Belinda grew up in the beautiful Annapolis Valley and currently resides in Scots Bay with her husband and her dog, in one of the original settler homes built in the community in the early 1800’s.  Having her own family roots in Scots Bay, that also run generations deep, gives her a sense of belonging which strengthens her passion for the community.

Belinda is an active volunteer as a Director of the Scott’s Bay Wilderness Society to preserve wilderness areas including revitalizing the harbour, a project that took 8 years to develop, and is still ongoing, and she sits as Council Member and Treasurer of the local Union Church in the community.  Also an entrepreneur, she once created opportunities for young residents to gain work skills by developing an ice-cream shop in her back porch.  She also sat as a Director on the founding board of the REFUGE residential shelter, and was a founding member of the PORTAL youth drop in centre, both in Kentville.    

Working within the non-profit housing sector initially, she then went on to work within government for many years where she reviewed project proposals, assessed funding applications, and evaluated results of various community projects.  She later went on to work in policy development before retiring in 2020. 

Continuing to want to make a difference, and not quite ready to retire, in 2021 Belinda began working with Community Links, a provincially based non-profit organization that supports Aging Well Coalitions and initiatives across the province.  She is currently the Regional Coordinator for the Annapolis Valley, and she is still passionate about connecting people and ideas that help improve the lives of Nova Scotians.

Belinda is excited to be able to contribute her experience and skills to the work of the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia.