Mentors

Andréa is a university graduate (Bachelor of Business Administration Honors), business owner and volunteer firefighter who became a career firefighter 20 years ago.  She is an Operation’s Captain with the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service stationed in Woodside, Dartmouth.  Her passion to improve everything she has experienced led her to found Camp Courage, an award winning, life changing camp that educates and inspires young women to become first responders.  She not only is a champion for diversity but also was a national Firefighter’s Combat Challenge Champion.  She loves to share her life’s philosophy at educational events and conferences almost as much as she loves her little dog Cooper

Donna’s bio to follow

Michelle Everson is a Halifax Regional Police Officer. She grew up in New Brunswick and after a full career in the Information Technology field at NBTel / Aliant decided to make the jump to policing. After three years as an auxiliary Constable with the Saint John Police Force, Michelle attended Holland College in PEI and graduated the police academy in 2006. Michelle currently works in Halifax as a community relations / crime prevention Officer. She has also done general patrol and worked as a school resource officer.  Currently Michelle is responsible for the HRP Co-op program with area high schools, the ride along program and other events. Michelle has two adult children, four adult step-children and two dogs. Michelle is one of the main police program coordinators

Constable Natasha Dantiste of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, graduated with a Certificate in Business Administration from Mount Saint Vincent University and began working at various federal government departments.  In 2001 she worked her first of two administrative positions with the RCMP.  During her tenure as a federal public service employee at the RCMP division headquarters in Halifax,  Natasha considered applying to become a regular member/police officer.  She says “the more involved I became, the more involved I wanted to become”.  Upon completing the recruitment process and travelling to Regina, Saskatchewan for training, Natasha graduated from the RCMP Training Academy in December 2005.  She began her policing career working general duties in New Minas then transferring to Wolfville both in Kings District RCMP, Nova Scotia.   In October 2012, Natasha transferred to Halifax District RCMP where she works in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia as a community policing officer.

Natasha’s involvement with Camp Courage began as it aligned directly with her role as a Community Policing Officer and her former work with youth as a School Liaison Officer.  Natasha is a mother of two and remains committed to supporting law enforcement educational programs aimed at youth. Natasha is one of the main police program coordinators.

Howard has been in Commercial Sales with Canada Post for 22 years.  Within Commercial Sales he has achieved 4 Club Excellence Awards and 8 President Awards.  He graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Economics.  He currently holds QLLP Designation from the Province of Nova Scotia as an Insurance and Financial planner.  He has assisted in coaching in U18 girls soccer and assisted coached in Peewee AA and Bantam AA boys hockey.  Past times include hockey, curling, swimming and paddling.

Eddy Parsons, supporter of gender equality and advocate for social justice.   Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science/ History from Saint Mary’s University.  Bachelor of Education Degree from Mount Saint Vincent University and Master of Education in Lifelong learning.  Former public-school teacher who is committed to using his university education and life experience to make the world a more fair and equitable place for girls, women and those from under-represented groups.  Working to make the fire service more inclusive and reflective of those we serve.

Shari presently works for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada as the Regional Chief, Program and Operational Readiness for Conservation and Protection, Maritimes. She has over 20 years of experience working in law and regulatory enforcement within provincial and federal governments across Canada. Previous positions held included, Provincial Correctional Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Federal Conservation and Protection Officer, Enforcement Analyst, Marine Intelligence Analyst for Transport Canada, and National Manager, Safety Compliance for the Canadian Coast Guard Vessel Fleet.

Shari has initiated and participated in many programs aimed at helping women and girls in the community, many who have been marginalized, and/or those impacted by drugs, alcohol and violence. She worked part-time at women’s shelter to provide guidance and care for women transitioning from addiction. She mentored them by teaching basic skills that would assist them to live independently, including self-care, cooking, resume writing and job searching. During her employment as a Correctional Officer, she developed an art program and volunteered her time to provide incarcerated men and women a safe space to express themselves in a positive and creative way. She also volunteered for three years as a Girl Guides of Canada Leader.

Over the last three years, She participated in her department’s Indigenous Student Internship Program. This has been a very rewarding experience for both Shari and the young woman, who she mentored during this time. This program provides Indigenous university students the opportunity to work in their field of interest and many of them have the opportunity to continue working with DFO after graduating.  During her own personal time, she is an avid photographer, painter and crafter.

Nikki Butler has been a Fishery Officer with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) since 2002. Over the years, she has mentored, coached and trained numerous fishery officers as they began their careers with DFO. She has been a police defense tactics instructor for ten years and is currently the recruiting manager for fishery officer trainees in Maritimes Region. She stays active by hiking, running (she’s completed four marathons!), strength training and playing outside. Originally from Newfoundland, Nikki now lives in Dartmouth and is excited to become part of Camp Courage.

