We are so thankful to live in an area where volunteers are willing to step-in and help lift up our communities. These selfless people coach our children, create community theatre, respond to emergencies, spearhead community events and initiatives, and so much more. Their endless dedication and community support is a critical component in Nova Scotia's outstanding quality of living, and why Annapolis County is such a great place to live, work, and play.

 

A huge thank you and congratulations to our 2025 Annapolis County community volunteers, and the organizations and individuals who nominated them.

2025 Annapolis County Provincial Representative:

WADE, Melissa
Nominated by: Mountains and Meadows Care Group

Melissa has demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to volunteerism, making a significant impact with the Special Olympics. Her selfless contributions and tireless efforts have empowered the community and inspired those around her. For the past 18 years, Melissa has been deeply engaged with the Special Olympics, serving as a Regional Coordinator. In this role, she oversees the organization of coaches and volunteers, coordinates fundraising events, and ensures the smooth operation of the organization. Her work in mentoring, organizing events, fundraising, and advocation has led to the Special Olympics being honored as a cornerstone of the community. Beyond her hands-on involvement, Melissa consistently goes above and beyond, embodying the values of leadership, compassion and service. Her ability to overcome obstacles and bring people together in the disability supports community has made a lasting difference in the lives of many. In addition to her volunteer work, Melissa is employed full-time with Mountains and Meadows Care Group, where she supports individuals with varying abilities. In her role with the organization, she ensures that participants are actively engaged in their community through activities such as volunteering, employment, social clubs, and more. For her unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions, she is highly deserving of this honour. Her impact serves as an inspiration to many, and her continued efforts will undoubtedly create even more positive change in the future.
“Melissa is an advocate in this province for Persons with Different Abilities. Her advocacy ensures People with disabilities have the same rights, respect, and opportunities as everyone else.” - Joyce d’Entremont CEO, Mountains and Meadows Care Group.


2025 Annapolis County Community Volunteers:

BYER, Rodney

Nominated by: The Salvation Army

Rodney is an integral part of the community, having been a bus driver for over 2 decades, serving as a volunteer firefighter, and volunteering with The Salvation Army. Rodney answered the call to serve during the Shelburne fires and altruistically offered up his time, along with his wife Rosalie to serve all of those affected by the 2023 Shelburne wildfires. Rodney has utilized every opportunity for disaster response training, most recently having completed the mental health support training offered by The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services. Rodney has taken leadership initiatives within the Bridgetown team and is an exemplary member of the community.








BYER, Rosalie
Nominated by: The Salvation Army

Prior to her recent retirement, Rosalie (Rose) had spent her life serving residents of her community as a nurse and has spent many years volunteering with The Salvation Army in Bridgetown. Rosalie volunteers with church programs and with the Community & Family Services office, which assists in providing basic necessities to individuals and families who need support. She has selflessly given of her time during two large scale deployments in Nova Scotia, working tirelessly to provide meals to those affected during the Shelburne wildfires.

CRESS, Chris
Nominated by: Clementsvale and District Recreation Commission

Chris has been an integral part of the Clementsvale and District Recreation Commission, where she serves on the board, with a commitment to local initiatives that has made a lasting impact on countless individuals in the area. Chris’s tireless work in organizing and spearheading fundraising events has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the past two years alone, she has played a pivotal role in organizing initiatives that collectively raised over $8,000 for the Foresters Hall, a vital hub for our community. Some of these initiatives include the Cookie Dough Fundraiser, Christmas Wrapping Paper Fundraiser, Subway Combo cards, Cold Plate Take-Out, and the Canada Day Celebration. She has also been a driving force behind the popular Rock-a-Thon, which kept several Golden Age community members up all night in their rocking chairs at the hall – raising over $3000! Chris is skilled at involving local small businesses in her community fundraising efforts, as well as many local artisans and crafters to be involved and support the community of Clementsvale and Foresters Hall. In addition, she is always involved in benefits for community members suffering a loss in the family, a fire in the home or other tragic events. Beyond her leadership in fundraising efforts, Chris is often found behind the scenes, helping with event setup, cleanup, and planning. Whether it’s a large community celebration or a small gathering, she is always one of the first to arrive and the last to leave, ensuring everything goes off without a hitch. Her dedication and selflessness are evident in every project she takes on, and she approaches each task with a positive attitude, infectious energy, and an unwavering commitment to the betterment of our community. Something that sets Chris apart, is that she knows our community. She listens and responds to the needs and interests. Chris’s ability to inspire and mobilize others is a testament to her strong leadership and love for Clementsvale. Her contributions go beyond fundraising; she fosters a sense of togetherness and community pride that is felt by everyone who participates in or benefits from her efforts. Her work on the board of the Clementsvale and District Recreation Commission further demonstrates her passion for strengthening our community. Chris is the embodiment of a true volunteer – selfless, hard-working, and always willing to go the extra mile. Her dedication has touched the lives of many.

