Second Story Women's Centre supports women and gender-diverse people, provides safer spaces, and advocates for social change.
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SECOND STORY BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Second Story Women's Centre is proud to announce the appointment of its new Board of Directors. Committed to upholding the organization's mission of providing support for women and gender-diverse people while advocating for social change, the newly elected members have aptly guided the centre through this transitional period with a focus on updating policies and by-laws. The board along with interim ED, Viki Samuels Stewart have recently appointed a new Executive Director Stephanie Balcome who begun her role Aug 8th. With an unwavering dedication towards promoting gender equity and safe, healthy relationships on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, this board is committed to quickly opening the doors of Second Story in its continued mission to provide safer spaces for women and gender-diverse people. |
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Alison Smith: Recording Officer
Alison Smith has participated in the SSWC community over the past two decades, including serving on the social action committee, leading workshops, and participating in events as a poet. She has worked with SSWC and Be the Peace on programming related to parenting and gender (The Pink Snowsuit Project) and with the Baby Friendly Initiative coordinating peer support for breastfeeding mothers (the BEST Friend Line). As a researcher and policy analyst, she has frequently consulted the centre on policy, legislation, and funding needs. Alison has a long
time interest in social justice with particular emphasis on ending gender-based violence and poverty. Alison grew up in North Queens and, along with her husband and two sons, has lived in New Germany for twenty years.
Alison Smith has participated in the SSWC community over the past two decades, including serving on the social action committee, leading workshops, and participating in events as a poet. She has worked with SSWC and Be the Peace on programming related to parenting and gender (The Pink Snowsuit Project) and with the Baby Friendly Initiative coordinating peer support for breastfeeding mothers (the BEST Friend Line). As a researcher and policy analyst, she has frequently consulted the centre on policy, legislation, and funding needs. Alison has a long
time interest in social justice with particular emphasis on ending gender-based violence and poverty. Alison grew up in North Queens and, along with her husband and two sons, has lived in New Germany for twenty years.
Ali Davis: Board Member
Ali Davis has been working for/with non-profit organizations since 2005. For the last 15 years, she worked internationally for Community Based Organizations, International NGOs and United Nations Agencies. While she specializes in needs assessment, analysis, monitoring & evaluation and information management, she also has experience in project development, finance and reporting. In more recent years, working at the global level, she has assisted in strategic planning and policy development. When the pandemic was declared, Ali moved back to Canada and found her way to Second Story where she started volunteering and taking part in the Social Action Committee. She has greatly enjoyed working to assist people at home and would love the opportunity to increase her involvement. Given her background in Monitoring & Evaluation with a focus on accountability, combined with a detail oriented mind, Ali hopes she can use the skills she developed over the years to assist SSWC in the days and months to come. She would also love to further develop those skills (as well as new ones) by learning from all the amazing
women who have made SSWC what it is today – a refuge, a safe haven. She considers herself to be a proud feminist with a strong moral compass and strongly believes in the vision of the centre for gender equity and safe, healthy relationships on the South Shore (and beyond).
Ali Davis has been working for/with non-profit organizations since 2005. For the last 15 years, she worked internationally for Community Based Organizations, International NGOs and United Nations Agencies. While she specializes in needs assessment, analysis, monitoring & evaluation and information management, she also has experience in project development, finance and reporting. In more recent years, working at the global level, she has assisted in strategic planning and policy development. When the pandemic was declared, Ali moved back to Canada and found her way to Second Story where she started volunteering and taking part in the Social Action Committee. She has greatly enjoyed working to assist people at home and would love the opportunity to increase her involvement. Given her background in Monitoring & Evaluation with a focus on accountability, combined with a detail oriented mind, Ali hopes she can use the skills she developed over the years to assist SSWC in the days and months to come. She would also love to further develop those skills (as well as new ones) by learning from all the amazing
women who have made SSWC what it is today – a refuge, a safe haven. She considers herself to be a proud feminist with a strong moral compass and strongly believes in the vision of the centre for gender equity and safe, healthy relationships on the South Shore (and beyond).
Claire Burnett: Board Member
Claire moved to the South Shore eleven years ago with her husband, adult daughter, and one-year-old granddaughter. She found Second Story’s counseling support when she really needed it; after describing her domestic situation to public health and finding they just didn’t get it, Second Story got it. She was visible, her story was heard, and she found a way forward. That way included participating in lots of other programs that Second Story offered then, like art therapy, drumming circle, and discussion groups. She wants to join the Board of SSWC today to give back, and because recent events emphasize that it’s important to keep Second Story as a resource for others in our communities. In terms of career, hers started with teaching (mathematics, English) followed by over 30 years in educational publishing as a developmental editor and manager. She has volunteer experience on the Board of several non-profit or charitable groups, all of them involved with children and families. These include an organization liaising with a Romanian orphanage in the 90s (Board Member, Secretary, Newsletter Editor); and two different parent support groups (Board Member, Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Policies and Procedures Committee; Bylaws Committees). She looks forward to using her creativity, diplomacy, and communication skills to support Second Story Women’s
Centre.
