Sacred Heart School of Halifax Board of Governors

List of 11 members.

Mr. Philip Bassil
Bio
Philip Bassil has over 17 years of international business, finance, and energy experience in Canada, the US, and Europe. Mr. Bassil is a sought-after thought-leader and speaker at industry events and conferences. He is focused on providing strategic and financial advisory services to accelerate the global energy transition and the shift to a net-zero carbon economy. Mr. Bassil is a founding member and an Advisory Board Member at Business Renewables Centre Canada at the Pembina Institute in Calgary, Alberta. Mr. Bassil also heads Marathon Capital in Canada and works closely with pension funds, insurance companies, and institutional investors as well as infrastructure funds, strategics and developers focused on renewable energy and energy transition opportunities globally. Mr. Bassil earned an MBA from the Rowe School of Business at Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Computer Science with the Electrical Engineering Stream from TUNS. He has completed Level 1 and 2 of the CFA designation and the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and the PDO. Mr. Bassil has two children at Sacred Heart.
Mrs. Julie Briggs
Bio
Julie Briggs is Vice President, Finance of Blue Ocean Contact Centers, a
member company of the IMP Group. In her more than 25 years with the
organization, Julie has provided results-driven, strategic financial leadership that has contributed directly to Blue Ocean’s competitive advantage in the global BPO market. She is a key member of the Senior Leadership that has evolved Blue Ocean from a small, local operation to leader in innovative customer care with a roster of nationally and internationally recognized clients. Julie has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and a CMA designation from The Society of Management Accountants. She has served on the Finance Committee of SHSH since 2018. Her son Ethan has attended Sacred Heart since 2016, thriving on both the scholastic and athletic opportunities the school offers. Along with Ethan, and her husband Darren, Julie takes every opportunity to travel and to get out on the water, especially canoeing the rivers of her home province of New Brunswick.
Sr. Donna Dolan, RSCJ
Bio
Donna Dolan '60, RSCJ is an alumna of Sacred Heart, Halifax. She is a graduate of The Halifax Infirmary School of Nursing (RN), Barat College (BA English) and National College of Education (MEd). She served for twelve years on the Provincial Council of the Canadian Province and served on the City House Foundation at Sacred Heart School, Montreal. More recent ministry experience includes eighteen years as Director of the Diocesan Renewal Centre in Prince George, British Columbia and two years as Director of Novices in Halifax. At present Sr. Dolan continues her work as a Spiritual Director and gives retreats and programs at the Barat Spirituality Centre.
Mr. Torquil Duncan
Bio
Torquil Duncan is the President of Capital Management Engineering Limited, a specialized engineering company providing asset management solutions in North America since 2007. After graduating from Dalhousie and TUNS with a mechanical engineering degree Torquil worked on the Confederation Bridge and then spent time working overseas at a trans-shipment facility. Torquil completed his MBA through the Saint Mary’s University Executive Program while working at Jacques Whitford and shortly thereafter established Capital Management Engineering. Beyond his work commitments, Torquil understands the importance of giving back to the community and has sat on the Board of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in addition to volunteering with various committees for over a decade. He has supported local minor hockey through coaching and training efforts for the last five years. His real passion is his family; his wife Lisa works at the IWK and his son Macadam attends Sacred Heart.
Archbishop Brian Dunn
Bio
Most Rev. Brian Joseph Dunn was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from King’s College as well as a Master of Divinity from the University of Western Ontario. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1980 for the Diocese of Grand Falls where he served as pastor and in a number of other responsibilities, including Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor. In 1991, he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from Saint Paul University (Ottawa) and soon after became a lecturer in the Diploma Program for Theology and Ministry at the Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax (1992-1999). Beginning in 2002, he served on the faculty of St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario, and became Dean of Studies at the seminary until 2008. During this same time, Bishop Dunn also served as a lecturer in the Faculty of Canon Law at Saint Paul University (2003-2004 & 2007). He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie in 2008, Bishop of Antigonish in November 2009, and Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth in April 2019. He became the Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth in November 2020.
Ms. Lois Dyer Mann
Bio
