North Sydney
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Executive Director
Operational Manager/ CCDP
Jillian’s professional career has been driven by creating change with a passion for helping people. She is very driven in all aspects of her life and likes to surround herself with positive likeminded people.
Jillian holds a Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration as well as an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources. She is a Certified Professional Human Resources Candidate, who also sits on the Tourism HR Canada National Advisory Committee for the Future Skills Framework Project.
Most recently having come from a Director and Strategy planning role with a top 100 ranked golf resort, Jillian has a passion for creating change with the goal to continuously improve both the employee and client experience. Having worked in many facets of programming provided by both federal and provincial government, she knows the true value that it brings to both clients and communities alike.
Jillian is a passionate individual, who loves to run, travel, meet new people and enjoys spending time exploring the Island with her husband Greg, daughter Amelia, pups and good friends.
Jillian Janega-Connell (she/her)
Jenny Pearo (she/her)
“Being part of a team who cares about each client, and each other, is truly rewarding.”
Jenny Pearo comes from the Bras d’Or area and has worked in all client-facing roles at the Nova Scotia Works Northside Employment and Resource Centre. Most recently, Jenny is Operations Manager and part of the Career Practitioner Team which enables her to take an active lead in each role. With a Bachelor’s Degree from CBU, and a Certificate in Employment Services from Dalhousie’s School of Continuing Education, Jenny understands the needs’ of job seekers in the area.
Growing up along the Bras d’Or Lakes, Jenny has an infinite love of the water and enjoys swimming, boating, and Kayaking to explore the coastline.
Career Practitioner
Career Practitioner
Colleen Dollimount (she/her)
Colleen works with clients of various backgrounds to assist in guiding and preparing individuals to enter or re-enter the workforce. Clients benefit from the assistance of resume building, interview skills and job searching. As a Case Manager, Colleen provides support to clients through interventions such as the Skills Development Program to further their education/training or by participating in a work experience program such as the Start or Job Creation Partnership Program. All these efforts are for clients to gain marketable skills and assist with becoming financially independent in the communities in which we live.
Colleen obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies Degree and started out working in the mental health field then returned to school as a mature student to complete the Advanced Level Human Resource Management Diploma program from NSCC. This allowed her to have many transferable skills and the ability to work effectively with a diverse population. She is a strong believer that you are never too old to learn new skills.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with my family and fur babies; camping, hiking, going to the beach and watching hockey.
Colleen McGean (she/her)
As a Case Manager Colleen provide clients with the goal of increasing their employability by having a solid understanding of assessment principles, practices, processes, tools and resources. This is done through supporting clients with a return to work action plan to address barriers and assisting them in creating cover letters, resumes, gathering of labor market information, enhance success in job search, entrepreneurship, providing information on programs and resources to assist individuals.
Colleen enjoys reading and loves to do crafts when she has the time. She also loves to play board games and can be very competitive.
Specialties: MOUS Certification, Information Technology Diploma, Business Administration Diploma, Case Manager Certificate.
Shawn Smith (he/him)
Career Practitioner
Shawn is one of our case managers/workplace facilitators where he assists clients with developing their job search skills through training and also assist in overcoming barriers to employment through social programs that are available to them.
Shawn has worked in employment services for roughly 3 years before making a change into the construction industry. From Construction, he went into the Marine industry doing mechanical work on the cargo ships on the great lakes to working offshore as a marine rigger for the decommissioning of platforms around Sable island. Shawn has since returned to the employment and career development field where he uses his previous experience in developing return to work plans for clients.
As a teenager, Shawn toured with a heavy metal band around Nova Scotia and PEI.
Tracey MacMullin (she/her)
As a School Liaison, Tracey helps high school youth transition successfully from school to post-secondary education, training and the workforce. Tracey is passionate about her commitment to young Nova Scotians and the future of our province. One of her goals, and one that is shared by many in the province – building a strong economy, with a well-trained and educated workforce, in a great province where more young Nova Scotians can live and work at home.
Tracey holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Sociology and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Cape Breton University. As well as, Certificates in Employment Services and Career Development Services from Dalhousie. Her education is just one of many stepping stones in her career journey. She also attributes valuable work experience in many client-facing roles, as well as a commitment to lifelong learning, as contributing factors to her success in the workplace.
In her spare time, Tracey enjoys running, kayaking, and exploring the beauty of our Island. A motto she lives by is “Live Strong” - knowledge is power, and attitude is everything!
School Liaison
Employment Engagement Specialist
Michelle Turbide (she/her)
School Liaison
Derek Theriault (he/him)
As an employer engagement specialist, Derek assists employers in the Northside and surrounding areas and to shed light on the program opportunities that Nova Scotia Works can help provide.
Derek attended UCCB (better known now as CBU) where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business Administration. Before working in the employment and career development filed, Derek work extensively in the construction industry for a number of years.