Claire moved to the South Shore eleven years ago with her husband, adult daughter, and one-year-old granddaughter. She found Second Story’s counseling support when she really needed it; after describing her domestic situation to public health and finding they just didn’t get it, Second Story got it. She was visible, her story was heard, and she found a way forward. That way included participating in lots of other programs that Second Story offered then, like art therapy, drumming circle, and discussion groups. She wants to join the Board of SSWC today to give back, and because recent events emphasize that it’s important to keep Second Story as a resource for others in our communities. In terms of career, hers started with teaching (mathematics, English) followed by over 30 years in educational publishing as a developmental editor and manager. She has volunteer experience on the Board of several non-profit or charitable groups, all of them involved with children and families. These include an organization liaising with a Romanian orphanage in the 90s (Board Member, Secretary, Newsletter Editor); and two different parent support groups (Board Member, Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Policies and Procedures Committee; Bylaws Committees). She looks forward to using her creativity, diplomacy, and communication skills to support Second Story Women’s
Centre.
Carol Smith: Board Member
Carol lives in Port Mouton, Queens Co. She is married to Wayne and has four adult children and seven grandchildren. She is currently a semi-retired United Church minister. She is happy to be back in Queens Co. where she grew up after years of working elsewhere in Canada. Over the years, through her work and through volunteering in the local community, she has worked alongside others to offer assistance and support to women experiencing difficult circumstances. She has volunteered at Nova Institute and has experience with the issues women face in the justice system, as well as the effects of poverty on women in our province. For years she has worked with others to create educational events that bring community groups together to learn about the work of ending violence against women. She believes in Second Story Women's Centre and the important work they have done and would be excited to contribute as a board member to the way forward.
Carol lives in Port Mouton, Queens Co. She is married to Wayne and has four adult children and seven grandchildren. She is currently a semi-retired United Church minister. She is happy to be back in Queens Co. where she grew up after years of working elsewhere in Canada. Over the years, through her work and through volunteering in the local community, she has worked alongside others to offer assistance and support to women experiencing difficult circumstances. She has volunteered at Nova Institute and has experience with the issues women face in the justice system, as well as the effects of poverty on women in our province. For years she has worked with others to create educational events that bring community groups together to learn about the work of ending violence against women. She believes in Second Story Women's Centre and the important work they have done and would be excited to contribute as a board member to the way forward.
Dayle Crouse: Board Member
Born and mostly raised on the South Shore, Dayle has led a few different lives. She’s a mom first but was formally trained as a Costume Designer/Historian and ended up working in the Museum and Archive world for over a decade. After a brief stint out West, the trees and the ocean called her back home where work became more about the soul and less about 'the thing I should do'. Now that her kids are growing up she’s slowly been gravitating back to her arts and costume roots and has become a self employed 'doer of whatever artsy thing floats my boat at the moment '. A privilege she is grateful for every day! Since moving back to Lunenburg, she’s also grown a passion for affordable housing. Directly affected by the housing crisis, she has been mostly homeless for 3 years, spending one full summer in a tent with 2 kids and a cat. Now they’re seasonal, soon to be full time, skoolie dwellers and her will never, not be willing to talk housing!
Born and mostly raised on the South Shore, Dayle has led a few different lives. She’s a mom first but was formally trained as a Costume Designer/Historian and ended up working in the Museum and Archive world for over a decade. After a brief stint out West, the trees and the ocean called her back home where work became more about the soul and less about 'the thing I should do'. Now that her kids are growing up she’s slowly been gravitating back to her arts and costume roots and has become a self employed 'doer of whatever artsy thing floats my boat at the moment '. A privilege she is grateful for every day! Since moving back to Lunenburg, she’s also grown a passion for affordable housing. Directly affected by the housing crisis, she has been mostly homeless for 3 years, spending one full summer in a tent with 2 kids and a cat. Now they’re seasonal, soon to be full time, skoolie dwellers and her will never, not be willing to talk housing!
