Course Conductors:

The NSFA's certification courses are taught by:

Linda Donnelly’s studies include a  BSc in Physical Education and one year of a MSc Exercise Physiology program. She is a Registered Certified Kinesiologist and completed NSFA Group Exercise, Resistance Trainer and Older Adult certifications. In addition she has taught Aqua Fit and worked as a personal trainer. She also has a provincial Teachers License in Physical Education and taught all school levels. She has a parallel interest in the Performing Arts and worked as a professional dancer and theatre performer.  Her years of training include gymnastics, ballet, jazz, modern, tap, folk dance and circus arts. Her employment history reflects 20 years of rich experience in recreation, education, self-employment, business, non-profit, and government type work.

Judi Harvey has been a Fitness Professional for almost 25 years. She teaches group, aqua, older adult, kickboxing and Zumba (Zumba, Gold, Aqua and kids).  She is also a Stott certified Pilates Instructor, and will be completing her Yoga Teacher Training spring 2017.  She has been the Fitness Leader Coordinator for the YMCA in Kingston ON and has lead other private clubs is ON. Her favourite job is working and teaching to older adults, and seeing how exercise changes their lives.

Margaret Lee is a relative newcomer to fitness, but not to health or teaching.  With an academic background in Nursing and Pharmacy, including several years of teaching university courses, she's a fountain of knowledge of anatomy and physiology.  She's especially passionate about teaching fitness to the elderly, and is the first person in Nova Scotia to become certified in theBellyfit Sage® (belly dance fitness for senior women) program.  Margaret is also OAL, GEL and RTL certified.

Patricia MacDonald B. Ed (Phys. Ed), M.Ed (Educ. Psych), Certified NSFA GFL, RTL, OAF, PFT, Certified Personal Trainer CPTN.  She is the former Fitness Officer at Mount Saint Vincent University. She has been affiliated with the Nova Scotia Fitness Association since its inception, September 1989. Pat has held various positions at the NSFA from Office Administrator to Chair, and for the last 10 years as part of the Professional Development Committee. Pat has been teaching fitness classes, training clients, and designing and conducting the NSFA certification programs since 1990.

Brigitte MacInnes has a passion for learning, teaching and fitness life few others making her a much loved and in-demand personal trainer in the Halifax area. Not content to rest on her academic credentials in Language and Education, she also became a certified Pilates instructor, Group Exercise Leader and Personal Trainer, and is now studying Yoga as well.  Brigitte teaches theory, group exercise and resistance training course work with the NSFA and is a past Chair of the Board of Directors.

Doreen MacLean is a Registered Dietitian with the NSDA, having taken her B.Sc. in Applied Human Nutrition at MSVU. She is a consulting dietitian in private practice, as well as a DANCEPL3Y™ instructor for which she was the first certified instructor on the East coast! Doreen has been a past member of the NSFA board.

Melissa Millar is a dynamic fitness professional involved in the industry for over 20 years. She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Fitness Workshop Presenter, and Trainer Educator. With degrees in Kinesiology and Dance she went on to complete certifications from YMCA Canada, Can-Fit-Pro, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), ZUMBA, and most recently, YogaFit. In 2009 she was awarded the Fitness Instructor of the Year- Freestyle, New Zealand. She is now the owner of a fitness training company called MOTIVA Wellbeing and Fitness, specializing in personal and small group training in home, fitness classes & workshops, and corporate wellness programs.

Bill Norton's career in teaching and instructing indoor cycling started in 2003 at the SMU fitness center and continues today at the New Homburg Center at SMU. During the past 17 years, he has participated in and received his Spin certification through the YMCA, Rebook, Schwinn and Keiser institutions plus attended numerous workshops to stay current with the latest training techniques. Along with these certifications, he has accumulated 55 years of training and fitness for competition in the disciplines of Paddling, Marathoning, Track and Field, Cross Country racing, Triathlons and finally Cycling. Working with some of the most respected coaches in Atlantic Canada, he has accumulated an enormous wealth of knowledge, teaching skills, training and motivational techniques which he is now able to share with the participants in his cycling classes as well as the participants in the NSFA ICE certification course.

Sheila Rafferty has been immersed in exercise programming for older adults for over twenty years and has trained older adult exercise leaders throughout the Atlantic provinces. A dedicated supporter of NSFA and NFLA, Sheila is committed to training exercise leaders with the highest standard of certification available.

Terri Roberts (BA, BEd) is a fitness and dance instructor with Halifax Recreation and Mount St. Vincent University's Ath/Rec Department.  She is the first Nova Scotian to be Bellyfit® certified and to become a Master Trainer with Bellyfit® International. She is a course conductor and the Executive Directors of the NSFA which includes representing us to the NFLA board. She is currently at MSVU working on a Master of Arts degree in Women & Gender Studies.   Her Master's Thesis is in progress and she is researching the social and professional impact of gender stereotypes on the teaching practices of exercise educators.   She is fitness certified in GEL, RT and yoga.

Ocean Samuel lives for good teaching and good fitness! Even as one of our newest Course Conductors she's hardly a rookie.  She's been guiding and mentoring clients and new fitness instructors for years.  She teaches group exercise and yoga in downtown Halifax.  She is also the chaired the development committee for our Mind & Body Leader (MBL) certificate.

Susan Skulech-Hardiman is a Personal Trainer who specializes in working with children and teens.  She has taught fitness and first aid courses all over Canada.  Susan is also the former Vice Chair of the NSFA Board of Directors, and former chair of the First Nations Truth & Reconciliation Action Items Committee.  She is currently the Director of Personal Training and the PLAR assessor. 

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