DEATHE, Brian
Nominated by: Annapolis Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO)
 20 +Years

Brian is being recognized for his long-standing service and leadership within the amateur radio community, particularly in support of emergency management efforts across our region. For over 20 years, he has been a constant presence and a trusted resource in times of need. His deep technical knowledge, calm demeanor, and unwavering dedication have made him an essential partner for when emergencies take place, especially when traditional communication methods have failed or been overwhelmed. What sets Brian apart is not just his skill with a radio, but his ability to lead, mentor, and mobilize others. He has organized countless training sessions and exercises to ensure operators are ready when called upon. Whether setting up mobile repeater systems in remote areas or providing real-time communication from the Annapolis REMO emergency coordination centre. Brian always steps forward without hesitation with a commitment that goes beyond the technical. He has built bridges between the HAM radio community and emergency management organizations, helping to embed amateur radio into emergency plans and fostering a spirit of collaboration. He has been a key voice in strengthening regional coordination, ensuring that radio operators are not only prepared, but also fully integrated into the broader emergency response framework. Even though Brian and his wife Betty live in Greenwood, he generously makes the trip to Annapolis County to offer his time and support. Whether it’s to assist with planning, equipment checks, or to lend a hand at the Emergency Coordination Centre, Brian is always willing to drive down to the County office in Annapolis Royal to volunteer—often without being asked. In quieter times, Brian remains just as active—maintaining equipment, mentoring new operators, and participating in weekly nets to keep communication networks strong and connected. He is also a regular participant in Exercise Handshake, held on the last Tuesday of each month, which helps ensure continued readiness and reinforces regional communication capabilities. Brian's contributions have made a lasting impact, and our communities are safer and better prepared because of it.

FAIRES, Elizabeth
Nominated by: Annapolis Valley Frugal Moms Society

Elizabeth is our Garden Guru. She helps us garden, starts our seeds, is a voice of knowledge, and is a great addition to our team. She owns and operates Humblebee Farm, in addition to running their own business and working as well, she is a great person and very active as a volunteer in our organization, as well as a few others. We thank Elizabeth for her help and time she has given our organization and hope to utilize her expertise and experience for many years.

 

FRANCIS, Denise
Nominated by: Wilmot Community Centre

Denise has been a member of the board of directors of our hall for over 3 years and a longtime member of the local community. Denise brought many years of experience in the banking sector to the Treasurer role for our community centre and has made a huge impact for us. She has been an energetic and enthusiastic member of our board of directors, she has always eagerly assisted; not just with the books, but wherever her expertise was needed. She was instrumental in getting our Facebook page up and running and initiated our social media platform. Denise has volunteered in several capacities in her community over the years, including two years at the Berwick Fire Hall, many years in the manager role with her son’s basketball teams, and as a Girl Guide Leader for a few years. The Wilmot Community Centre is so pleased to take this opportunity to say a huge “thank you” to Denise for her volunteer years at our hall. She has sacrificed her free time to help make our hall a great place for the community to use and enjoy!