In 2009, Natasha became the First African Nova Scotian Career Member of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Services. Natasha believes that being a Firefighter is the best career in the world and she would recommend it to anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of others, who is willing to go above and beyond for people in need and be a part of a team who you will now and forever consider FAMILY. I am a mother of a 19 year old daughter and I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Saint Mary’s University. Quote Natasha believe sums up who she is:

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has over come. – Booker T. Washington”

Veronica Faulkner grew up learning all about fire services. Her father, John, was one of the founding members of what is now Station 16 in Eastern Passage. She very quickly learned that telephone access was limited only to what was necessary and to keep her calls very short, because you never knew when there would be an incoming fire call. She and her siblings learned how to quickly make those most important calls to volunteer members. Of course, today those calls are made by the Communications Centre.  She spent many years working in land development in various cities across Canada and the United States. Returning to her home community she worked for many departments in Halifax Regional Municipality including her last position as Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Operational Support Fire Services up until July 2012. Always passionate about her job and the welfare of her co-workers, she concentrated her efforts on the health and welfare of our firefighters which resulted in the Health & Wellness Committee receiving an award. She has spent a lifetime volunteering and although she is now retired and is enjoying the opportunity to travel she continues to volunteer in the community including as many of Fire Services functions as she is able. She has been with Camp Courage since 2008. She can be found in the classroom, on the training grounds and always with her camera in hand. Remember to smile because you will more than likely find your photo displayed in one of the Camp Courage scrapbooks.

Holly Coote is a primary care paramedic with EHS ground ambulance in central Nova Scotia and loves her job!  She has been a volunteer firefighter since 2015. Holly started her firefighting journey at station 65 in Tantallon and has since transferred to station 60 in Herring Cove. She has a strong passion for the firefighting field and plans to serve for many years to come.

Samantha Banfield graduated from Camp Courage in 2011 and graduated with honors from Saint Mary’s University’s Criminology program with a minor in Psychology in 2017.  Currently she is in the Police Science Program offered by the Halifax Regional Police.  Samantha is a volunteer fire fighter at Station 17 in Cole Harbour and is the Director of Event Planning for Camp Courage.  She is also highly involved in volunteering with community organizations such as Out of the Cold Emergency Winter Shelter and the Community Justice Society. Samantha enjoys staying fit more specifically doing CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting.

Colleen Clarke graduated from Camp Courage in 2011 and graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 2016.  She is currently attending Mount Saint Vincent University completing her Bachelor of Education in the elementary program.  Colleen aspires to become a firefighter and currently is a volunteer firefighter at station 13 downtown Dartmouth.   She is a Director of Event Planning for Camp Courage and also works at Kent.  Her hobbies are playing hockey, being physically active and enjoying the outdoors.

Lorne Piercey is the lead firefighting instructor for Survival Systems Training in Dartmouth Nova Scotia.  Currently Lorne is a volunteer firefighter in Tantallon with Halifax Regional Fire Service station 65 where he serves his community as training officer for that station. Lorne has taught firefighting for the last 15 years for a number of organizations like the Nova Scotia Firefighters School in Waverley Nova Scotia and at the Atlantic Fire Department Instructors Conference in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.  Lorne has an extensive background in firefighting with certifications from JIBC, IFSAC, Pro-board and Dalhousie University.  Lorne specializes in teaching Motor Vehicle Extrication, Hazardous materials and marine firefighting.

Joan Helson is an empowerment-based self defence instructor, women’s educator, speaker, author and cancer survivor. Joan founded Sisu Women’s Self Defence (2006), which is Atlantic Canada’s first self defence training school for women. A student of the martial arts for more than 2 decades and instructor for 17, she holds black belts in Chon Tu Kwan (Combat) Hapkido (3^rd degree black belt and certified instructor) and Taekwondo (Kukkiwon and ITA certified black belt, certified instructor). In addition to teaching, Joan cross trains as often as she can in a variety of defensive-oriented styles of martial arts – including Jeet Kune Do, jujitsu, krav maga, combat hapkido and Filipino martial arts – and has completed PPCT’s Defensive Tactics, Pressure Point Control Tactics and Spontaneous Knife Defense certification programs. Her job-specific safety training programs have been attended by Realtors, hospitality staff, health care professionals, security professionals, lawyers, small business owners and many others. She has presented workshops for hundreds of women, teens and pre-teens in Atlantic Canada, and has been invited to speak to issues of women’s safety and self defence on CBC television, CTV National and Atlantic, Global TV, radio talk shows, newspapers and blogs. In 2013, Joan was honoured to be a recipient of the prestigious Canadian Progress Club Women of Excellence Award for contributions to her community in the area of health, sport and wellness.