Board of Directors
| Holly Dickinson | Representative - Halifax Sexual Health Centre |
| Vanessa Walker | Representative - Cape Breton Centre for Sexual Health |
| Sheila Martin | Representative - Sheet Harbour Sexual Health Centre |
| Charlotte Gallivan | Representative - Sexual Health Centre for Cumberland County |
| Louise Hopper | Representative - South Shore Sexual Health |
| Emma Van Rooyen | Co-Chair |
| Jenny Rand | Co-Chair |
| Bryah Boutilier | Secretary |
| Jaiden Decaire | Treasurer |
| Ry Pembrooke | Member-at-Large |
| Raoul Tan-Yan | Member-at-Large |
| Claire Horn | Member-at-Large |
| Asia Holloway | Member-at-Large |
| Amanda Kolwich | Member-at-Large |
| Ty Silver | Member-at-Large |
Staff
Stella Samuels (they/them) – Executive Director
executivedirector@shns.ca
As Executive Director Stella supports the sexual health centres in managing their collaborative projects. They are also the provincial spokesperson for SHNS.
Stella has a passion for social justice, sexual health, and finding innovative ways to be, work, and play together in communities. They have taken a winding career path that includes entrepreneurship, nonprofit work, municipal governance, academia, and book publishing…sometimes in tandem. They bring with them a diverse set of expertise in non-profit leadership, systems change, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Kelsey Benoit (she/they) – Project Coordinator SUGAR Health
projectmanager@shns.ca
Kelsey Benoit is a queer settler living in Mi’kma’ki who holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Lakehead University. They care about working in anti-oppressive spaces that value diverse experiences and inclusivity.
Kelsey is passionate about harm reduction and uses this approach to inform their work. She has spent years working alongside, learning from, and advocating for the rights of people who use drugs. Due to her experience working in and with Indigenous communities and community members, Kelsey strives to work from a lens which is increasingly anti-colonial and informed by Indigenous knowledges.
Kelsey’s educational and work experience has involved destigmatizing healthcare, sexual health and 2SLGBTQIA+ education initiatives, community organizing and advocacy, as well as system navigation and case management.
Chrissy Merrigan (she/they) – System Navigator SUGAR Health
systemnavigator@shns.ca
Chrissy is a compassionate registered social worker with a diverse professional background, most recently working in end-of-life care. Chrissy approaches their work from an anti-oppressive and empowerment lens and is passionate about barrier removal.
Beyond her professional work, Chrissy has an extensive history of advocacy and volunteerism. Their commitment to community-driven solutions and social justice has led them to collaborate with local organizations, participate in community-building, and advocate for policy changes that positively impact the lives of their neighbours. Chrissy sits on the board of directors with Out of the Cold Community Association, and Life Rolls On/The Nova Scotia SurfAble Association. In her spare time, she enjoys planning queer community events, reading, volunteering, swimming in the ocean year-round, and pretending to be good at art.
Sar (they/them) – Transformation Closet Coordinator
transformationclosetshns@gmail.com
Sar (rhymes with bear) is a queer white settler living in Kjipuktuk. They have a background in queer- and trans-affirming community programming and gender-affirming gear production as a sewist. As a co-coordinator, you can find Sar swirling around in their spreadsheets, tracking down inventory, packing up orders, and building connections with other community organizations.
Outside of their work with the T Closet, Sar works as a counselling therapist and loves to noodle around with any kind of DIY project. They have two cats, of course.
Kade (they/them) – Transformation Closet Coordinator
transformationclosetshns@gmail.com
Kade is a queer and trans support worker, facilitator, and community organizer based in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia). As a Co-Coordinator of the Transformation Closet, he works to connect 2SLGBTQIA+ people across the province with gender-affirming gear, resources, and care rooted in dignity and self-determination.
Kade’s work is grounded in gender justice and the belief that queer and trans communities deserve access to affirming, trauma-informed support. With a background in psychology, youth care, housing support, and grassroots education, they bring a deep understanding of systems navigation and the importance of peer-led work.
Outside of SHNS, Kade facilitates workshops on gender-affirming care, participates in queer and trans advocacy networks, and is always finding ways to build spaces of collective joy, resistance, and belonging. In their spare time, he enjoys playing video games and hanging out with his three cats.