Our Team
Mickie Bowe
Executive Director and Wellness Facilitation Educator
mickie@selfhelpconnection.ca
With more than 10 years of working within mental health not-for-profit organizations, Mickie’s community experience and navigational passion provides Self-Help Connection with strong relationships with other organizations and provides confidence and support to self-help groups. Mickie’s commitment and dedication to the mental health sector is shown through in her work by fostering trusting bonds with new self-help groups, implementing facilitation and training into existing agencies, and providing inspiring methods of community engagement. Her compassion and understanding for the mental health community fuels her work and motivates others around her.
Wellness Toolbox: Finding my tribe, nature, ocean, music, my dog Remi, …the list goes on.
Our Board
Cindy Dunn
Cindy Dunn is a Senior Manager, Strategic Support, Commercial Banking with Scotiabank. She has 18 years of broad business experience in Sales, Sales leadership, HR, Strategy and Operations. She joined Scotiabank in her current role in 2017. Cindy holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (2001) from Saint Mary’s University. She is also a Chapter Lead for the Halifax Women in Leadership group with Scotiabank, and she is also a regular volunteer at her children’s school. Cindy and her husband live in Halifax with their two daughters.
Cindy joined the SHC Board in 2018 and then became Chair of the Board in 2019.
Kari Mitchell
Kari finds employment balance by spending half her time in the “social field” and half in the “media arts.” Her work in the social field gives her purpose and her work in the arts allows her creative expression. She has 15 years’ experience in each field. Experience in the social field includes program design and delivery, case management, career guidance, life skills facilitation and support work. The recipient of the Leadership Award from the Minister of Social Services in New Brunswick, Kari was recognized for her work on the Community Academic Program (CASP). Her participation on pilot programs in Eastern Canada and the United States inspired the development of a program called FOCUS. Passionate about helping people find fulfilling employment/ purpose. FOCUS is a Holistic Approach to Employment & Health. Passionate about mental health, Kari is currently “holistic” support for a veteran (and his family) with severe ptsd. Kari is a partner at KoKreative Productions, a film & video production firm that offers marketing services. In 2009, she received the Broadcast Education Association of Canada Award for Directing. Her education includes a Diploma in Digital/Screen Art, a B.A. in Sociology, Transpersonal Studies (Graduate level) and advanced training in Therapeutic Touch.
Kari joined the Board as a Director and now is Board Vice Chair as of Spring 2019.
Joseph Banwo
Joseph Banwo is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over fifteen years’ experience working across Blue-chip & SME companies and Non-profit sectors in the UK. Joseph recently moved to Canada and currently works for the Bank of America. In his spare time Joseph goes; jogging; plays squash, football (soccer) and bike riding with his children.
Joseph joined the board and became Treasurer in 2020.
Melissa Cooper
Melissa has a solid background in marketing and communications graduating from Mount St Vincent University with Honours with Distinction with her Bachelor of Public Relations in 2014. Currently she is the Manager of Marketing and Communications with LifeRaft in Halifax. Melissa’s cooperative placements crossed all sectors including the not for profit with CMHA as a Communications Officer for the SEAK project. Melissa is giving of her time in the sector as an Advisor with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, has organized Day of Caring at MSVU and now as the Secretary of the Board with Self-Help Connection. Melissa is highly recommended for her work in public relations, social media and public speaking.
Melissa joined the Board of Self-Help Connection in 2016 and is the Secretary.
Debbie Nickerson
Debbie Nickerson began her teaching career with Nova Scotia Community College Burridge Campus in 1999, after moving from a 19-year nursing career across several nursing specialties including, geriatrics, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Debbie’s initial teaching assignment was in the ability supports sector supporting students with a variety of learning styles. Her passion has always been working with and supporting persons’ with mental health challenges. Debbie is a strong advocate to have more curriculum content within mental health promotion and was seconded in 2009 to create the Mental Health Recovery & Promotion diploma program for NSCC which she has been delivering since 2010.
Debbie joined the Board as a Director in Spring 2019.“I strongly believe in recovery and peer support and have personally seen the benefits.”
Joni Robichaud
Joni Robichaud is a Business Intelligence Officer at the Atlantic Regional Office for The Canada Revenue Agency. She has held various interesting positions within CRA and joined her current role in July 1, 2018. She has been with the Canada Revenue Agency for 5 years. Prior to joining to the Agency, Joni has held senior accounting roles in the private sector ranging from Manufacturing to Real Estate. Joni holds a Business Diploma with a major in Accounting (2004) from NBCC Moncton and a Bachelor in Organizational Management (2008) from Crandall University. Joni holds her Certified Managerial Accounting Designation (2013) through CMA New Brunswick, and Chartered Professional Accountant Designation (2014) through CPA Nova Scotia. Joni joined the SHC Board in 2020. She has volunteered as a Peer Supporter for Support to Single Parents Inc., a tutor for GED applicants at Harvest House(both located in Moncton, NB) and taught English as a Second Language for the PEI Newcomers Association.
Joni spends her time visiting her son and parents in Moncton and lives in Halifax with her spouse and their two dogs.