Lois Dyer Mann '68 is a proud graduate of the Sacred Heart Convent called “City House” in Montreal, having been a student there since grade one, and then graduated from the Sacred Heart, Halifax in ‘68, after two years in their Junior College Program. Lois has been a partner with Knightsbridge, Robertson Surrette since 2013. She had been Managing Partner of the Halifax office of The Caldwell Partners, from 1999 until 2008. Lois had been Senior Vice-President, Corporate Communications Limited, Halifax, with leadership responsibilities for the Public and Governmental Relations practice, and she led the national business expansion strategy. As Vice President Finance and Administration for ten years at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, she was a member of the Board and its strategic committees, as well as a member of Senate with operating responsibilities for the non-academic affairs of the University. In addition, she was the first Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society, was a Director of the Canadian Bar Society in Ottawa, and was the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Law Information Council. She also served as the Executive Secretary for the Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall Jr Prosecution. Lois is active in her community and has contributed her time to numerous boards and committees: She completed a four year commitment as a founding Director of the 2011 Canada Winter Games Host Society, Halifax, where she helped create a community Board of Directors and then chaired the Governance and Human Resources Committee; and recently concluded eight (8) years as Director of Nova Scotia Business Inc., where she Chaired the Governance and Human Resources Committee. She is a Director of the Chester Arts Centre, and was on the Capital campaign Committee of Project Twenty 12, the campaign for Mount Saint Vincent University. She is a former Director, Girl Guides of Canada/Guides du Canada; Past Chair, Halifax Chamber of Commerce; former Trustee of the IWK Health Centre Foundation; former Co-Chair Major Gifts and member of the Capital Campaign Committee, QEII Health Center Foundation; Past Chair and former Director of Trade Center Limited; Chair, Selection Committee of the first LieutenantGovernor’s Leadership Forum for Women. She has been an adjudicator of the Ernst and Young Atlantic Canada and National Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and a Director and Adjudicator of Junior Achievement Nova Scotia and its Business Hall of Fame Awards. She has also had experience adjudicating disputes for Canada’s Human Rights Commission. Lois is a recipient of Canada’s 125th Anniversary Medal. Lois is a graduate of Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A., 1970), and from the Dalhousie University Law School (LL.B., 1973). A former member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society, Lois and her husband David, live in Chester, NS.
Ms. Gwyneth Fountain
Sr. Mary Finlayson RSCJ
Bio
Sr. Mary Finlayson was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, the youngest of five, and entered the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1985 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She served for six years on the Provincial Team, seven years as Provincial of the Canadian Province, and for two years on the United States Canada Provincial Team. She has served on the Boards of several Sacred Heart schools, including Halifax, Montreal, and San Francisco. Sr. Finlayson is a past SHSH faculty member and was on the 2012 and 2022 SHSH Head of School Search Committees. Fluent in Spanish and French she serves the Society as an educator, in simultaneous interpretation, in music ministry and liturgy. After many years living in the USA serving as Director of Vocation Ministry, Mary now lives at Barat Spirituality Centre in Halifax. Mary enjoys freestyle creative projects like quilting, stenciling, and painting murals, cooking, delving into suspenseful novels, and exploring the great outdoors.
Mrs. Sharon Bennet
Bio
Sharon Bennet has been teaching at Sacred Heart School of Halifax in 2005 as the founding teacher of the preschool program. She is our Jr. Primary Director and Lead Teacher. Sharon is also an instructor at the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education. Sharon holds a
Bachelor of Child Studies and a Master of Education (Literacy) and has over 35 years of experience in the early childhood education field. Her was a Child Life Specialist at the IWK, founding Coordinator of the Cumberland Early Intervention Program, and the founding Coordinator of the Preschool Outreach Program at the Progress Center for Early Intervention. Her previous Board experience includes the United Way – Amherst, Cumberland Early Intervention Program, St. Paul's Home, St. Paul's Halifax Parish Council, Halifax Early Childhood School, and Alexandra Children's Center. Sharon also serves on several SHSH committees. She is married to Neale and is a parent to alums Jack and Claire ’14. Sharon and her family enjoy spending time together at their property on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.
Mr. Brian Curry
Bio
Brian Curry is Director Regulatory and Corporate Secretary for Nova Scotia Power. Prior to working at Nova Scotia Power, Brian practiced law in Halifax. Brian lives in Dartmouth with his spouse, Susan Taylor, and their two children, Henry and Hannah-Mae, both of whom attend Sacred Heart. Henry is a student in the Senior School and Hannah-Mae is in the Elementary School.
Ms. Treena Faloon
Bio
Treena Faloon is the Chief Financial Officer at the IWK Foundation. Prior to her appointment, she was a Senior Consultant at the Barrington Consulting Group. While her two girls were growing up, Treena owned and operated Treen Faloon Consulting where she worked closely with CEO's to articulate their company vision, facilitated business planning with senior management teams, and supported their work in defining business models and financial planning. Treena is married to Rob Faloon and their daughter Laura is currently in grade 10 at Sacred Heart.

