Max Chauvin, Chair
Max is a senior executive leader and community advocate. He has over 30 years of experience in multiple sectors. Max is now the Director of Housing and Homelessness for the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Why Max serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: I love serving on the board because of the amazing people you get to work with and the in-depth conversations the board has on critical issues in our communities that dramatically impact the lives of our friends, neighbours, and colleagues.
Ellen Johnson, Vice‐Chair
Ellen is an Occupational Therapist working as Accessibility Coordinator for the five municipalities in Lunenburg County. As a person with a disability, she has worked to increase accessibility for herself and for others in her professional work, as a member of multiple boards and committees, and through other advocacy activities.
Why Ellen serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: The work of removing barriers to accessibility in our communities is sometimes overwhelming and can be slow. Accessibility is a human right and that must be understood by decision makers. The board is one way to ensure that the needs and rights of people with disabilities are given the recognition they deserve so that accessibility stops being an afterthought and is instead built into everything we do at every level of decision-making. Being a member of the board means being part of that process of bringing awareness to problems and guiding the change.
Birgit Elssner
Birgit, or B, comes from a First Voice perspective and enjoys life through the eyes of neurodiversity. She has lived and worked with people with disabilities for close to 30 years and in three different countries. She currently lives in Wolfville.
Why Birgit serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: Being part of the board gives me the unique opportunity to be a voice for those who might be unheard by society. I value being able to share my thoughts on a diverse array of topics related to disability, advocacy, communications, and humanness. I find it fantastic to be able to get a much deeper understanding of policies, actions, and government workings, and it gives me the hope that my contribution will shape Nova Scotia’s future.
Dr. Linda Campbell
Dr Campbell is a professor and senior research fellow in the Department of Environmental Science at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. She is Deaf and fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Dr. Campbell received the 2020 Professional of Distinction Discovery Award. She has developed innovative approaches for including Deaf and hearing participants in research and teaching, as well as collaborative ASL–English scientific and academic interpreting. She also sits on the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees, the only liberal arts university in the world using sign language as a primary language of instruction. Dr. Campbell was one of the founding members of the Nova Scotia Bill 59 Community Alliance, which collaborated with the government on drafting Bill 59. Bill 59 became the 2017 Nova Scotia Accessibility Act.
Why Linda serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: Because it is a way of giving back to the Deaf and disability communities. I am always inspired by being able to work with like-minded colleagues on ensuring that we have an accessible province by 2030.
Denise Pictou Maloney
Denise is the Senior Advisor of Mi’kmaw and Indigenous Initiatives at the Nova Scotia Community College. There she provides leadership in mobilizing relevant initiatives and promotes understanding of Indigenous and Mi’kmaw history, culture, and perspectives. She also represents Atlantic Canada at the National Family and Survivors Circle, which was established in response to the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Why Denise serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: Because I acknowledge that inclusion doesn’t happen without intentional equity. Knowing our Mi’kmaq Nation still struggles with jurisdictional systemic issues with inclusion and accessibility, shared lifting and advocacy is everyone’s responsibility as human beings to create transformational change.
Melissa MacKenzie
Melissa is the Accessible Projects Lead for Building Infrastructure and Asset Management at the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency (NSPHA). Her background in architectural drafting combined with Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certified Professional designation equips her with the tools to break barriers in the built environment. Melissa strives to accelerate accessibility within Nova Scotia through her work in accessible universal design, serving on accessibility committees, and by delivering Accessibility Foundations Training to increase awareness.
Why Melissa serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: Serving on the board allows me to do my part to bring about change that will make a difference. I want to bring the voices of community to the table for awareness and work towards finding solutions to the problems faced by our province. When I contribute to making life better for other people, I feed a deep sense of purpose and belonging. My vision to achieve social justice drives my work so that everyone has equal opportunity to thrive and participate in Nova Scotia.
P. Earl Muise
Earl is a retired school administrator who has always been involved in his community at the local, provincial, national, and international levels. He was the founding president of Club Social des Iles and founding member of the Islands and District Volunteer Fire Department. He served as president of the Saint Joseph Parish Council and chair of Nakile Home for Special Care. Earl is the past President of Aging Well Nova Scotia (formerly known as Nova Scotia Community Links). He lives with his wife in the small Acadian village of Surette’s Island.
Why Earl serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: This is a way of giving back and, as one living with muscular dystrophy, I want to be an advocate for people with disabilities in Nova Scotia.
Amy Lays
Amy has advocated for accessible spaces as the Vice-Chair of the Miracle League of Ottawa, she has also participated in the federal government's accessibility consultations and previously worked at the federal office for disability issues. She has worked in a variety of roles supporting children, youth and adults with disabilities in their communities. Amy works for the IWK, supporting Autistic children in Antigonish County to develop their skills.
Why Amy serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: I believe that accessible spaces are inclusive spaces. Through my work and personal experiences, I have first-hand the effects that inaccessible spaces have for people. When people are able to access spaces without barriers, they can develop a sense of belonging and be citizens in their communities.
Louise Gillis
Lousie was a was a Registered Nurse for over 30 years and has been the President of the National Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) for ten years. She has been on committees locally, nationally and internationally, where she promoted access, identified barriers on sensory, physical, and attitudinal barriers for citizens. Louise lives in Sydney.
Why Louise serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: Through my committee work over 25 years I have gained a great understanding of many disabilities to go with my own lived experiences that I feel can bring a positive impact to the board.
Dr. Sarah Moore
Dr. Moore is an associate professor in the Faculties of Health and Medicine at Dalhousie University and an affiliate scientist at IWK Health. Dr. Moore’s research and practice focuses on issues related to childhood disability and health and her work is informed by kids and families. Dr. Moore was recently appointed as a Director of the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization and sits on the Board of Directors at Easter Seals Nova Scotia. She has been a parasport coach for more than two decades, and currently coaches many Easter Seals TakePART programs, including introductory wheelchair basketball and sledge hockey, adapted dance, and competitive powerchair soccer.
Why Sarah serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: The kids and families I support, and coach deserve to live in a province that is accessible and inclusive, and where they feel they belong. I’ve listened to their stories of exclusion and stigma, but also optimism and hope. Kids experiencing disabilities and their families have the most incredible ideas to make our province more accessible and inclusive. I hope serving on this board will allow me to bring their ideas forward as we identify priorities to foster a more accessible Nova Scotia by 2030.
Shellene Sparks
Shellene is a is a proud African Nova Scotian living in Dartmouth. She works in the federal government in the human resources field as a manager. She has served on working groups and advisory groups in her work environment over the past seven years, each aiming to identify and remove barriers that prevent access, equity, inclusion and diversity.
Why Shelene serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: I am excited and feel privileged to be on this board as it strives to make Nova Scotia more accessible. For me, work to build inclusive communities and workplaces across the province is very important because I believe that by removing these barriers, we each will be more empowered and able to live our best lives at work, at home and at leisure.
Rob Patey
Rob lives in Greenfield and is a veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force for 30 years where he held various leadership positions. He has 13 years of experience as a volunteer Fire Chief of Lake Echo and North Preston with Halifax Regional Municipality Fire and Emergency Services. Rob is a volunteer with Nova Scotia Health in the Rehabilitation Centre as a patient family advisor and also is a patient partner with MSSU (Maritime SPOR support unit).
Why Rob serves on the Accessibility Advisory Board: My fall has left me a quadriplegic and now in a wheelchair I realized places that we perceived as accessible is not truly accessible when you’re disabled. Accessibility is a given right to all Canadians. Being a very positive individual, I believe in making a difference and have confidence that negativity is not always negative, it can result in positive actions when presented properly. First Voice perspective is vital for the success of accessibility in Nova Scotia, I’m excited and proud to be part of the solution.