We Are Unbreakable
Canadian and Amazon Bestseller featuring stories about an unprecedented year from 22 incredible women in Nova Scotia.
Contributors
Amy Hill
Amy Hill was raised in the city with a heart for country living and finally brought her sustainable living dreams to life in 2011 when she started a farm with her husband, David. Together they tend to mixed livestock and a market garden on their small acreage in Cooks Brook, NS alongside their daughter and son. They raise pigs and chickens on fruits and vegetables, certified non-GMO grains, and rotated pastures and grow a large variety of spray-free, heirloom vegetables for sale at Farm Markets, local produce stores and from their own property. Through social media she shares the ups and downs of agriculture and tries her best to educate consumers on food production and how to create beautiful, healthy meals with locally sourced products.
Amy VanderHeide
Amy VanderHeide calls the beautiful and diverse landscape of the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia home. She grew up next door to her grandmother's beef farm and now farms full time with her husband and in-laws on their poultry and crop farm. In 2015, she and Katie Keddy founded the Maritime Ag Women's Network, which connects women in all areas of agriculture and farming throughout the Maritimes. Amy is highly active in her community, as a 4-H leader and a director on several agriculture and non-agriculture boards. She's passionate about farming, food and working with youth.
Angela Mercer-Penny
Angela Mercer-Penny is a small-town big dreamer, with a soft spot for animals and witchy intuitive gifts that make her super fun at parties. She owns Grit and Grace Skincare and lives in Cape Breton with her husband and is the proud Mother of three children and Lolli to one granddaughter.
Carley Gloade
Carley Gloade was born and raised in the Millbrook First Nation. She has a strong passion for driving her community forward and being a strong advocate for indigenous people. Aside from her position on the Millbrook Chief and Council, Carley is the Vice Chair of the Nova Scotia Career Development Association Board of Directors. She attended Saint Mary's University and continued her education at NSCC and Dalhousie University. Carley is an avid athlete who has played competitive volleyball for over 23 years, won two NSSAF Tier 1 Championships, and is a part of the reigning champions of the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Summer Games Women's Volleyball team.
Colleen O'Dea
Colleen O'Dea is a social influencer and the storyteller behind her lifestyle blog, Curtains are Open. Colleen writes from the heart, always showing her vulnerable side, quite often with a touch of humour. Colleen is a Graphic Designer and sells many of her designs through her Etsy shop, Drawbridge Creative. She is the proud mom of three adult children, is single and empty nesting in her 50s.
Diane Muise
Diane Muise grew up on a farm and was no stranger to hard work. Following in her grandmother's footsteps, she became a teacher and has taught math to junior and senior high students for 24 years. During this time she raised 3 boys and now has 5 grand-babies. She loves rug hooking and making crafts of many types.
Emily Kierstead
Emily Kierstead is a retired United Church Minister and Teacher living in Truro, N.S. She lived much of her life in southern New Brunswick, where she served in churches in Fredericton, Saint John and Rothesay. When her children were young, she taught Elementary School Music so that her weekends would be free. On moving to N.S. she met and married Rev. Don Murray, and ministered in Middle Musquodoboit throughout the 90's.
Ifeoma Esonwune
Ifeoma Esonwune is a Communication strategist, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Leadership coach, Event Planner, Community influencer, Storyteller, award winner and food enthusiast. She is the Founder of the Network for the Empowerment of Women, Publisher of Rise and Lead Women's Magazine, and Owner of Matella Event Concepts. Ifeoma is passionate about diversity, inclusion and the growth and equality of women in business and leadership.
Josie Ryan
Josie Ryan is the Executive Director, Long Term Care for Northwood Group of Companies. As a member of the Corporate Leadership Team, Josie leads a multidisciplinary clinical team providing compassionate, high quality continuing care services for 730 long-term care residents across three urban and rural sites. She holds a Masters Certification in Health Care Leadership from Cornell University and a Certification in Occupational Health Nursing.
Karen Dean
Karen Dean is an entrepreneur, resilience expert, author, and speaker who has lived her entire life in rural Nova Scotia. Her mission is to empower women to live their best life, no matter what the world throws at them, and to give back in huge ways — including through this book and her Nova Scotia Strong clothing fundraiser that raised $96,000 to support the families and communities affected by the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in April 2020.
