Rick VanSnick - President

Meet our incoming 2022-2023 President Rick VanSnick! Rick is an Account Executive with Gallagher Insurance and has been an Insurance broker for 36 years and the owner of Scotty’s Car Wash Ltd and Tantramar Trailers in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Rick has lived in Amherst his whole life and has been married to his beautiful wife Jennifer for 27 years. Together they have 2 children, Alyson VanSnick who is an elementary school teacher in Fort St. John, British Columbia, and their son Alex VanSnick who lives in Amherst with his girlfriend and beautiful 3-year-old daughter, Aria. Alex runs Tantramar Trailers here in Amherst.

Rick’s personal hobbies include flying (private pilot's license), snowmobiling, fishing, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.

James B. W. Goodwin (Jamie) - Vice President

Meet Rotarian James B. W. Goodwin (Jamie)! He was born in Toronto and met his wife (Susan) at law school in Fredericton. Susan is from Newfoundland and they spent nearly ten years there before deciding to move to Amherst in early 2020 when opportunities arose for both of them in the area. Jamie’s legal practice covers a broad range of litigation.

Jamie joined Rotary after a chance meeting with Morris Haugg, a retired lawyer and long-time rotary member. Jamie was looking to get more involved in the community, meet people and give back. From the perspective of a lawyer, it is hard not to see the inequality in every community and the need for community organizations to give people a leg-up. Jamie has three dogs, two cavaliers and a husky, and can be found chasing his husky through the woods around Amherst.

We are happy to have Jamie on our Board & membership!

Jim Prince - Past President

Meet our 2021-2022 Rotary President Jim Prince! He is currently entering his 25th anniversary with RBC Royal Bank of Canada. RBC has given his wife Darla and him the opportunity to work in a variety of fabulous roles such as Commercial Markets Sales, National Office, Risk Management, and Internal Audit. These opportunities allowed them to live across this great country, including Vancouver, Toronto, Halifax, St. John's NL and now their final stop in Amherst NS.

Volunteering has always been an important way to give back to the communities where they lived. The Rotary Club of Amherst is Jim's second Rotary Club, and it is a great way to meet dedicated people that share a desire to make a difference. Rotary provides community service to both local and international communities, and Jim feels this is perhaps the best reason for becoming a Rotarian: the chance to do something for somebody else.

Morris J. Haugg

Mr. Haugg is one of the original trustees, who assisted Dr. Christie with the establishment of the Foundation. Mr. Haugg is a graduate of Mount Allison and Dalhousie Universities, where he received his LL.B. in 1969. He practiced law in Amherst with Hicks Lemoine for 42 years, before retiring in 2011. He also held part-time positions as a Lecturer in Commercial Law at Mount A. for 22 years and as an Adjudicator of the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court for 10 years. He is 52-year member and Past-President of the Rotary Club of Amherst and has been involved with many other organizations. He has served as a Trustee of the W.B. Wells Heritage Foundation for 37 years, in recent years as Vice-Chair. In addition to community activities, he keeps busy with writing, gardening and other hobbies, sports and interests.

Lisa Gower

Lisa Gower is the past President for the Rotary Club of Amherst and has been a Rotarian for six years. She originally joined Rotary because of her interest in international project work and has remained as a member because she passionately believes in serving local and global communities, especially to support our most vulnerable citizens. For her career, Lisa is an educator who teaches for the Nova Scotia Community College. As a lifelong learner, Lisa has completed three diplomas from the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University, an MEd (Adult Education) from Mount Saint Vincent University and most recently, a Graduate Diploma in Public Administration Management from Dalhousie University. Lisa’s most important role is as a mother of 4 and grandmother of one.

Prior to teaching at NSCC, Lisa was the Executive Director of the Cumberland Early Intervention Program and served in various roles within community services including as President of Family & Children's Services and as a member of the Nova Scotia Council for the Family.

As recipient of the 2021 Provincial Volunteer of the Year Award, she reminded us of our duty to one another, our civic responsibility, and the importance of “service above self”.

Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin

Born and raised in Linden on a dairy farm, Elizabeth knows the definition of hard work. She attended Dalhousie University where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and several years later attended Saint Mary’s University where she completed an Executive MBA. Elizabeth will bring firsthand experience in business and health as she was the owner of East Coast Holistic Health Ltd, a leader in health. The company built three new businesses from scratch, including Amherst Family Health Clinic and After Hours Clinic, Damaris Spa and Wellness, and Manasseh Local Food. The corporation also owned the nutrition franchise Simply For Life. Elizabeth is passionate about entrepreneurs, health, farmland, renewable energy and Cumberland County. Elizabeth recognizes the importance of a healthy and sustainable community. Early on in her career, she dedicated herself to the health sector and recognizes how important prevention, screening, education and mental health are.

Elizabeth wants to give Cumberland North a voice at the Legislature, ensure there is a strong and stable health care system, get the farmland working again, improve food supply by reducing imports and increase local food production and increase employment.

Some of Elizabeth’s pastimes include music, especially singing and playing guitar with friends, gardening and reading. A devoted Christian, she believes that family is the foundation to strong communities.

Elizabeth has been happily married to Murray McCrossin since 1991 and together they have four children; Thomas, Matthew, Joel and Sharon.

Lacey Fisher

Lacey Fisher was born and raised in Sackville, NB. She is a full-time Mom, community member & business owner. Lacey and her husband Jacob own Timberwood Farms Ltd. & RE/MAX County Line Realty Ltd. in Cumberland County NS.

Lacey's business management & corporate financial background allows her to provide clients/boards/groups with a multifaceted person who is dedicated to them, utilizing business strategies and marketing strength to an industry capacity. Her educational background assists, while providing clients with the duty and care they deserve, ensuring a focused, professional, honest, and sincere approach, as this is and will always be the foundation of her business.

Lacey's educational and professional direction focuses on connecting to clients through volunteer work within my community, memberships, board of directors, etc. As such, all have assisted her to become the business owner she is today. Lastly, as a lifelong learner, Lacey enjoys training and attending events that are put on to expand her business concepts. Lacey is considered to be a skilled leader with an enthusiastic, motivating personality and a solid business and personal portfolio that's always open to new ideas.

As an individual and an active member of her community, Lacey truly loves giving back and assisting where she can. Some involvement includes: Past President Amherst Rotary Club, Past President Canadian Simmental Association, Treasurer Amherst Rotary Club, Board of Directors Cumberland Business Connector, Past Vice President & Current Treasurer Maritime Simmental Association, Vice President Amherst Minor Basketball Association, Board of Directors ARHS Band Association. Director Maritime Quarter Horse Association, Vice President Cumberland County 4-H, Coach or manager of various sports & equestrian teams with her daughters.

Stephanie J. Allen

Stephanie has been a Therapist, Instructor, Published Author and award winning Speaker for over two and a half decades.

As an Entrepreneur Consultant and President of Gateway Development Inc, she has worked with some of the world’s top companies on Corporate Health & Wellbeing, Stress Management, and in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes.

Stephanie has helped thousands of clients live an Inspired Life aligned with love, purpose and contribution. She offers energizing and empowering sessions to transform team culture. Enhancing healthy relationships by recognizing strengths, leveraging value and creating awareness that optimizes impact potential and results for both life and business.

David H. Christie

David was born in Amherst in 1946 and has been a lifelong resident of the Amherst area and is currently residing in Lorneville NS. He was educated at King's College School, Windsor NS, University of New Brunswick, BA and law degree LLB in 1973. He married Beryl A. McDonald and had two children, Alex (Ottawa) and Maeghan (Philadelphia) and has two beautiful grandchildren.

He became a member of the Amherst Rotary Club in 1980 and is the past president of the Amherst Rotary Club, a former Director, and a member of many Rotary committees. He is a retired lawyer who formerly practiced with Hicks, LeMoine, Barristers and Solicitors from 1973-2009. He was fortunate to work as an Associate, Partner, then Counsel. He has worked with a variety of professional organizations such as the Canadian Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Society, and the Cumberland Barrister’s Association.

