to give back to the community. Katherine was in a military family. She moved to Truro from the South Shore in 1992. Katherine enjoys spending time with her black cat, Llewelyn Watts (yes, they are named after a character in Murdoch Mysteries!). She also has two teenage fairy goddaughters who both live in Truro. Katherine is a case manager at the Native council of Nova Scotia in their Aboriginal Training and Employment Commission (APTEC) department. Katherine joined the board to help create safer spaces in the community, “I wanted to become a board member to help create and foster safer spaces and communities where we live and work.”.
Committees of the Truro Pride Board of Directors
Truro Pride Community Committees
Want to join one of our community committees? Please fill out a contact form and we will get back to you as soon as we can!