Angela Murray, President
amurray@nstu.ca
902-477-5621

With over 15 years of public relations experience, Angela Murray is currently Public Relations and Communications Staff Officer with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, where she is also the managing editor of their monthly newspaper, The Teacher. She has served as the chair for the Provincial Education Week Committee, and is a member of the Canadian Educational Press Association and the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education. Previously she's provided her public relations expertise for Neptune Theatre, Clean Nova Scotia, Business Development Bank of Canada and the Discovery Centre. Angela was the co-chair of the program committee for 2008 national CPRS conference to held in Halifax in June 2008 and has served on the CPRS-NS Board since 2006 as its PD Co-Chair and vice-president since June 2007. She has been involved with the society as a member and/or regular PD session participant for the past 20 years. She also served as chair of board of the Jest in Time Theatre and was also a board member for the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University.

 

Nadia Hinds, Vice-President
nhinds@mtlpr.ca
902-425-1860 ext. 240

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nadia has over eight years experience in public and media relations. She is currently a consultant at MT&L Public Relations, and has worked with the private and public sectors in employee communications, issues and crisis communications, marketing communications, and media relations. She combines her diverse background with knowledge of media and government relations in the Caribbean and Canada. Nadia graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Public Relations with distinction. She also earned her Certificate in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in England. Nadia has been recognised as an award-winning writer and a certified toastmaster. She achieved the APR designation in 2008.

 

Heidi MacDonald, Secretary
Heidi.MacDonald@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
902-426-2533

 

Heidi MacDonald is a Communications Manager at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, where she focuses on web development and e-communications. Her experience with the Department also includes previous work in coordinating communications for a national restructuring of IT service delivery, and internal communications for the region. Recently, she had the opportunity to work with Environment Canada, where she coordinated both internal and external communications activities. Heidi's past experience also includes provincial government communications, and independent contracting. She graduated with distinction from Mount Saint Vincent University's Bachelor of Public Relations degree with Cooperative Education, and has served as a member of Board of Directors since 2006.

 

Patrick Brownlow, Treasurer
pbrownlow@ns.sympatico.ca
902-430-7227

 

 

 

 

 

Pat established Patrick Brownlow & Associates, Inc. in August 2000 following more than 30 years of public relations experience with the federal government. His company has built a client base of government, private and non-profit organizations. Pat has experience in crisis communications, issues management, and media relations at the local, national, and international levels. His portfolio is further complimented by a marketing and advertising ability honed by years of experience. Pat is an honorary lifetime CPRS member for achieving excellence in his field.

 

Karen Theriault, Past President/Gemstones
karen.theriault@cehha.nshealth.ca
902-893-5554 ext 2409

 

 

 

 

 

Karen has 11 years of communications experience, including strategic communication planning, media relations, internal communications, issues and crisis management, marketing and fund development.  She is currently filling a one-year maternity leave contract with the Colchester East Hants Health Authority as Director of Public Relations, a position she also held in 2005.  Karen's previous experience includes Account Director with Cossette Atlantic, Senior Consultant with RBR Development Associates Ltd., Manager of Fund Development and Communications for the Nova Scotia Region of the Canadian Red Cross Society, and Public Relations Coordinator for Highland View Regional Hospital.  Karen is a graduate of Mount Saint Vincent University, where she attained a Bachelor of Public Relations with distinction and the co-operative education option. Prior to accepting the position of president for the 2008-2009 year, she chaired the board's Professional Development Committee.  

 

Denise Corra, APR, PR for PR
denise.corra@canadapost.ca
902-494-4076

Denise has been working in the public relations field for over fifteen years in the Halifax area, and has held positions in the non-profit, government and private sectors. She is currently Manager of Employee Communications for Canada Post in Atlantic Canada. Denise holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Public Relations from MSVU, and is currently completing her Master of Public Relations Degree at MSVU. She achieved the APR designation in 2005 and currently serves as Regional Examiner for the CPRS accreditation program
in Atlantic Canada.

 

Cindy Bayers, APR, Accreditation
pebblecomms@eastlink.ca
902-889-9181

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cindy recently formed Pebble Communications, a public relations consultancy helping organizations connect with their stakeholders. She is an award-winning consultant with more than 10 years in the public relations business. Prior to starting Pebble Communications, Cindy was senior communications advisor with the Capital District Mental Health Program, communications manager with Dalhousie Medical School and event manager with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. She balances her professional efforts with her love for community development and volunteer work. She sits on the board of the Eastern Shore Family Resource Association, is a member of the Musquodoboit Harbour Community Peace Park Group and volunteers regularly with mental health organizations.

 

Tim Winchester, Sponsorship
tim@colour.ca
902-722-3247

 

 

 

 

 

As an associate at Colour, Tim specializes in marketing public relations, helping bridge the gap between his clients¹ marketing and communications efforts.  Over the past eight years, Tim has worked for both small and mid-sized PR firms in Toronto and Halifax, serving a wide range of clients, including Guinness, Hallmark Canada, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage, the Halifax 2011 Canada Games bid committee, Labatt Breweries of Canada, and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.  A graduate of both St. Mary¹s University and Mount St. Vincent University,  Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts (English) and a Bachelor of Public Relations.

 

Tanya MacLean, Membership
tanya.maclean@qe2-hsc.ns.ca
902-473-4696

 

 

 

 

 

Tanya MacLean is a Communications Officer with the QEII Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization established to strengthen health care for Atlantic Canadians at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. Since inception in 1996, the QEII Foundation has raised over $150 million for health care.  Before joining the QEII Foundation in 2006, Tanya spent almost 7 years at the Nova Scotia School Boards Association in the Communications Department supporting the province's elected school board members. Tanya is an honours graduate of the Public Relations diploma program at the Nova Scotia Community College, along with a Business Information Technology diploma. In her spare time, she coaches gymnastics and enjoys mountain biking with her husband.

 

Meghan Kelly, Education Co-Chair 
meghanjkelly@msn.com  

 

 

 

 

Meghan is a communications co-ordinator for the Nova Scotia School Boards Association, a non-profit representing the provincial voice for school boards and elected board members. She completed her undergraduate degree in international relations at Mount Allison University, where she also did a one year exchange to Strasbourg, France. Meghan is a recent graduate of the Advanced Diploma program in public relations at the Nova Scotia Community College where she represented her class on the CPRS-NS board. She is an avid traveler and enjoys cooking, writing and photography in her spare time. Meghan is a co-chair of the education portfolio.

Erin Esiyok Education Co-Chair 

 

Mary Barker, Archivist
barkergilkie@sympatico.ca
902-492-2368

 

 

 

 

Mary L. Barker, APR, LM, Fellow (Hon.) is an award-winning, accredited and senior public relations practitioner with extensive experience in most areas of the practice, and in particular with communications for professionals, protocol, education, and development/fundraising. She has taught PR in Halifax and Australia, and is a long-time participant in the mentoring program. A former President of CPRS-NS and board member who has held the portfolios of education, professional development and accreditation, she has also served on the National Board of Directors and the national task force on accreditation, edited the booklet on 45 years of Nova Scotian PR history, has judged and coordinated both national and regional awards programs, and has been an APR examiner. A three-time best-of-practice award winner, Mary recently received national's Lamp of Service Award, and is currently Archivist for CPRS-NS, serves on the '08 Conference Planning Committee, and chairs national's 60th Anniversary Committee.

 

Rob MacCormick, CNW Representative (Ex-Officio)
robert.maccormick@newswire.ca

 

Ed Murray, Director-at-Large (Ex-Officio)