Board and Staff

Board

Rachel Bailey - President

Naomi Jewers - Secretary

Jamie Ernst, Treasurer

Jane Ritcey, Vice President

Roxie Smith

Denise Green

Bruce Hebb

David Hirtle
Monica Moriarty

Alison Strachan

Staff

Deborah Rent - Executive Director

Nancy Howard - Administration and Digital Design Specialist

Board of Directors

Rachel Bailey Concern for the future of the Lunenburg Academy was part of the motivation for Rachel to run for Town Council in 2008. After her election she joined the Academy Task Force and during her subsequent terms as Mayor (2012-2020) the building’s transformation from a public school to a community cultural centre, with interior renovations and a full exterior restoration, was realized.  Her affinity for this iconic building may have something to do with her family’s historical connection. Two of her grandparents, both parents, she and her three sons all attended the Academy. Her dedication to the Lunenburg Academy continues with her appointment to the Board of Directors of the Academy Foundation in 2021. 

Naomi Jewers is a graduate of the Lunenburg Academy and having grown up around the corner from the school, many a day was spent in the Academy playground as an extended back yard! Ms. Jewers continues to spend a lot of time in Lunenburg working as the Assistant Corporate Secretary of High Liner Foods Incorporated and serves on other boards of local associations.

Jane Ritcey  is a graduate of the Lunenburg Academy and as President of Adams and Knickle is one of Lunenburg’s business leaders. Ms. Ritcey taught for over twenty years at Bonny Lea Farm and coached provincial and national Special Olympics. Her volunteer interests include St. John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg Waterfront Association, and Musique Royale.

Roxanna Smith (Roxie) graduated with honors from Lunenburg Academy. She was Manager of Diagnostic Imaging at South Shore District Health Authority. Roxie served on the Board of Directors with Efficiency Nova Scotia, the South Shore District Health Authority along with numerous other distinctive Boards of Directors. She also served as a member of the 1999 Task Force on Regionalized Healthcare in Nova Scotia. Roxie has received numerous awards throughout her career including: The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and The Sherman Zwicker Award for Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Roxie is also a Past President of Lunenburg Academy Foundation, and Co-chaired with Jane Ritcey two Academy reunions which raised in excess of $85,000 to invest in the care and restoration of Lunenburg Academy.

Denise Green journey of dedication to fundraising and community support began humbly with Girl Guide cookies, chocolate bar sales, magazine subscriptions, and swim-a-thon pledges. Over two decades later, her professional path is a testament to her unwavering commitment to making a difference.

With a diverse background spanning various sectors including community non-profits, healthcare, the arts, and post-secondary education, Denise has demonstrated her passion and expertise in driving positive change.

Proudly hailing from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and an alumna of the Academy, Denise carries her roots with honour. As the daughter of a fisherman, she embodies the resilience and spirit of her coastal community. Her accolades include being named Lunenburg's Business Person of the Year as the owner of Historic Grounds Coffee House, and serving as the Executive Director for the St. John's Anglican Church Restoration Project, underscore her impact and leadership.

Yet, amidst her professional achievements, her greatest source of pride is undoubtedly her role as a mother to Robyn.

Bruce Hebb was born and raised in Lunenburg, attended Lunenburg Academy from Primary through Grade 5, and graduated from Lunenburg Jr. Sr. High in 1974. Bruce obtained his degree in mechanical engineering in 1980, and after working in Ontario for a couple of years, he returned to Nova Scotia to further his studies. Following completion of his master’s degree in engineering, he began his 37 year career with RPS Composites in Mahone Bay, which included over 15 years as VP Engineering. Bruce has recently retired and he now resides in First Peninsula with his wife Aileen, and a great view of the Castle on the Hill.

David Hirtle is a sole practitioner with Hirtle Legal Services Inc. in Lunenburg. His areas of practice include civil litigation, family law, criminal law, real estate, and estates and trusts. He was previously employed with Power, Dempsey Cooper & Leefe in Bridgewater. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1998. David joined Council in July 2017 as the acclaimed byelection candidate for the Southwestern District for the 2017-2019 Council term. He was acclaimed to the position again in 2019. David currently serves on the Credentials Committee and the Trust Account Regulations Working Group. He was previously a member of the Professional Standards (Criminal) Committee. David is an active volunteer in the legal community, his home community of Lunenburg and in the province. He has been a member of the Lunenburg County Barristers’ Association since 1998 and currently serves as President, a post which he has held since 2012. Since 2013, David has sat as a non-voting member of the CBA Nova Scotia Council. He is a past active member of the Lunenburg & District Volunteer Fire Department and is now an Honorary member. Since 2013 David has served as a member of the advisory board for CNIB Nova Scotia.

