Mentors

Andréa Speranza
Founder & Executive Director
Expand Bio

Donna Reid
EHS Program Coordinator
Expand Bio

Miranda Newhook
Paramedic Program Director
Expand Bio

Cst Michelle Everson
Police Program Coordinator
Expand Bio
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 Youth Court Officer in the Integrated Court Section. She has also done general patrol, worked as a school resource officer and most recently was a Crime Prevention Officer in the Community Relations Crime Prevention team where she was 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

Cst Natasha Dantiste
Police Program Coordinator
Expand Bio
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.

Cst Susan Camus
Police Program Coordinator
Expand Bio

Emily Robinson
Fundraising Director
Expand Bio

Sherry Dean
Mentor
Expand Bio
Sherry Dean is a Training Officer and Captain with HRFE. She is a level II Fire Service Instructor who enjoys recruit training and is completing her diploma in Adult Education. Her qualifications include HazMat, Technical Rescue and Vehicle Extrication. Assisting young women in Camp Courage attain new skills and conquer challenges is a rewarding experience for her. She is excited for this year’s Camp

Karen Comeau
Mentor
Expand Bio

Shari Robertson
Mentor
Expand Bio
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
Mentor
Expand Bio

Michelle Mabe
Mentor
Expand Bio

Natasha Prest
Mentor/ Past Vice President
Expand Bio
“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”

Jodi Lambert
Paramedic Program Past Co-ordinator
Expand Bio
Jodi Lambert brings years of experience to the Camp from being a member of the Naval reserves and living abroad. Basing herself from Lower Sackville but indulging her love of travel at every opportunity, Jodi has worked with Emergency Health Service for eleven years as a Communications Officer and Primary Care Paramedic. Jodi is on the board of directors for the camp.

Eddy Parsons
Mentor
Expand Bio

Veronica Faulkner
Mentor
Expand Bio

Colleen Clarke
Director – Event Planning
Expand Bio
Colleen Clarke graduated from Camp Courage in 2011, graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 2016 and graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with her Bachelor of Education. Colleen currently works as a grade 4/5 grade teacher at John McNeil Elementary school. She aspires to become a career firefighter and currently is a volunteer firefighter at station 13 downtown Dartmouth. She is a Director of Event Planning for Camp Courage. Her hobbies are playing hockey, being physically active and enjoying the outdoors.

Nadya-Lyse Paré
Mentor / Past Vice President
Expand Bio

Taigan Ross
Mentor
Expand Bio

Holly Coote
Mentor
Expand Bio

Barb Vidito
Mentor
Expand Bio
Some of her hobbies are baseball, curling, reading, horseback riding and golf. Barb’s parents have always supported the choices she has made. We love our two black, boy and girl cats dearly. My dream is to have a hobby farm, with one of each animal.

Samantha Banfield
Director – Event Planning
Expand Bio

Olivia Skinner
Mentor
Expand Bio
Olivia Skinner is a graduate of Camp Courage, class of 2017. She has been volunteering at station 65 in Tantallon for the last 5 months and is attending the Nova Scotia firefighting school. She was the 2019 recipient of the Andrew Bednarz Bursary Award. Olivia hopes to keeps moving forward with her firefighting career and someday get a career position in the fire services!

Trish Pittman
Mentor
Expand Bio
Trish Pittman served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 8 years in both the Naval Reserves and Regular force. She has earned her level one certification from the Nova Scotia Fire Service and is currently a member of the Enfield Volunteer Fire Department.

Lorne Piercey
Mentor
Expand Bio

Joan Helson
Mentor
Expand Bio

Julia Stevens
Mentor
Expand Bio
Julia Stevens graduated from Camp Courage in 2015. The camp was such a positive experience for her, considering she went into the camp wanting to be a paramedic and ended up inspired to become a firefighter. She’s currently working in the television production industry. Julia’s dream is to, one day, become a career firefighter. She has a real passion for helping people and is proud to give back to her community as she currently volunteer’s with station 17 in Cole Harbour.

Heather MacNeil
Mentor
Expand Bio
Heather MacNeil grew up in Dartmouth NS and serves as a volunteer firefighter, driver and pump operator at Station 13. She became interested in volunteering with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency for the personal challenges and learning opportunities presented by the department. Always being active and part of team sports growing up; becoming a volunteer firefighter allowed her to continue to be part of a high functioning team all while giving back to the community in which she grew up and most importantly helping others along the way. Heather currently works with Halifax Regional Municipality as a Community Recreation Coordinator.

Krista Lane
Mentor
Expand Bio
Krista Lane is an Acting Operations Supervisor with EHS. She has been a paramedic since 2014, and in that time has worked on the ground as well as in the Medical Communications Centre as a Senior Communications Officer. She graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts and English. Krista is a founding member of the Committee for Diversity & Inclusion; outside her work with EHS, she and her wife founded a business that champions health equity for marginalized populations. In her spare time, Krista sits on the advisory committee for BRIC NS, writes and plays music as creative outlets, and keeps active with her six-year-old son, Oscar

Krista Eisan
Mentor
Expand Bio
Krista Eisan has volunteered with Halifax Regional Fire since 2010. In that time, she has also assisted as an instructor with volunteer recruits. She works with Muscular Dystrophy Canada as the regional advisor for Firefighters in HRM assisting with fundraising efforts when needed.

Allison Bolton
Mentor
Expand Bio
Allison Bolton currently an art and band teacher at Dartmouth High School. I’ve been teaching for over twenty years. When I turned 40, I saw a sign recruiting volunteer firefighter. It seemed like a great idea for a new start to serving my community. I started at Goffs seven years ago and transferred to Sackville shortly after VFR. I enjoy fire a great deal as I’ve had the opportunity to help others and meet new people.

Jodi Tait
Mentor
Expand Bio
Jodi Tait has been involved with emergency services for over 10 years. Some of her certifications include NFPA Firefighter Level II, Fire service instructor I, and Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress. She is also certified as an Incident scene safety officer.
She first started her path with the fire service as a volunteer firefighter with the Kentville Volunteer Fire Department. She attended and became a graduate of the Nova Scotia Firefighters School. Eventually, she moved on to be a volunteer with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency and later was hired as a career firefighter.
Tait is also a graduate from Nova Scotia Community College, has completed 2 years at Acadia University, is a former member of the Canadian Forces, and has spent 6 years working with building construction as a project manager for a restoration finish work company.
Currently, Tait is working as a career firefighter with HRFE and as an instructor at the Nova Scotia Firefighters School. She volunteers with organizations like Camp courage and Techsploration to help empower and encourage young women to explore and challenge themselves. “WE CAN DO ANYTHING AND WE CAN BE ANYTHING!”