He has also served three terms as an Elected Council Member with the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society and has been fortunate to support and work with multiple community organizations such as the Amherst Rotary Club, Amherst Golf Club, Amherst United Way, Amherst/Halifax YMCA, IWK Health Centre, Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame, and is now the Chair of The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation. David Christie has been a Trustee with the Foundation since 2003. For fun Mr. Christie enjoys road running, golfing, bicycling, skiing, mountain climbing/trekking, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and he enjoys travelling the world.

Ron Wilson

Ron was initially introduced to Rotary in the 1960s when he played on a Rotary sponsored little league baseball team in Yarmouth, NS. In 1986 he was invited to join the Rotary Club of Sydney. A work related move to Amherst brought Ron to the Amherst Club from 1996 – 1999. A brief pause was followed by membership in the Rotary Club of Moncton in 2002- 2004. Ron finally returned to the Amherst Club in 2004 and has maintained his membership since that time.

Ron served as President in Sydney (1994/1995) and Amherst (2016/2017). He is currently Area Governor – Northern and Central Nova Scotia.

He has served on and chaired numerous Club committees that focus on the Rotary avenues of service, and the Club Board of Directors. Most recently he has been a member of the Rotary Park, Tasting, Refugee Settlement, and End Polio Now Tulips Committees.

Ron and his wife Elspeth have hosted four Rotary International Exchange students over the years. While providing the students with the opportunity of living with a Canadian family and being immersed in local culture the experience was equally rewarding as the Wilson family learned from their “exchange children”. Following graduation from high school one of their sons participated in the Youth Exchange and lived in France for a year.
Ron is a Professional Engineer and has worked in civil construction and manufacturing throughout Atlantic Canada and the USA for more than forty years. He has held seats on a number of provincial, regional and national boards/committees.
In addition to Rotary, Ron presently volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Amherst Planning Advisory Committee, and Christmas for Kids.
Being a Rotarian has enabled Ron to work with a diverse and multi-talented group of individuals who share the common purpose of helping make our local and global communities a better place to live.

Ashley Hickey

A trailblazer of innovation, Ashley Hickey is the Founder and Chief Technical Officer of Enzebra Studios. Before establishing her own development company, Ashley enjoyed a career with several national and international organizations in industries ranging from web development to television to health care. An expert in design, user interface, branding, and business analysis, Ashely now draws from her extensive experience developing solutions for some of the largest names in the business to provide customized results for her clients in a wide range of fields. Mrs. Hickey prides herself in always exceeding client expectations while holding her organization to the highest ethical standards. As a woman thriving in a traditionally male-dominated field, Ashley enjoys making time for lectures and speaking engagements to inspire others, especially women and girls curious about joining the technology sector. She balances her hectic schedule with her other passion as a wife and mother to two young children: and indulging in her loves of fashion, art, and creating delicious meal experiences with healthy locally sourced ingredients.

Trina Clarke

Trina Clarke has been a member of the Rotary Club of Amherst for seven years and was honoured to be Club President in 2019-2020 as the Club celebrated its 85th year. She joined Rotary because she believes in our motto of ‘service above self. Professionally, Trina has held various roles at the Cumberland YMCA for 25 years. For the past 14 years she has held the position of CEO. In May she will begin a secondment from her current position and fill the role of the Director of YMCA Childcare Expansion. In this role she will over see the opening of several new childcare centres for four YMCAs in Nova Scotia. Trina’s Early Childhood Education background and several years working in the field as an educator and as a Director have prepared her for this new role. Trina and her husband Kenny have three children and have just this past year transitioned into being ‘empty-nesters’ as their youngest started university. When not working or volunteering Trina enjoys sea glass hunting, kayaking, hiking, photography, cooking and traveling.

David McNairn

David McNairn has been apart of the Amherst Rotary Club since 2005, serving as the President in 2017/2018. Professionally, Dave is a lawyer. He has worked at Hicks LeMoine Law for his entire legal career and become a partner in 2009. Dave practices many areas of law including Real Estate and Corporate law. Dave obtained his LLB from the University of New Brunswick in 2003. Besides being a Rotarian and a lawyer, Dave is a true family man; he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. A favourite activity of the McNairn’s is hitting the ski hills in Wentworth. During Dave’s free time, which isn’t often, you can find him watching sports.