HANNAM, Julie
Nominated by: West Dalhousie Community Hall Association

Julie has been an integral member of the West Dalhousie Community Hall Association for over 37 years! In April 1987, the Association was incorporated as a not-for-profit and Julie has been an active director ever since- this alone is no small accomplishment. She has been an important part of our fundraising efforts, both large and small, helping with several successful grants for both events and renovations to our facility. Julie has helped to plan well-known events like West Dalhousie Days, which began as a thank you event for the community and grew to be a large-scale event running for many years. Likely, to many of you she is known for the delicious meals she has helped to produce over the years, spending hours from early morning to late at night making sure we had a reputation for some of the best food you can find around! Julie is a devoted wife to her husband Cecil, a loving mom to her two kids Rick and Erin, and she is a caring and wise grandmother. Julie gives more time to her community than can really be asked of someone, and the association has been very lucky to have her for as many years as it has! 

HODDER Lesley
Nominated by: The Friends of the Annapolis Pool Society
In 2019, Lesley stepped up as President of the Friends of the Annapolis Pool Society and has been a driving force ever since. Her leadership was instrumental in keeping the pool open during the pandemic, making it the only outdoor public pool provincially to remain operational during that challenging time. In 2024, at the Annual General Meeting, the difficult decision was made to close the pool for the 2024 season due to necessary and costly repairs to the pool liner. Once again, Lesley’s unwavering positivity and determination turned a challenge into a manageable task. She took the lead in securing contractor quotes, organizing fundraising efforts, and overseeing the project from start to finish. Thanks to her dedication, the repairs were successfully funded and completed, and we are thrilled to reopen the pool in 2025. Beyond her work with the pool, Lesley also serves as the fundraising chairperson for the Western Valley Hockey Association, further demonstrating her commitment to her community. For her exceptional leadership, tireless efforts, and dedication to improving community spaces, we are honored to nominate Lesley to be recognized as an outstanding volunteer in Annapolis County. 

HISCOCK, Patricia
Nominated by: Royal Canadian Legion Port Royal, Branch #21

Pat started volunteering shortly after moving to Nova Scotia from Newfoundland. She currently volunteers at the Legion and St. Luke's Anglican Church where she has put in place a "Blessing Box" where individuals can drop off donations of food and necessities that individuals in need may pick up. She also puts on numerous suppers to raise money for those in need in the community, donating the money to the food banks and to those who need it. Wherever you go you will probably run into Pat; she stands out because she always has a smile for everyone and tries to make those around her smile. She was once asked what made her want to volunteer. She said that everyone deserves to have what they need in life, and if she was able to provide it in any means she can, then she wanted to do that. If it wasn’t for Pat and other volunteers like her, the Legion and community at large would be without a lot of things. She is always ready to step-in and step-up; be it the wonderful dishes she cooks and donates, her organizing abilities, her endless knowledge, or her sales pitch, she can and will do just about anything. As soon as you ask Pat to help, she rolls up her sleeves and dives in. No matter how tired she is, she always has a big smile on her face, often interjecting a joke. She certainly isn’t afraid to tackle anything you may ask of her.

HUBLEY, Patsy
Nominated by: Royal Canadian Legion Port Royal, Branch #21

Patsy has been volunteering for many, many years, and has been involved in the Legion for several of them. Patsy is there and ready whenever you need her, whether it's her kitchen skills or dishing out and serving people, it is always done with a smile. She makes every individual feel like they are important. Patsy loves her volunteer work, and it shows. If you are at the legion for any event, it is likely that you will see Patsy doing her magic. It might be in the kitchen, serving the crowd in the background, or helping another volunteer, she is there ready to lend a hand. Boundless and tiredness, she works, smiles, and makes people around her feel great. There is not a job she won't tackle, and you can always count of her to get the job done.

LOOYENGA, Kimberley
Nominated by: The Salvation Army

Kim volunteered with The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) during the 2023 Shelburne Wildfires, selflessly giving countless hours of her time. Kim has diligently taken all trainings provided by The Salvation Army, so she is better equipped to serve those affected by disaster in her communities. When the Shelburne fires first broke out and the first round of Salvation Army volunteers were deployed, Kim initially stayed behind to act as a logistics coordinator for essential food & supplies that was then taken to the response location. Kim has been active with the EDS team in Bridgetown, participating in community outreach events, and recently took training for mental health support during disasters. Kim is an integral member of The Salvation Army volunteer team in Bridgetown.