Derek has a passion sports, especially the Blue Jays and the Montreal Canadiens.
Michelle has been in the Career Development field for the past fifteen years working as Case Manager / Career Practitioner until her recent change to the role of School Liaison. She has the knowledge, skills and experience in several areas to support client in achieving their career goals.
Michelle is a member of the Nova Scotia Career Development Association (NSCDA) and has a commitment to professional development and career self-management. She holds Radio & Television Broadcasting, Data Processing and Advanced Computer Programming diplomas. She has completed Case Management Specialization training (NSCDA), has her CCDP designation, and Employment Services & Career Development Services – Level II through Dalhousie University.
The best part of her day is time spent with her daughter who has Cerebral Palsy and is high special needs. She has a deep appreciation for people with disabilities and the barriers that they face.
She enjoys shopping (especially a good sale) and summer is her favorite time of the year to enjoy swimming, bon fires, and exploring beautiful Cape Breton. Her friends believe that there is a good possibility that she may own shares in Winners and Costco!
Job Developer
Moragh Ferguson-Macdonald (she/her)
Leah Noble (she/her, they/them)
Information and Resource Specialist
Working at Nova Scotia Works as a Job Developer, Moragh is able to participate in the life of her community and be rewarded by working with persons with disabilities. To see their abilities, and for employers to be rewarded by the potential persons with disabilities provide, as well as the services Nova Scotia Works have to offer, in the hope of creating a more inclusive and thriving community.
Moragh identifies as a person with a disability. She has a significant hearing loss and wears two hearing aids. She currently serves on the board of Society of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Nova Scotians. Through this board and lived experience she hopes to advocate for a more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming community whereby all can feel like they belong.
Having previously worked in the nursing field, she was allotted the opportunity to provide general assistance and care to patients. This experience has helped her realize her ability to assist individuals with specific needs, how to communicate with people, how to make a workplace accessible, and re-enforces my ability to live by a lifelong philosophy – to continuously learn from my experiences.
Moragh’s current position with the Nova Scotia Works (NEDAC), requires extensive communication and service to the general public, local employers, not for profit groups, community organizations, and other federal / provincial governmental departments in an effort to develop and promote skills and learning opportunities for unemployed individuals of Cape Breton Island. She has obtained an extensive knowledge in client and community needs in the past ten years employed with NEDAC.
Out of the workplace Moragh loves to participate in her community by attending a local yoga studio. She also loves being able to walk along the ocean -to wave and perhaps have a chat along the way with people in her community.
Leah is the newest member of our team, and as an IRS she is the first point of contact for people coming through our doors! She makes sure job seekers get the information and resources necessary to navigate the support services that we offer, and helps keep things running smoothly at the Centre with administrative support for the whole team. She also maintains our social media and website.
Leah holds a diploma in Graphic Design from NSCC and worked for 7 years for a non-profit in the field of support services for adults with intellectual disabilities. She has also worked as a freelance graphic designer, a virtual assistant, as well as in the tourism, retail and craft sectors. She is a writer and artist, and mom to a sweet pre-schooler. Originally from Baddeck, Leah has lived on the Northside for ten years and loves the community here. A proud member of the LGBTQ2+ community, Leah believes in equality for all and that everyone has a unique career journey and story.
In her spare time, Leah is working on hiking all 26 hikes in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, as well as developing her vegetable garden.
Ingonish
Career Practitioner/ Employment Engagement Specialist
Derrick Hawley (he/him)
As a Career practitioner and Employer Engagement Specialist, Derrick provide a variety of services to businesses as well as case management and employment assistance services to unemployed workers residing in the communities between Bay St. Lawrence and Englishtown.
Derrick has a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. F.X.U. and has been working in the career development field since 1986. Prior to joining NEDAC in 2016, Derrick worked as a Career Resource Centre Manager / Career Practitioner for North Victoria Employment Support Services Society in Ingonish and also worked as an Employment Counselor for Human Resources Development Canada.
Derricks interests include playing guitar, golf, hiking, snowshoeing
Baddeck
Leith McFadgen (he/him)
Career Practitioner/ Employment Engagement Specialist
Leith McFadgen (he/him) is the Case Manager/ Employment Engagement Specialist for the Baddeck center. He was born and raised in Baddeck, so he is passionate about working within his hometown and helping those who are a part of this community.
Leith graduated from Acadia University with a Business Degree (Major in Employment Relations), but has also worked in several fields before, during, and after his time of study. He was formerly a third-generation telephone technician, a utility clerk at both the local hospital and grocery store, and also spent some time post-university as an administrative employee for a local business.
Outside of work, Leith has several interests including but not limited to participating in local leagues (he plays in both a recreational Darts and Basketball league), exercising, gaming, and spending time with friends and family. Leith likes nothing more than to enjoy the lighter side of life – he was formerly a member of an improvisational comedy group while he was in university, so few things make him happier than having a good laugh!