Lisa Drader-Murphy
Canadian designer Lisa Drader-Murphy is the owner of the LDM brand, a columnist, and a public speaker. A Progress Club Women of Excellence award-winner, Drader-Murphy has also received Atlantic Business Magazine's Top 50 CEO award two consecutive years. After graduating top of class from Form & Function Design Academy in Calgary, Lisa went on to design products for a variety of sectors. She has grown her business to include 4 retail locations, a studio, Mobile Boutique, Sea Can Fabrics, and Willow Vale Estate.
Margaret Miller
Margaret's roots are in rural NS where she and her husband dairy farmed for 25 years. Tragedy made her a victim. Her own strong will made her an advocate for other victims and finally a Cabinet Minister in the Nova Scotia Government.
Cdr Michele Tessier
Cdr Michele Tessier was born and raised in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. She joined the Naval Reserve in 1996 on completion of a Bachelor of Arts degree at Memorial University. Over 24 years, her career has included numerous sea and shore postings as well as participation in international exercises in Croatia, Germany, Norway and Africa. She was named one of the Women's Executive Network's Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 for 2017 and was appointed to the Order of Military Merit in 2018.
Miriah Kearney
Miriah Kearney was born and raised in Nova Scotia. In 2015, Miriah founded My Home Apparel, a socially responsible company supporting Canadian manufacturing and helping to end homelessness in Canada. In 2018, Miriah founded My Home Mercantile, the giftware division that celebrates makers and creators from all across Canada. She currently has stores in Truro and Moncton.
Mounfiq Raiyan Abu
Mounfiq Raiyan Abu is an entrepreneur, certified coach, speaker, trainer, facilitator and writer. She is the Vice President of Ahead Fisheries Incorporated, a Canadian seafood exporting company. As an executive and Leadership coach, she has helped thousands of women to obtain clarity, realize their potential, gain confidence and overcome fears. She was nominated as top exporter of the year 2020 in Nova Scotia by Halifax Chamber of Commerce.
Nancy Regan
Nancy Regan's life has revolved around communication since she was a child. Her love of language led to an English degree at St.FX University. At twenty-two, she became the co-host of Live at 5, a news magazine with a viewership of over a quarter million people. Her fifteen years hosting that show afforded her extraordinary experiences, including broadcasting from the G-7 and the Academy Awards, and interviewing thousands of people from all walks of life. Since leaving Live at 5, Nancy's career has ranged from TV hosting to professional speaking, podcasting, acting, and Communication Coaching.
Nikki Porter
Nikki Porter is an author, equestrian mindset coach, and podcast host. She teaches equestrians how to grow their mindset to shift them from feeling disconnected, frustrated, and anxious to connected, present, and confident. Nikki is an empowerer who uses her teaching experience from the classroom and the barn to allow her to access her clients' limiting beliefs and guide them to clear up their communication with themselves and others.
Robin Legge
Robin Legge, born and raised in Halifax and now resident of Cooks Brook, NS, is a wife, Mom of one, and Mom away from Mom of 112 students at the school she is Principal of. She has spent most of her adult life pursuing higher education so she can support, mentor and lead others on their educational journeys. She enjoys spending time walking her dog, with family and friends, and singing and dancing shamelessly as often as she can!
Sam Madore
Sam Madore wears many hats: a marketing and event management professional, a speaker, writer, performer, children's book author, and podcast host, and a community builder and mental health advocate. Sam thrives on collaboration, delivering consistent brand messaging, and being true to herself. Her strengths are empathy, honesty and creativity and she prides herself on being a connector of people and being real.
Dr. Sarah Stewart-Clark
Dr. Sarah Stewart-Clark is a scientist, mother, advocate and community leader. She is an Associate Professor at the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture where she teaches in the aquaculture program. Her research program focuses on helping oyster and mussel sectors prepare for climate change. Sarah has been a vocal advocate for the mental healthcare system in PEI and has operated non-profit organizations helping mothers and survivors of sexual violence.
Tanya Priske
Tanya Priske is currently the Executive Director of the Centre for Women in Business, located on the campus of Mount Saint Vincent University in Nova Scotia. Over 17 years, Tanya has dedicated her professional life to ensuring the participation of women-owned businesses in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2015, Diversity Canada Magazine named Tanya to its Top 10 list of Canadian women who have taken the lead in advancing the status of women and equity-deserving communities.
Tracy Stuart
Tracy Stuart holds a Masters Degree in Sport Medicine and an Undergraduate Honors Degree in Physical Education. She is a two-time World Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist in rowing. She believes you should eat delicious healthy food, break a sweat every day, and do activities that rejuvenate the spirit.