Meet the Board

Mark has been involved with the Freedom Foundation in various capacities over the past 10 years.

As owner/operator of Windows Plus Home Improvements, Mark has utilized his extensive renovation experience to help the Freedom Foundation as it grows and expands to better those in need.

Norman, our Board Chair, is a lawyer by day and fake rock star by night.

He practiced for 25 years with a Dartmouth law firm where he did pro bono legal work for Freedom Foundation before joining the board around 2010.

He is now with the Provincial Department of Justice. He lives with his wife, Sarah, in Dartmouth where he raised his five grown children and now fills his after-work time pursuing his passions for travel, running (as President of Heart & Sole Running Club), and playing rock and roll in his band, Toy Shed.

Terry has practiced as a partner in Halifax/Dartmouth public accounting firms for 35 years.

He has served on many volunteer Boards including CFO of the World Canoe Championships, Craig’s Cause (pancreatic cancer), Dartmouth Curling Club, Cheema Aquatic Club and Homes for Independent Living.

He is also active in North Dartmouth with the Dartmouth Rotary Club.

Dave Chisholm has served on the Board of the Freedom Foundation of Nova Scotia, for 11 years.

Dave’s a former owner and President of Macdonald Chisholm Insurance. He also served as Chairman and Director of Maritime Medical Care Inc. for 15 years, and was also a director of successor companies, Atlantic Blue Cross Care Inc. and Medavie Inc.

He also served on the Boards of Trade Centre Ltd. (now Events East) for two terms and Waterfront Development Corporation and Develop Nova Scotia for two terms as well.

He is married to wife Nancy, and has a son Matthew, and resides in Bedford, NS.

Don Penwell practiced dentistry for 40 years in Dartmouth.

A two time president of the Rotary Club of Dartmouth, he has also served as the housing director of the Freedom Foundation for several years.

He enjoys spending time with family, travel, reading, playing bridge and golf and woodworking.

Gerry has been on the board since 2013.

Over 1100 men have gone through The Freedom Foundation and over 35% are in recovery.

A most worthwhile organization.

It has been an honor to serve on the Board of Freedom Foundation for the past 15 years, 10 years of which I served as Chair.

The life skills that are nourished there are essential in the recovery of each resident.

It truly is a home of brothers helping each other.

I have worked in the construction industry for the past 36 years, spending the last 28 with Ocean Contractors specializing in architectural concrete.

I have volunteered for a nonprofit recovery program serving Canada and the USA at a senior level.

I enjoy camping a.k.a. glamping with my wife, friends and fur babies.

Ralph MacKenzie is a retired school teacher and administrator with several connections to the community, including:

• past board member of Cole Harbour Heritage Society
• current board member of The Public Good Society
• current board member of The Freedom Foundation
• current volunteer at Out of the Cold Shelter
• current volunteer at Margaret’s House
• current volunteer at Dartmouth food banks
• coordinator for the Dartmouth North Community Van, which
• services several non-profit organizations

Amie Woodford joined the Board of the Freedom Foundation in 2023 and serves as the Board’s Personnel Chair. Her education and background are in Business, Management and Human Resources. She has held senior positions in HR and Operations at large organizations in Nova Scotia in HR Consulting, Medical Insurance and Energy industries.

In her spare time, she enjoys golfing, hiking and travelling. She, her husband and dog live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.