LOW, Linda
Nominated by: Fundy Community & Recreation Hall

Linda is force to be reckoned with, as she tackles the organization of many events at the hall. Each Friday, you will find her at the door of the hall greeting people at the Fundy Hall Musical Jam and organizing snacks. Mondays she and her husband host a coffee morning social that everyone is welcome to attend. As Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, she is always working to fundraise for improvements to the hall, including such past events as dances, yard sales, and fashion shows. Linda is an excellent ambassador for the community and strives to create an atmosphere that welcomes long-time residents and newcomers. She is an inspiration to anyone who knows her. Her cheerful positive attitude makes working with her a pleasure.

MACDONALD, Trudy
Nominated by: Annapolis Royal Volunteer Fire Department (ARVFD)

As a firefighter with ARVFD, Trudy has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty, showing incredible leadership and compassion in a variety of volunteer efforts that have made a profound impact on the community. One of the most notable contributions this past year was Trudy’s organization of a successful food drive that collected essential items for families in need. Her ability to rally both the fire department and the community to participate in this initiative is a testament to her exceptional organizational skills and passion for helping others. In addition, Trudy serves as the head of the ARVFD Fire Prevention Committee, where she has demonstrated unparalleled leadership in promoting safety awareness and providing vital education to the public. Whether it’s leading fire safety workshops, distributing fire prevention materials, or coordinating community outreach, Trudy has played a critical role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents. Perhaps one of her most heartwarming achievements this past year was organizing the “Letters to Santa” event. Despite the postal strike, Trudy was able to bring joy to countless children and families in our community, with her meticulous planning and attention to detail making it such a wonderful success. Through her efforts, children were able to share their wishes with Santa and experience the magic of the holiday season. Trudy’s selflessness, leadership, and unwavering commitment to making our community a better place are qualities that make her an invaluable asset to both our fire department and the people we serve.

MCBEAN, Deborah
Nominated by: Centre of Rural Aging and Health (CORAH) - Annapolis Valley

Deborah has been volunteering with CORAH since 2023. She is a retired nurse with a passion for technology and a mission to support other seniors to feel comfortable, educated, and empowered with their digital devices. Deb has passionately created and developed the CORAH Tech Talk and Digital Dilemmas 55+ programs, volunteering her time weekly to create and facilitate technology support presentations for seniors; as well as to lead weekly small group support sessions focused on helping seniors to learn more about technology, and to support them against digital scams. To date, Deb has provided more than 25 volunteer presentations, with over 50 hours that have positively impacted 200+ seniors from the Annapolis and Kings Counties. She continues to volunteer each week to teach the Tech Talk program at CORAH, as well as organizing a group of knitters to create blankets for cancer patients. She is always looking for ways to support other seniors and to empower them to learn, ask questions, and to laugh.

MCMILLEN, Deborah
Nominated by: Belle's Blessing Community Pantry

Deborah is someone with a huge heart who is willing to help anyone, no questions asked. Her sheer determination and dedication to helping her community motivated her to start her own community pantry. Even as a senior living on nothing but a pension, she still helped to provide 49 seniors each month in her area from 2021 to present with premade hot meals, knowing without her help, they may have gone without a meal that day. She advocated for herself to create Belle's Blessing Community Pantry, and with some help from local contractors and volunteers, her dream became a reality in September 2024, when she opened for the first time. The Pantry serves communities along the Fundy shore offering non-perishables, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, Band-aids, pet food, fresh produce, and eggs when she can get them. It has been a huge success. Now, just six months later, Deborah and her volunteers have helped approximately 800 people. This demonstrates what an extraordinary job she is doing, and the Pantry’s need in the area. To date, they have given out approximately 10,000 pounds of pantry items to local people, helping to fulfill food insecurities. Deborah is a kind-hearted woman who also sits on the Feed Nova Scotia board to try to do her part in helping her community. When seeing so many people, especially seniors, struggling she felt the need to do something. 

