How do we operate?
SAFE is a democratic community based organization. We use a committee model with a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer with specific responsibilities. The committee model allows our Board/ Steering Committee members to choose how and to what degree they would like to be involved and share specific areas of responsibilities. Our steering committee takes responsibility for overseeing and undertaking the organization's day-to-day operations and is accountable to society members and to the community at large. Different settlement committees are responsible for each aspect of the settlement process, with active participation of our community volunteers. The decision making process includes all SAFE Steering Committee members and occurs at monthly meetings, or by a special meeting, as per SAFE's by-laws. SAFE members engage as per their interest and time available, and are invited and encouraged to participate in the AGM, held usually in the month of March every year. We welcome new members.
Currently, we have 10 Board/ Steering Committee members, coming from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Each member has a term of 3 years, renewable once, with a maximum term of 6 years. Many of our founding Steering Committee members have remained active volunteers and supporters of SAFE's mission.
SAFE is a democratic community based organization. We use a committee model with a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer with specific responsibilities. The committee model allows our Board/ Steering Committee members to choose how and to what degree they would like to be involved and share specific areas of responsibilities. Our steering committee takes responsibility for overseeing and undertaking the organization's day-to-day operations and is accountable to society members and to the community at large. Different settlement committees are responsible for each aspect of the settlement process, with active participation of our community volunteers. The decision making process includes all SAFE Steering Committee members and occurs at monthly meetings, or by a special meeting, as per SAFE's by-laws. SAFE members engage as per their interest and time available, and are invited and encouraged to participate in the AGM, held usually in the month of March every year. We welcome new members.
Currently, we have 10 Board/ Steering Committee members, coming from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Each member has a term of 3 years, renewable once, with a maximum term of 6 years. Many of our founding Steering Committee members have remained active volunteers and supporters of SAFE's mission.
SAFE's Board and Steering Committee
Mark Ballard
Mark began his journey with SAFE in 2015, after volunteering at a refugee camp in Greece. That life-changing experience deepened his belief that there is important work to do in Canada as well as abroad. He values immigration as a way of enriching community life, reminding us that, unless we are First Nations, we are all on a journey as immigrants. Through SAFE, Mark has found both a deeper understanding of compassion and fellowship and the joy of working with a dedicated team. He has been steering SAFE as the Chair since 2023.
Mark Ballard
Mark began his journey with SAFE in 2015, after volunteering at a refugee camp in Greece. That life-changing experience deepened his belief that there is important work to do in Canada as well as abroad. He values immigration as a way of enriching community life, reminding us that, unless we are First Nations, we are all on a journey as immigrants. Through SAFE, Mark has found both a deeper understanding of compassion and fellowship and the joy of working with a dedicated team. He has been steering SAFE as the Chair since 2023.
Harry Daemen
Harry immigrated to Canada in 1951 and remains grateful for the opportunities this country gave his family. Over the past decade, he has been active in refugee resettlement, first as chair of Tri-HEART, which sponsored three Syrian families, and since 2021 as a Steering Committee director with SAFE. His main responsibilities are sponsorship applications and supporting newcomers with settlement and check-ins during their first year.
Harry immigrated to Canada in 1951 and remains grateful for the opportunities this country gave his family. Over the past decade, he has been active in refugee resettlement, first as chair of Tri-HEART, which sponsored three Syrian families, and since 2021 as a Steering Committee director with SAFE. His main responsibilities are sponsorship applications and supporting newcomers with settlement and check-ins during their first year.
Maria vanVonderan
Maria is a retired Registered Nurse and former Co-Executive Director of the Canadian Association for Community Living, Antigonish. She joined SAFE in 2022 as Health Lead and serves on the Board and Governance Committee, where she oversees health matters in the settlement process. Maria brings her professional expertise and strong commitment to inclusion to her role. She believes volunteering strengthens connections, creates opportunities for growth, and helps build a better community. For her, it is a way to give back, share skills and support others.
Maria is a retired Registered Nurse and former Co-Executive Director of the Canadian Association for Community Living, Antigonish. She joined SAFE in 2022 as Health Lead and serves on the Board and Governance Committee, where she oversees health matters in the settlement process. Maria brings her professional expertise and strong commitment to inclusion to her role. She believes volunteering strengthens connections, creates opportunities for growth, and helps build a better community. For her, it is a way to give back, share skills and support others.
Anuj Jain
Anuj moved to Antigonish after a meandering learning journey through India, Zambia, the U.S., and Thailand and exploring the world. Rooted in a lifelong interest in international development, he has now called Antigonish and Canada home for over a decade. He is also active in several local initiatives that support newcomers and help build welcoming, inclusive communities. He lives in Antigonish with his wife, Jyotsna, and continues to find joy in learning through community engagement, both near and far. Anuj joined SAFE’s Board in 2023 and manages its treasury function.
Anuj moved to Antigonish after a meandering learning journey through India, Zambia, the U.S., and Thailand and exploring the world. Rooted in a lifelong interest in international development, he has now called Antigonish and Canada home for over a decade. He is also active in several local initiatives that support newcomers and help build welcoming, inclusive communities. He lives in Antigonish with his wife, Jyotsna, and continues to find joy in learning through community engagement, both near and far. Anuj joined SAFE’s Board in 2023 and manages its treasury function.
Tim McCoy
Tim is a retired clergy originally from North Carolina, he later served as Executive Minister with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. Now living in Antigonish County, he also teaches as Adjunct Faculty at Acadia Divinity College. Tim and his wife volunteered as house parents at Matthew House in Toronto, a refugee claimant support organization, where they supported many families in resettlement. That joyful and rewarding experience continues through his work with SAFE, where Tim serves the Vice Chair and leads the Board and Governance Committee.