List of 12 members.

Ms. Monique Gogan
Bio
Monique is currently employed with the Wealth Management – Private Banking division of Scotiabank. For the past 30 years, she has built her career in the Operations side of Scotiabank, holding various positions in Operations and Human Resources. For the past 18 years, Monique has worked exclusively in the Wealth Management division and most recently assuming the position of Sr. Manager, Regional Operations & Service for Eastern Canada, involving responsibilities throughout locations in Ottawa, Montreal, and Atlantic Canada. Monique holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree from St. Francis Xavier University. She is actively involved in supporting her community and has been a long-time volunteer and fundraiser for many local charitable organizations. She was also a former Treasurer of the Sacred Heart Parent Guild. Monique was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia but has made Halifax her home for the past 30 years. She has raised two daughters, Hannah and Olivia, who both attend Sacred Heart School.
Dr. Arunika Gunawardena
Bio
Arunika Gunawardena won a prestigious NSERC (National Sciences and Engineering Research Council) University Faculty Award and joined the Biology Department at Dalhousie University in September 2006. She has nearly 25 years of experience working in academia at four different universities in three different countries (Sri Lanka, England, and Canada). She is a professor of Biology and her lab studies Programmed Cell Death (PCD) in plant development. She is passionate about her research on PCD and very much enjoys teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. She has been actively involved in outreach activities in the province and she is the current president of the Atlantic Science Links Association. She loves her career as a professor and is a powerful role model for young scientists. Arunika lives in Halifax with her husband Rajesh Rajaselvam, and her daughter Anisha Rajaselvam '21.
Sr. Sheila Hammond RSCJ
Bio
Sr. Sheila Hammond, RSCJ is an alumna of Sacred Heart Schools on Sheridan Road in Chicago '61, and Manhattanville College in New York '65. She received her Masters Degree in Theology from St. Louis University. She is a Certified Pastoral Educator Emerita, member of the Association for Pastoral Education and Board Certified Chaplain. Her most recent ministry was as the RSCJ Provincial of the United States-Canada Province (2016-2021). Prior to provincial administration she was Director of Pastoral Care and Clinical Pastoral Education supervisor at St. Louis University Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, and was the RSCJ Director of Formation for the United States province. She is currently on sabbatical and refreshing her Spanish language skills.
Ms. Valerie Patterson
Bio
Valerie is currently the chief financial officer of Eldis Group Partnership, a position she has held since 2005. Prior to her current role, she spent over 13 years in public accounting working for Grant Thornton. While there, Valerie worked in the audit and assurance area of the firm with a variety of clients ranging from privately held owner-manager businesses to those in the municipal and health care fields. Valerie has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary’s University. Over the years, she has worked with a variety of non-profits and community organizations as a board member, advisor, and volunteer. Valerie and her husband, Robert, share five children: Rachel, Emma, Michael, Matthew and Patrick ’28.
Mr. Michael Simms
Bio
Michael Simms is a Partner in McInnes Cooper’s Halifax office. He practices corporate, commercial and regulatory law, primarily in the energy and natural resources industry. Mike holds an LL.B. and a certificate in Marine and Environmental law from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, and is a former part-time faculty member there. He is also the Past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Section, and sits on the Board of the Maritimes Energy Association and the Carbon Capture & Storage Consortium of Nova Scotia. Mike is also a volunteer with Scouts Canada and in the sport of sailing. Mike lives in Halifax with his wife, Lee and their four children, Charlie, Elspeth, Henry and William, all of whom are current SHSH students.
Mrs. Kathryn Tector
Bio
Kathryn Tector has a strong background in communications and has spent the majority of her career thinking and applying a customer-centric approach to communication. As Vice President at NATIONAL Public Relations, Kathryn is able to apply her fascination of human behaviour and building strong teams with the concept of collective goal setting to support large change initiatives. She enjoys working with clients to best understand how the evolving digital landscape and new technologies influence organizational structure and how best to reach and engage
customers longer term. Kathryn earned an MSc in Public Relations from Stirling University in Scotland and a Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University. She lives in Halifax with her husband, Mark, and
three sons; Simon, ‘21, Sebastian, and Ben. Kathryn also sits on the Board of MetroWorks – a social enterprise in Nova Scotia.
Ms. Robin Thorsteinson
Bio
