Who We Are & What We Do
The Truro Pride Society fosters the relationship with the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the traditional, business, and political communites of Colchester County.
Mission
The Truro Pride Society creates conversations and fosters understanding between 2SLGBTQIA+community members and the members of the local, traditional, and social communities in which they reside. Conversations are respectful, inclusive, celebrate diversity, and conducted to encourage intersectionality. Truro Pride will advocate for safer spaces, celebratory events, such as the Truro Pride Parade, and better understanding of 2SLGBTQIA+ challenges and successes.
Vision
The Truro Pride Society works to improve the representation and wellbeing of the local 2SLGBTQIA+community within the larger communities of Truro and Colchester County while celebrating the diversity, uniqueness, and relevance of us all in relation to each other.
Objectives
Meet the Board
Jamie Matthews
Vice Chair
Jamie brings with him over a decade of progressive non-profit leadership experience. Having experience in fund development, as well as marketing and communications, we are thrilled to have Jamie join our Board of Directors! He is originally from Cape Breton where he attended Cape Breton University in the Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies program, which is also where he developed his passion for supporting those in the vulnerable sector. He then moved to Toronto to attend Ryerson University as a graduate in their Gerontology program. While there, he worked for numerous national print and online publications, developing multi-million dollar advertising campaigns for some of our countries most recognizable brands.
Following his return home to the Maritimes, he made a career shift into the non-profit sector. Having worked at the Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, Hospice Fredericton, and the Colchester Sexual Assault Centre, he has developed a proven track record in helping non-profits reach their full potential. Jamie also brings with him a great compassion for those in need of support and is a passionate advocate for those needing a voice. These opportunities have Jamie with the skills in effective Board relations, operations, fund development and fundraising, donor and media relations, volunteer management, strategic planning and budgeting as well as grassroots community-based program delivery.
Raelee Rath
Secretary
Raelee is a member of the Truro Pride Society Board of Directors and was born and raised in Truro. Raelee works as a Project Manager in two Colchester-based small businesses and is a small business owner herself. She also sits on the board of the Truro Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity and is a youth hockey coach. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Acadia University and an MBA from Dalhousie University. Raelee has a passion for learning and educating about how we can make communities and workplaces more welcoming and inclusive. In her free time Raelee enjoys playing hockey and building LEGO kits.
Derek Voegeli
Treasurer
Derek joined the Truro Pride board in the fall of 2021. His day job is a full time private practice psychotherapist, with an emphasis on caring for the queer and trans community through mental health counselling. Derek identifies as pansexual and has found support in queer community for his own journey, and is happy to be giving back by serving on the Truro Pride Board.
In his spare time, Derek is a video game/beer/coffee officianado, and can make you a mean espresso if you ask nicely.
Laura Whiteland
Chair
Laura’s involvement with Truro Pride began with the 2019 Pride Planning Committee. Laura has a background in business and finance but brings a passion for trans issues to the society. She also believes in promoting and supporting queer and trans individuals in rural communities.