O’GRADY, Rhonda
Nominated by: Centrelea Community Hall

When Rhonda moved to Centrelea with her family she wanted to get involved in her community, so she joined the Board of Directors of the Centrelea Community Hall. As President, Rhonda has been instrumental in securing funding, grants, and overseeing the various projects needed to turn the hall into a Comfort Station. She has also created and executed several fundraising activities, including the calendar, and the Christmas cookie boxes. Rhonda also promotes the Centrelea Community Hall happenings, looking after the social media accounts and creating posters to make sure that the surrounding communities and local groups are aware of the hall and all is events.

OSBORNE, John
Nominated by: Bridgetown Development Committee

John moved his family and his business to Bridgetown in 2012 from Quebec and immediately jumped into a volunteer role. He began coaching minor hockey and was soon a member, and eventually, the president of Bridgetown and Area Minor Hockey Association. He also coached boys’ hockey and softball, as well as summer soccer. A serious accident curtailed his coaching career, but it didn’t diminish his volunteering efforts. He is Vice President of Bridgetown Community Recreation Association, President of the Bridgetown Area Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Bridgetown Development Committee. He has also co-chaired Bridgetown Ciderfest and Light Up the Town. John finds time to run a very successful construction business, is a dedicated family man for his blended family of 8 children and 3 grandchildren, but he is always present when the call for help for a community project goes out. He is passionate about his family, his community, and Christmas. Decorating his house for he holidays starts a month before Christmas and is a major attraction in the community, complete with a screen running Christmas movies after dark. In the last few years, he has begun to decorate for Halloween and again, it is the “go-to” place to see extraordinary decorations. John’s mantra is simply described in the saying “put up or shut up”. You can’t sit on your sofa and complain, unless you’re willing to do something about it, and he lives by this. The community is richer for his dedication to volunteering.

ROUSSEAU, Dany
Nominated by: Individual - AC Silver

Dany is a tireless advocate for community theatre and is always coming up with innovative ways to reach out and involve more folks, both as audience and cast/crew. She directs, choreographs, and acts in the popular interactive movie experiences that are becoming regular events on King's Theatre stage/screen. She often offers workshops on make-up and wigs for all ages, directs productions including King's Shorts, 2023's Radio Christmas Play, and the upcoming The Underpants, and she runs summer theatre workshops for youth. She also was co-director of Young Company for a period of time. Currently, she is co-president of Annapolis and District Drama Group (ADDG), and recently started her own local community theatre organization (Fundy Theatre Works) to help bring her vision of a more equitable, safe, and inclusive space to theatre to the community. Dany happily helps with make-up for multiple productions, has acted in a range of productions from ADDG's Shakespeare in the Gardens to Scrappy Lady Productions' Dracula, not to mention freely giving of her time and expertise to meet with new directors to give them guidance on how to make things go smoothly! She is everywhere all at once, on top of being a full-time teacher and a mother to two young kids (one of whom is well on track to become a staple in Annapolis community theatre for years to come!). Dany's name is immediately associated with community theatre, she selflessly gives of herself and her time, energy, and expertise to the community in Annapolis.

SEXTON, Sandra
Nominated by: Annapolis Royal Recreation

Sandra has been the primary volunteer leader of the Annapolis Royal Recreation pickleball group for four years. As the sport has grown in popularity, her role has continued to expand and take on a much larger scope of work. Along with assisting in leading the public recreation groups that meet four times a week and provide the opportunity for Pickleball players of all levels to play, she has managed the organization of an official club and community sport organization, the Annapolis Royal Pickleball Club. This offers 12 hours a week of opportunities for players to join and play against suitably skilled opponents. She is an essential component is keeping upwards of 90-100 players healthy and happy, which is no small feat. She has also organized and offered training sessions and clinics, as well as applied for grants and used the funding to offer free pickleball open houses to attract new players and furnish gear that is used by the public. It's an incredible amount of work by her to support this large group, and far beyond what could normally be offered by a casual weekly recreation program. Sandra is thoughtful, patient, dedicated, and great to work with. Annapolis Royal Recreation and the many pickleball people of Annapolis County thank her.