Tim is a retired clergy originally from North Carolina, he later served as Executive Minister with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. Now living in Antigonish County, he also teaches as Adjunct Faculty at Acadia Divinity College. Tim and his wife volunteered as house parents at Matthew House in Toronto, a refugee claimant support organization, where they supported many families in resettlement. That joyful and rewarding experience continues through his work with SAFE, where Tim serves the Vice Chair and leads the Board and Governance Committee.
Ellahi Bakhsh Baloch
Ellahi is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in community development, human rights advocacy, and project management. Skilled in partnership building, research, and program implementation, he has led social justice initiatives both locally and internationally. Since March 2024, he has been a voluntary Board Member with SAFE, assisting newcomers with settlement, housing, and employment. His work reflects a deep dedication to empowering communities and promoting social equity. Ellahi serves on the Employment Committee of SAFE.
Ellahi is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in community development, human rights advocacy, and project management. Skilled in partnership building, research, and program implementation, he has led social justice initiatives both locally and internationally. Since March 2024, he has been a voluntary Board Member with SAFE, assisting newcomers with settlement, housing, and employment. His work reflects a deep dedication to empowering communities and promoting social equity. Ellahi serves on the Employment Committee of SAFE.
Natasha Gilfoy
Natasha brings more than 15 years of experience in administration and human resources to her role with SAFE. She joined the Board in 2025, inspired by both her family’s history of displacement and her son’s friendship with a newcomer family. She lives in Williams Point with her husband, two sons, and their pets, and enjoys gardening, exploring local trails, and hands-on DIY projects. Natasha serves as SAFE’s Secretary, Housing Lead, and is active in the Settlement and New Applications committees.
Natasha brings more than 15 years of experience in administration and human resources to her role with SAFE. She joined the Board in 2025, inspired by both her family’s history of displacement and her son’s friendship with a newcomer family. She lives in Williams Point with her husband, two sons, and their pets, and enjoys gardening, exploring local trails, and hands-on DIY projects. Natasha serves as SAFE’s Secretary, Housing Lead, and is active in the Settlement and New Applications committees.
Karen Briand
Karen has been a Board member of SAFE since 2024. Retired from a long career in nursing and health management in 2013, she has since been teaching mental health, medical-surgical nursing, and leadership at the StFX Rankin School of Nursing. Karen joined SAFE out of admiration for its work and a desire to help welcome and settle refugees in Antigonish, offering families and individuals a place of safety and peace. Karen leads SAFE’s Settlement Committee.
Karen has been a Board member of SAFE since 2024. Retired from a long career in nursing and health management in 2013, she has since been teaching mental health, medical-surgical nursing, and leadership at the StFX Rankin School of Nursing. Karen joined SAFE out of admiration for its work and a desire to help welcome and settle refugees in Antigonish, offering families and individuals a place of safety and peace. Karen leads SAFE’s Settlement Committee.
Norine Verberg
Norine has been a SAFE volunteer since 2015, and she joined the Board in April 2025. Since 2016, Norine has been conducting research on refugee resettlement in rural areas of Nova Scotia, including two CLARI funded projects on the economic transitions of refugees settled in rural areas and the educational integration of older refugee-background. Norine was co-chair of the StFX for SAFE campaign, which raised $100,000 in sponsorship funds between 2015 and 2017, and she has since worked with SAFE’s fundraising committee on several online auctions. Inspired by her father’s childhood memories of World War II and Canada liberating the Netherlands, Norine continues to see refugee sponsorship as both a scholarly and personal commitment and leads the Fundraising Committee at SAFE.
Norine has been a SAFE volunteer since 2015, and she joined the Board in April 2025. Since 2016, Norine has been conducting research on refugee resettlement in rural areas of Nova Scotia, including two CLARI funded projects on the economic transitions of refugees settled in rural areas and the educational integration of older refugee-background. Norine was co-chair of the StFX for SAFE campaign, which raised $100,000 in sponsorship funds between 2015 and 2017, and she has since worked with SAFE’s fundraising committee on several online auctions. Inspired by her father’s childhood memories of World War II and Canada liberating the Netherlands, Norine continues to see refugee sponsorship as both a scholarly and personal commitment and leads the Fundraising Committee at SAFE.
Maureen Moynagh
Maureen is a Professor in the English Department at St. Francis Xavier University. Her research and teaching reflect her abiding interest in the literatures of global justice and international solidarity. A long-time resident of Antigonish, she has been involved with a number of community organizations, from the Third Eye Film Series, to Antigonish Culture Alive, to a social theatre project for newcomers called New in Town – a Comedy Cabaret. Having admired the work that SAFE does from its inception in 2015, Maureen is delighted now to be serving as a member of its steering committee, and leads Education Committee.
Maureen is a Professor in the English Department at St. Francis Xavier University. Her research and teaching reflect her abiding interest in the literatures of global justice and international solidarity. A long-time resident of Antigonish, she has been involved with a number of community organizations, from the Third Eye Film Series, to Antigonish Culture Alive, to a social theatre project for newcomers called New in Town – a Comedy Cabaret. Having admired the work that SAFE does from its inception in 2015, Maureen is delighted now to be serving as a member of its steering committee, and leads Education Committee.
Ruth Adams
Ruth joined the SAFE Steering Committee out of a strong belief that welcoming refugees benefits everyone. She sees diversity as a source of strength and values the new opportunities that come with newcomers making Antigonish their home. Ruth joins Karen on the Settlement committee.
Ruth joined the SAFE Steering Committee out of a strong belief that welcoming refugees benefits everyone. She sees diversity as a source of strength and values the new opportunities that come with newcomers making Antigonish their home. Ruth joins Karen on the Settlement committee.