Elisabeth Bailey: Vice-Executive Chair
Elisabeth Bailey, a former UU minister, has been working for over 20 years to strengthen the roles of women and girls in leadership positions, facilitate consensus groups, and teach consensus process. Her relationship with Second Story Women’s Centre began nearly 20 years ago as a volunteer. She also worked for five rewarding years as a staff member, during which time she
became highly knowledgeable about the history, clientele, and culture of the centre. Since then she has worked as a Community
Health Board Coordinator for Nova Scotia Health and currently works as the Regional Physical Activity Consultant for the South Shore. In both of these positions, she has worked in community supporting a variety of non-profits and community organizations in applying for grants, both those that she administered as well as assisting to identify others that were a fit needs. She also co chairs the South Shore Women and Girls Leadership network in the sports and physical activity sector. Supporting services for women and other gender-oppressed people speaks to the heart of who Elisabeth is as a person in every way—it is a profound honour for her to serve on the Board.
Elisabeth Bailey, a former UU minister, has been working for over 20 years to strengthen the roles of women and girls in leadership positions, facilitate consensus groups, and teach consensus process. Her relationship with Second Story Women’s Centre began nearly 20 years ago as a volunteer. She also worked for five rewarding years as a staff member, during which time she
became highly knowledgeable about the history, clientele, and culture of the centre. Since then she has worked as a Community
Health Board Coordinator for Nova Scotia Health and currently works as the Regional Physical Activity Consultant for the South Shore. In both of these positions, she has worked in community supporting a variety of non-profits and community organizations in applying for grants, both those that she administered as well as assisting to identify others that were a fit needs. She also co chairs the South Shore Women and Girls Leadership network in the sports and physical activity sector. Supporting services for women and other gender-oppressed people speaks to the heart of who Elisabeth is as a person in every way—it is a profound honour for her to serve on the Board.
Heather McCallum: Board Member
Heather was a member of the Second Story board 2017-2018 and has been involved in feminist and human rights activism since the 1980s. Originally from Halifax, she lived in Toronto for 20 years before making the South Shore her home with her family. Her professional background includes theatre, corporate communications and events production, and most recently local government. She worked for the Town of Lunenburg as Assistant Clerk/Communications before moving on to the Village of Chester, where she currently works as Clerk/Treasurer. She brings expertise in governance, policy-making, communications, and public engagement to the table. She is highly motivated by community and is committed to helping rebuild SSWC to continue its critical work serving women and gender-diverse people.
Heather was a member of the Second Story board 2017-2018 and has been involved in feminist and human rights activism since the 1980s. Originally from Halifax, she lived in Toronto for 20 years before making the South Shore her home with her family. Her professional background includes theatre, corporate communications and events production, and most recently local government. She worked for the Town of Lunenburg as Assistant Clerk/Communications before moving on to the Village of Chester, where she currently works as Clerk/Treasurer. She brings expertise in governance, policy-making, communications, and public engagement to the table. She is highly motivated by community and is committed to helping rebuild SSWC to continue its critical work serving women and gender-diverse people.
Kelly Goudie: Board Member
Kelly Goudie is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador. She earned a Nutrition degree from Acadia University in 1999, a Health Education degree from Dalhousie in 2003 and a Masters in Global Health from Trinity College Dublin in 2018. She began working in Happy Valley Goose Bay for Labrador Regional Health Services as a Primary Health Care Facilitator, she then moved to the position of Health Promotion and Wellness Coordinator in which she worked for 13 years. She is currently employed by Nova Scotia Health Authority as a Health Promotion Specialist working for Mental Health and Addictions in Bridgewater. Kelly enjoys working with communities and has taken a community development approach to health promotion. This has involved her in many initiatives including food security, housing, community capacity building and anti-racism. During her work to implement Housing First in Labrador, Kelly became involved with the Mokami Status of Women Centre. She joined the Board of Mokami Status of Women and helped the organization transition from a Women’s Centre into a Women’s Centre with supportive housing for women with multiple and complex needs. This transition required the writing of new policies, hiring and training of new staff and the designing of new programming. Kelly enjoys volunteering and connecting with community, something that has
been a bit of a struggle since the pandemic. So, she is excited to volunteer with the Second Story Womens Centre and looking forward to the connections she will make. Kelly has lived in Bridgewater since 2019 and has recently bought a new home. This means she spends a lot of her free time landscaping, whether she likes it or not.