STIFF, Cameron
Nominated by: Individual - AC Silver

Cam has been the President of Annapolis Royal Pride for less than a year, stepping into that role in a moment of crisis. The AR Pride Board had shrunk to three members who were struggling to hope that a Pride 2024 would even happen, when Cam jumped feet-first into the fray. Since then, he has proved himself a tireless and dedicated volunteer, spending countless hours researching grants, networking with other queer organizations, both within Nova Scotia and across the province, and working with the local community to ensure that AR Pride continues to be a beacon of hope for those seeking to building a more equitable, inclusive, and kind future.

WHEADON, Linda
Nominated by: Cats for Keeps

Since joining Cats for Keeps in September 2023, Linda has proven herself to be a steadfast advocate for cats, demonstrating exceptional dedication, compassion, and resilience. As our 2025 president, she embodies the core values of the rescue with unwavering commitment, making a profound difference in the lives of countless cats and volunteers alike. Linda approaches difficult decisions with wisdom and confidence, always prioritizing the best interests of the rescue. As a retired teacher, she brings guidance, patience, and a love of learning to every aspect of her work. Her unique ability to mentor and support fellow volunteers enriches our team and strengthens our community. Leading by example, Linda gracefully balances the demands of administration, fundraising, and hands-on care, always with a positive and encouraging spirit. Her kindness is truly contagious, fostering a supportive environment where both the cats and those who care for them feel valued and appreciated. Linda’s selflessness, passion, and thoughtful leadership make her an invaluable asset to our organization and a true champion for animal welfare.




2025 Annapolis County Organization Nominations:

THALIA BARN CAT RESCUE: "Making a Difference, One Paw at a Time"

Thalia Barn Cat Rescue is a dedicated nonprofit organization committed to the welfare of abandoned, stray, and at-risk cats in our community. Founded on compassion and a deep love for animals, Thalia Barn provides a safe haven for cats in need—offering them shelter, medical care, socialization, and most importantly, a chance at a loving forever home. Through rescue efforts, foster programs, and community outreach, Thalia Barn works tirelessly to reduce the population of homeless cats and promote responsible pet ownership. Every cat rescued is given a second chance at life, whether they’re tiny kittens in need of bottle-feeding, seniors requiring special care, or feral cats who benefit from trap-neuter-return (TNR) efforts. Beyond rescue, Thalia Barn serves as an educational resource—teaching the public about cat care, spaying and neutering, and how to live in harmony with the feline friends in our neighborhoods. Volunteers and foster families are the heart of the rescue, generously donating their time and love to ensure every cat feels valued and safe. Thalia Barn Cat Rescue isn’t just saving cats—it’s building a kinder, more compassionate community. Because when we care for the most vulnerable among us, we all thrive.

SAVE OUR OLD FORESTS (SOOF): "Do what you love to do in the service of old forests"
Nominated by: Individual - Jane Hatcher

The Save Our Old Forests Association (SOOF) is a 100% volunteer run, nonprofit based in Annapolis County.  The SOOF motto is to “do what you love to do in the service of old forests” and offers a variety of ways for people to get involved.  Such as hunting for lichens and species at risk in an effort to protect the proposed Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area.  SOOF has also focused on community building and has hosted dances, lunches, craft nights, and similar events in community halls throughout Annapolis County - West Dalhousie, Centrelea, Bridgetown, and Annapolis Royal. Throughout the year, you can find SOOF at festivals and events such as RiverFest, Tupperville School Museum's Ice Cream Social, Christmas markets at Round Hill and West Dalhousie, and Medway’s Forest Market. All of this happens because of the work behind the scenes by the five members of the Board: Nina Newington, Robert Bright, Debbie Stultz-Giffin, Crystal Veinot and Laura Bright.

Photo from left: Robert Bright, Crystal Veinot, Laura Bright, and Nina Newington. Missing from photo is Debbie Stutlz-Giffin.