Robin Thorsteinson is a career volunteer and a keen supporter of Sacred Heart School of Halifax. Robin completed a two-year term as the President Parents’ Guild at Sacred Heart School. Under her leadership, the Parents’ Guild was able to raise over $130,000. These funds go directly to student programs and enrich the Sacred Heart experience for all students. In addition to funds raised, Robin appreciates the importance of a strong and vibrant parent community and continues to work hard to build that foundation. In her work life before children, Robin was a Management Consultant with Accenture and specialized in Customer Relationship Management in the Financial Services sector.
Robin is an avid skier, sailor, and yogi. She lives in Halifax with her husband Rob and her three boys, Sam ‘21, Zac, and Charlie.
Sr. Anne Wachter RSCJ
Bio
Anne Wachter, RSCJ (Religious of the Sacred Heart) '80 began her tenure as Head of School for the Sacred Heart School of Halifax in 2012. Her graduate degree is from the University of San Francisco (Master of Arts Education, Private School Administration) and at St. Mary's College, Notre Dame she completed a B.B.A. with a concentration in accounting, and also earned a secondary education certificate for mathematics and business education. Before moving to Halifax, she spent 15 years at the Sacred Heart School in San Francisco and has also served Sacred Heart schools in Nebraska, New York City, Illinois and Louisiana. She is an alumna of Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart (1980) and serves on the Investment Committee for the Society of the Sacred Heart, US-Canada. She is a member of the Atlantic Chapter of the International Women’s Forum (IWF).
Ms. Alexandra Whalen
Bio
Alexandra Whalen (Hirsch) '06 is an alumna of Sacred Heart School of Halifax. She attended Acadia University where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting. Alexandra obtained her CPA, CA Designation in 2013 while working at Grant Thornton. She is now Audit Manager, Financial Audit Team, Office of the Auditor General of Nova Scotia. Alexandra has served as the President and Past President of the Sacred Heart School of Halifax Alumnae and Alumni Association.
Ms. Rebecca Hiltz LeBlanc
Bio
Rebecca Hiltz LeBlanc, Q.C. is a lawyer and partner with McInnes Cooper in Halifax, practicing in the areas of commercial and estate litigation. Rebecca received her Queen’s Counsel designation in 2022. In addition to her involvement with Sacred Heart, Rebecca is a part-time instructor at the Schulich Faculty of Law at Dalhousie University, a Life Director of the Neptune Theatre Foundation, having served as Chair for four years and on the executive for ten, and is a 28-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. Rebecca lives in Dartmouth with her husband Mitch LeBlanc and their son Luc, who has attended Sacred Heart since Junior Primary.
Mrs. Marlee Naipaul
Bio
Marlee Naipaul is a strong believer that success in organizations is dependent on its most valuable resource — its people. Engaging people through clear communication, a common understanding and shared values fosters a sense of team and connection and drives engagement to achieve organizational goals. An HR practitioner and business professional with over 20 years of experience and education, Marlee has a full understanding of both the strategic and operational needs of an organization. Using a people-centered approach, Marlee
guides leaders in making informed decisions to foster inclusive and respectful working environments primed for achievement. Marlee has a passion for helping business leaders in purpose-driven and value-centric organizations create alignment, connecting the dots between the organization’s mission and goals. Marlee is currently employed as the Director, People and Culture with ISANS, the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia. She has her CPHR designation and is a member of CPHR Nova Scotia. Marlee has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and an MBA specializing in Human Resources. She is actively involved in supporting her community and has been a long-time volunteer and fundraiser for many charitable organizations. She is also a former Secretary of the Sacred Heart Parents’ Guild. Marlee and her husband Mark are raising two daughters, Jasmine and Jacklyn, who both attend Sacred Heart School. Marlee and Mark are also frequent homestay parents with Sacred Heart, hosting international students from Mexico, Japan, and Germany.
Mrs. Mary Shakespeare
Bio
Mary Shakespeare is a landscape architect who returned to Halifax in 2019 after spending 26 years practicing and teaching landscape architecture across Australasia and the Middle East. While living in Dubai, she was an active member of the Parent’s Association at the Dubai English Speaking School and served as the Chair there for a number of years. Mary was also very active with the “Gulf for Good” charity in Dubai serving as a volunteer and participant in its fundraising activities. Although her husband Robert still has one foot in Dubai, the Shakespeares have loved coming home and being part of the Sacred Heart community. Her two daughters, Olivia ‘21 and Isabel '22, and her son James '23 are following in the footsteps of their great grandmother who graduated in 1918.

Board of Governors

List of 11 members.

Mr. Philip Bassil

Mrs. Julie Briggs

Sr. Donna Dolan, RSCJ

Mr. Torquil Duncan

Archbishop Brian Dunn

Ms. Lois Dyer Mann

Ms. Gwyneth Fountain

Sr. Mary Finlayson RSCJ

Mrs. Sharon Bennet

Mr. Brian Curry

Ms. Treena Faloon

List of 12 members.

Ms. Monique Gogan

Dr. Arunika Gunawardena

Sr. Sheila Hammond RSCJ

Ms. Valerie Patterson

Mr. Michael Simms

Mrs. Kathryn Tector

Ms. Robin Thorsteinson

Sr. Anne Wachter RSCJ

Ms. Alexandra Whalen

Ms. Rebecca Hiltz LeBlanc

Mrs. Marlee Naipaul

Mrs. Mary Shakespeare