Kelly Goudie is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador. She earned a Nutrition degree from Acadia University in 1999, a Health Education degree from Dalhousie in 2003 and a Masters in Global Health from Trinity College Dublin in 2018. She began working in Happy Valley Goose Bay for Labrador Regional Health Services as a Primary Health Care Facilitator, she then moved to the position of Health Promotion and Wellness Coordinator in which she worked for 13 years. She is currently employed by Nova Scotia Health Authority as a Health Promotion Specialist working for Mental Health and Addictions in Bridgewater. Kelly enjoys working with communities and has taken a community development approach to health promotion. This has involved her in many initiatives including food security, housing, community capacity building and anti-racism. During her work to implement Housing First in Labrador, Kelly became involved with the Mokami Status of Women Centre. She joined the Board of Mokami Status of Women and helped the organization transition from a Women’s Centre into a Women’s Centre with supportive housing for women with multiple and complex needs. This transition required the writing of new policies, hiring and training of new staff and the designing of new programming. Kelly enjoys volunteering and connecting with community, something that has
been a bit of a struggle since the pandemic. So, she is excited to volunteer with the Second Story Womens Centre and looking forward to the connections she will make. Kelly has lived in Bridgewater since 2019 and has recently bought a new home. This means she spends a lot of her free time landscaping, whether she likes it or not.
Leslie Wright: Executive Chair
Leslie has been a specialist in organizational governance and management in the public and non-profit sectors for over 30 years, working with a wide variety of clients and colleagues at the local, provincial and national levels. Working nationally as a partner from Novita Interpares’ offices in Lunenburg and Toronto, Leslie’s main areas of practice include: governance and practice of non
profits and charities; design and facilitation of public consultations; project development and management with paid and voluntary leadership; and funding in the non-profit sector. Highlights: Began work in the women’s shelter movement – frontline, public education, and advocacy for women and children; Led the amalgamation of six social planning agencies in Toronto; Chair of the Board of Governors of Centennial
College and Colleges Ontario (previously ACAATO); Executive Director of Agora Foundation and The Philanthropist Journal (ongoing); Work with a range of non profits in Nova Scotia including 4-H Nova Scotia, Annapolis County Federation of Agriculture, Equestrian Nova Scotia, Impact Organizations of NS (previously CSCNS), Alexander Graham Bell Foundation, NSCAD, and Ulnooweg; Founding Chair, Lunenburg Community Network – home of the Lunenburg Community Garden; Developed businesses with her partner including Luvly in Lunenburg + The Lunenburg Makery (an ongoing online business); Mom of Zac and partner of Brian.
Leslie has been a specialist in organizational governance and management in the public and non-profit sectors for over 30 years, working with a wide variety of clients and colleagues at the local, provincial and national levels. Working nationally as a partner from Novita Interpares’ offices in Lunenburg and Toronto, Leslie’s main areas of practice include: governance and practice of non
profits and charities; design and facilitation of public consultations; project development and management with paid and voluntary leadership; and funding in the non-profit sector. Highlights: Began work in the women’s shelter movement – frontline, public education, and advocacy for women and children; Led the amalgamation of six social planning agencies in Toronto; Chair of the Board of Governors of Centennial
College and Colleges Ontario (previously ACAATO); Executive Director of Agora Foundation and The Philanthropist Journal (ongoing); Work with a range of non profits in Nova Scotia including 4-H Nova Scotia, Annapolis County Federation of Agriculture, Equestrian Nova Scotia, Impact Organizations of NS (previously CSCNS), Alexander Graham Bell Foundation, NSCAD, and Ulnooweg; Founding Chair, Lunenburg Community Network – home of the Lunenburg Community Garden; Developed businesses with her partner including Luvly in Lunenburg + The Lunenburg Makery (an ongoing online business); Mom of Zac and partner of Brian.
Peggie Graham: Finance Officer
Peggie Graham has been connected to Second Story Women's Centre for almost as long as she has lived on the South Shore. For nearly 25 years, she has been a member, volunteer, event organizer, program participant, workshop facilitator, and course developer at SSWC. Her career has spanned several fields including journalism, government communications, small business ownership, freelance writing, event organization, small press editing and production, library fundraising, and non-profit administration. Peggie's governance experience with non-profits includes serving on multiple boards of directors. She holds a degree in Women's Studies and a journalism diploma and has even published short fiction and poetry. Having witnessed first-hand the value and necessity of the services provided by Second Story over its 40 year history, Peggie is committed to working with others to reanimate the Centre and build upon past successes in order to move forward during these difficult times.
Peggie Graham has been connected to Second Story Women's Centre for almost as long as she has lived on the South Shore. For nearly 25 years, she has been a member, volunteer, event organizer, program participant, workshop facilitator, and course developer at SSWC. Her career has spanned several fields including journalism, government communications, small business ownership, freelance writing, event organization, small press editing and production, library fundraising, and non-profit administration. Peggie's governance experience with non-profits includes serving on multiple boards of directors. She holds a degree in Women's Studies and a journalism diploma and has even published short fiction and poetry. Having witnessed first-hand the value and necessity of the services provided by Second Story over its 40 year history, Peggie is committed to working with others to reanimate the Centre and build upon past successes in order to move forward during these difficult times.