Jamie Ernst was born and raised in Lunenburg. He received his BBA from Acadia University and became a Chartered Accountant in 1994. He has been self-employed since 2006, both as a Chartered Professional Accountant and as a financial planner with Maritime Wealth. Jamie is an enthusiastic volunteer with various community groups and organizations, including a number of long service relationships with the Health Services Foundation, Lunenburg Yacht Club, Lunenburg Swimming Pool, and Central United Church. Jamie’s passion for the Lunenburg Academy is evident, and he has many family ties to Academy alumni including his wife and daughters who attended the "Castle on the Hill". 

Monica Moriarty was born and raised in Halifax, graduating with a Bachelor of Economics and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Dalhousie University. She has ancestral roots in Lunenburg and was well-aquainted with the town during years of competitive curling. Monica recently retired as the Executive Director of Financial Management with the Canada Revenue Agency in Ottawa. Monica is a Chartered Professional Accountant who volunteers on several boards including St. Vincent’s Nursing Home and the NS College of Medical Laboratory Technologists and as a past board member of the Financial Management Institute, and Capital Health in Halifax. Monica and her husband Brian have two adult children and grandchildren and reside in Garden Lots where she enjoys gardening, kayaking and the natural beauty of Lunenburg. Monica is a regular at the Library, attends the wonderful Musical Performances at Lamp and was thrilled that her grandson attended pre-primary at the historical Academy this year.

Alison Strachan is a retired lawyer with over 15 years of experience in management-side labour and employment at Stewart McKelvey in Halifax. Before this, she worked in a general private practice at the Legal Research Council on Coburg Road from 1996 to 2000.

Alison and her late husband bought a home in Lunenburg in the late 1990s and spent many weekends and summers working away at restoration and renovation of their c.1890 home built by the Knickle family in the Newtown subdivision of Lunenburg. Alison retired from practice in 2020.

Throughout her legal career, she was actively engaged in community service and her dedication is reflected in her roles as a board member for various organizations. Notably, she served on the boards of the North End Community Health Center in Halifax from 1988 to 1992 and the South End Community Care Centre from 1997 to 2007 and also co-chaired the Nova Scotia Constitutional and Human Rights Section of the Canadian Bar Association (Nova Scotia) from 2010 to 2012 further demonstrating a deep commitment to legal and community advocacy.

In addition to now sitting as a Board Member for the Lunenburg Academy Foundation, Alison currently sits as a Board Member at Lunenburg's Harbour View Haven. She is excited to be on the Board during the expansion of the Haven in its new location over the next few years.

Widowed in 2017, Alison has two grown children now in Halifax and can often be seen out and about with her two Scottish Terriers on walks that they take her on regularly around the Town.

Staff

Deborah Rent, Executive Director, Lunenburg Academy Foundation. Deborah brings 30 years of diverse experience in business leadership, communications, media, production, marketing, and events. As the former Executive Director of Development and Partnerships for the Fabienne Colas Foundation, she led a national film training program and contributed to the success of their Film Festival division. Deborah is skilled in building key relationships and securing funds for organizational sustainability. Her extensive media background includes on-air broadcasting, reporting, hosting radio shows, and has produced over 100 short documentaries, four of which garnered Canadian Screen Awards. Deborah is excited to leverage her expertise to drive impactful change and foster growth at LAF while respecting and honouring the heritage of our Castle on the Hill, the beautiful Lunenburg Academy.

Nancy Howard, Administration and Digital Design Specialist at the Lunenburg Academy Foundation. With over 20 years at Scotiabank, she held progressive management roles in the Public & Corporate Affairs Division, overseeing the creative design and production of various communication materials. Nancy played a key role in transforming the design team from print-focused to versatile content creators, embracing digital storytelling trends and cultivating new skills in media and communications.