Board of Directors

President
Jocelyn Barbier (she/her)

Jocelyn has been active with the NSTRA since its inception, as a student serving as part of the transition board, and then as communication director and most recently as a member of the advocacy subcommittee and chair of the marketing subcommittee, and is really excited to rejoin the board as president elect.

Jocelyn graduated from the NSCC diploma programme in 2018, gaining experience working as a programmer in long term care, and most recently has shifted to mental health and addictions joining Children’s Intensive Services at the IWK. Jocelyn is also passionate about dance and movement-based therapy and has been able to support the expansion of Halifax Dance’s Inclusive Movement programme supporting dance in a community recreation setting. She was recently selected to participate in Dance for Health: Parkinson’s, a grant received through Dance Nova Scotia to collaborate through research and the work of Dr. Rebecca Barnstaple, a neuroscientist, dance and movement therapist. Jocelyn is passionate about the work we do as Recreation Therapy professionals, supporting and mentoring students, advocating for the importance of recreation and leisure, sharing with anyone that listens about how rewarding our work is.

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Treasurer
Dana Mills (she/her)

Hi! I’m Dana Mills and am happy to be spending my leisure time serving in a meaningful way on the Board of Directors and supporting NSTRA as Treasurer. I have over 25 years’ experience in the field of therapeutic recreation and have served people of various abilities across the life span in Alberta, Ontario, and here at home in Nova Scotia. I am passionate about the importance of recreation, play and leisure in enhancing the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of individuals and communities.

I believe that professional associations contribute to building healthier communities of practice that protect those served in health and human service spaces. My own leisure lifestyle choices nurture connections with others, the world around me, with an intentional focus on my spiritual health.

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Membership Director
Emma Clarke (She/Her)

Hello! My name is Emma Clarke, and my pronouns are she/her. I graduated from NSCC with my TR diploma in 2019 and graduated from Dalhousie in 2022 with my BSc in TR. I currently live in Dartmouth with my husband and two cats, Peaches and Pebbles. I will be returning home to Cape Breton in the new year as I am working with RNS and CCTH as the Regional Physical Activity Consultant for Cape Breton. This is my second year as Membership Director, so I am excited to continue working with the board, learning new things, and promoting the importance of NSTRA and being a member. During my leisure time, I love to go for walks, read, and try new coffee shops!

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Annapolis Valley Zone Rep
Brianne Saunders (she/her)

Brianne graduated from Dalhousie University’s Therapeutic Recreation program and obtained her designation of a CTRS in 2019. Brianne is currently working in the Western Zone for Nova Scotia Health at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. Brianne provides Recreation Therapy services on the Alternative Level of Care (ALC) unit, as well as the Afternoon Out program for seniors living in the community. During her leisure time Brianne enjoys playing hockey, kayaking and hiking with her dog Waylon.

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Central Zone Rep
Brittany MaCKeen (she/her)

Hi, I’m Brittany (she/her). I’m originally from the small town of Guysborough, Nova Scotia. I received a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in English from St. Francis Xavier University in 2012. Shortly after finishing my degree I discovered the field of Recreation Therapy. I moved to Halifax and enrolled in the Therapeutic Recreation Diploma Program at Nova Scotia Community college and graduated in 2015. I went on to complete my Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation at Dalhousie University graduating in 2018 and became certified as a CTRS in July 2019. I’m currently working as a Recreation Therapist on the ABI/Stroke unit of the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation and Arthritis Centre. In my leisure time I enjoy reading, playing board games, searching for beach glass, curling, playing guitar, camping, and going on adventures with my wife. I’m looking forward to being in the role of Central Zone Representative and working with other Recreation Therapy Professionals to help grow the profession in Nova Scotia

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Southshore Zone Rep
Sarah Hankinson (she/her)

Hi, I’m Sarah (she/her). I grew up in St. Mary’s Bay (La Baie Sainte-Marie), a beautiful French Acadian community. I attended Dalhousie University’s Therapeutic Recreation program and obtained my CTRS credentials after graduating in May 2021. I completed my internship at Camp Hill Veterans Memorial, where I discovered a passion for working with the geriatric population. I am currently working as a Recreation Programmer at Queens Manor in Liverpool.

During my leisure time, I like to try a bit of everything. I have a game shelf overflowing with board games and supplies for activities ranging from bubbles and sidewalk chalk to modelling clay. I have recently taken up crocheting since I enjoy macrame so much, and I love Formula 1 Racing. I also like playing team sports and going on adventures in nature, whether it’s a hike with friends or a solo walk to embrace nature therapy.

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Student Director Dalhousie
Sun Lee (She/Her)

Hello everyone, I’m Sun, and I’m honoured to serve again as the Dalhousie University Student Director and to be part of the 2023-2024 Board of Directors. I’m currently in my fourth year of the Therapeutic Recreation program at Dalhousie and eagerly anticipating my upcoming internship in 2024.

I’m originally from Seoul, South Korea. I spent quite some time in my life in Kitchener, Ontario, and fell in love with Nova Scotia after moving to Digby. Working with the amazing recreation therapists at Digby General Hospital during the challenges of COVID-19 opened my eyes to the importance of Therapeutic Recreation.

I’ve been working as a rehabilitation assistant (also known as an occupational therapist and physiotherapist assistant) for six years and am currently working as a casual rehab assistant with the Bone and Joint team at Halifax Infirmary.

Beyond physical rehabilitation, my passion lies in exploring the profound impact of therapeutic recreation on mental health, especially for individuals with marginalized identities. I recently joined HeART, a youth art program focusing on mental wellness, and I look forward to learning more about how to support and enhance people’s mental wellbeing through recreational therapy.

In my free time, I’m always up for trying new activities or exploring new places. Other than that, I like to play video games, try new cooking recipes, and sing random songs loudly alone, as it doesn’t sound beautiful all the time. I also love to chat about how to make recreation more accessible and inclusive.

I am excited to connect with more people this year, especially with other therapeutic recreation students, and contribute to the creation of enjoyable and safe experiences by working with NSTRA marketing and EDIA subcommittees.

• Email the Dalhousie Student Director.