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Board of Directors
Meet your
At the heart of our mission are some simple but powerful values: fairness, inclusion, and looking out for each other. Our Board of Directors is made up of members of Freshwinds Eco-Village Housing Co-operative who volunteer their time to keep things running smoothly, using their skills to make sure we're financially sustainable, meeting our legal responsibilities, maintaining our beautiful property, and ensuring everyone is treated with the respect they deserve.
Interested in getting involved?
Eric Tusz-King, Co-Chair
Eric is an experienced community and co-operative business developer, having successfully co-founded EOS Eco-Energy Inc. (2004), EnerGreen Builders Co-operative (2006), Open Sky Co-operative (2011) and Beausejour Renewable Energy Co-operative (2016) in Tantramar. Retired from ministry in the United Church of Canada, Eric continues, as a volunteer, to support local inclusive employment, international justice initiatives, and community development projects.
Sabine Dietz, Co-Chair
Currently Executive Director of CLIMAtlantic, a climate services organization providing access to climate projections, support and training around climate risks and adaptation across Atlantic Canada, Sabine leads a team of over 25 with a mandate to increase climate resiliency in Atlantic Canada. She has worked in nature conservation for over 15 years, and in climate change adaptation for over 16 years. She has worked with provincial and federal governments, environmental non-profits, and municipalities, in roles spanning executive director, ecosystem scientist and consultant. Her Masters in Environment Studies (UdeM) and her PhD in biology (UNB) have given her a science-based understanding of seeing the world, supplemented by her deep love and caring for nature. Born in Germany and immigrated to Canada while studying, she now lives as a white settler on unceded Mi’kmaw territory in Siknikt (the Chignecto Isthmus, Sackville, NB). Sabine speaks English, French, and German.
Margaret Tusz-King, Director
Margaret is a former pharmacist and an experienced community and co-operative business developer, having co-founded EOS Eco-Energy Inc., EnerGreen Builders Co-operative and Open Sky Co-operative in Tantramar. She has a Masters Degree in Adult Education, and certification in Co-operative Business Management. Margaret has developed co-operative business training programs for adults with disabilities, and recently retired from work at Mount Allison University in Accessibility Services. Margaret was a local elected municipal councillor, 2008-2016.
Tom Snowdon, Director
Tom is a retired Christian clergy, having served parishes in western Canada. Tom, originally from Tantramar, returned home following an extensive career that took him and his wife, Judi, working with community development in Atlantic Canada and in Egypt, where they maintained humanitarian work in cooperation with Egyptian church leaders during the recent revolutions. In retirement, he builds classical guitars.
Judith Snowdon, Director
Judith is a well-respected musician, instructor, and composer. Judi worked with her husband, Tom, with the Mennonite Central Committee, an internationally respected community development organization. She worked with them in Atlantic Canada and Egypt. She continues in her professional music career.
Christina Watts, Director
Christina Watts is a founder of Powerhouse Co-operative (2016), a local enterprise that develops accessible employment. Christina is an eloquent representative to those who would very much benefit from the affordable, supportive and sustainable housing being built. Christina has served on the Boards of Open Sky Co-operative and Sackville United Church.
Bruce Moore, Director
Bruce Moore is a native of Pictou, NS. He graduated from Mount Allison university in 1987 and continued to pursue graduate studies at the Atlantic School of Theology. Much of his working life was in the field of sexual health, particularly with HIV and AIDS.
Bruce returned to Sackville 12 years ago and has been interested in affordable housing issues since his arrival. He has been a member of the Board of Freshwinds Co-op since its inception.
Harris McSheffery, Director
Harris McSheffery is a musician who loves co-writing songs with friends, and is a passionate community member of several co-ops: Open Sky Co-operative for organic farming and life skills, Powerhouse Co-operative for cleaning, and more recently, Subvert Co-operative in the music business. Harris has performed live music, both solo and collaboratively, at local festivals, and has been featured on CHMA radio for his original music compositions such as “Slow Spring Start”. Harris can be found busking at the Sackville Farmers Market on Saturdays, volunteering for the Tintamarre Community Concert Band on bass, and exploring musical ideas on his YouTube channel.
Perry Eldridge, Special Advisor to the Board
Perry Eldridge is a Mechanical Engineering Technologist, who retired three years ago, following a 40-year career in Facilities Management at Mount Allison University. Three years ago to present, he became an energy consultant for the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers. His expertise in project planning, tendering processes, engaging and supervising trades, and meeting budgets provides an important skills-set. Perry was a board member of EOS Eco-Energy for 19 years and Chair of this Board for over 11 years. Perry also is currently serving his 10th year on the Board of Directors for the Atlantic Baptist Foundation, with 6 years of this term being the Chair of the Board.