Board Election

Susan Earle, LPN

Hi, my name is Susan Earle, and I am a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who currently works as a Case Aid with Jordan’s Principle at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. After graduating as an LPN in 2017, my nursing career has been focused primarily in mental health, and I have spent time working in roles in psychiatric acute care, community health, supportive transition housing and forensic nursing in both Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Through my past experience and my current work with Indigenous children and families, I believe I can bring a diverse perspective to the NSCN Board. I aspire to ensure that everyone receives equal access to health care, support, and education, despite systemic barriers, oppression, and discrimination. I recognize the importance of fostering trust through meaningful engagement, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the nursing profession’s integrity and standards while advocating for the well-being of the public.

Naomi Bezanson, LPN

Hi, my name is Naomi Bezanson, and I am a nurse manager at the Tibbetts Home for Special Care in Kingston, NS. My nursing practice is founded on a passion for helping others, a drive to train those around me to be the best caregivers they can be, and a need to push myself to self-reflect and constantly improve my knowledge. As a strong advocate for patients and their families, I believe serving on the NSCN Board is the next step in caring for my community by regulating how nursing care is delivered across Nova Scotia in the public’s interest. I believe I can bring my experience in collaboration, policy management, performance management, and risk assessment to the NSCN Board. Additionally, after working in Montreal for five years where I cared for many people with different cultural backgrounds and social identities, I have developed cultural sensitivity that will be an asset to the Board.

Andrew Heighton, RN

Hi, my name is Andrew Heighton, and I am the Director of Integrated Rural Health at Nova Scotia Health. With over 16 years of experience in clinical, educational and management positions, I am a health care leader who is committed to professional development and continuous learning as a catalyst for change. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a commitment to serving the public and advocating for the improvement of healthcare services. I have actively engaged with various organizations including municipalities, hospital foundations, community health boards, etc., which has allowed me to effectively collaborate with a range of stakeholders and flex my communication and interpersonal skills. I have a proven track record of successful leadership in various health care settings, from leading multidisciplinary teams to managing organizational change. I am eager to bring to the Board my skills in identifying opportunities and implementing innovative solutions to address challenges and help support the continuous growth of the profession in Nova Scotia on behalf of the public.

Jillyan Cottreau, RN

Hi, my name is Jillyan Cottreau, and I am an RN Rehabilitation Counsellor at Nova Scotia Health in Yarmouth, NS. I have a passion for ensuring the delivery of the highest-level of care and I am very motivated to improve our healthcare system for all Nova Scotians. My nursing experience working in Mental Health and Addictions has shaped me into a compassionate, collected, empathetic and motivated nurse, and I am constantly seeking opportunities to further develop my skills through continued education. My previous experience working in an emergency setting has allowed me to be a leader and I believe I can bring my goal-oriented work ethic to the Board. I have strong professional relationships established in my current role and am confident in my ability to act as an advocate for others, which will be beneficial when supporting the public’s interests on the NSCN Board.

Based on the NSCN By-Laws, eligible voters include registrants who hold a practising licence or a conditional licence, unless there is a condition restricting them from voting. It does not include NSCN employees, NSCN Board members, the CEO & Registrar and any others filling an administrative position in the voting process.

NSCN pulled the list of eligible voters effective April 15, 2024, in accordance with election rules set by the Board, in advance of the May 1 election start date. Any applicants who were licensed after April 15, 2024 are not eligible voters. 

The election is administered online by Simply Voting, a third-party election platform. On May 1, 2024, all eligible voters received a confidential email with personalized login credentials to log into the platform and cast a vote. Please open your email for instructions on how to vote.  

If you did not receive a ballot, please make sure that you are eligible to vote. The eligibility criteria are noted above. If you meet the eligibility criteria, please check your Junk and Spam folders, and contact Karen Mahoney, NSCN User Experience Designer, at Karen.mahoney@nscn.ca. Please note: if you have not provided an email address in our registrant portal, then you will need to contact Karen Mahoney before May 8 in order to receive access to your ballot.

No. The election is a voluntary process. As a self-regulated professional however, it is a right to have the opportunity to help shape the NSCN Board and we encourage you to participate in the process.

Voting is open only to eligible registrants in accordance with the NSCN By-Laws. However, there are other ways for you to stay involved, such as applying to serve as a public representative on the Board or volunteering for a Statutory Committee. Learn more here.

This year, NSCN CEO & Registrar, Sue Smith, will oversee the election process and fulfill the election duties previously given to a Chief Elections Officer. You can learn more about changes to our Board nominations and election process here. In her role, Sue will ensure eligible registrants receive a ballot, oversee the counting of the ballots, and confirm that voting occurs in accordance with procedures and timelines set by the Board.

• Application Process – Number of Calls for Applications: The NSCN Board is reducing the process to just one call for applications, instead of two. Any registrant interested in serving on the Board can apply during the application period. All eligible candidates will then be informed of the selected nominees by the Nominating Committee and can decide whether they want to run for election. This will reduce the workload for candidates because they do not have to submit a second application, and it eliminates the need for the Nominating Committee to complete a second round of vetting candidates.
• Incumbent Board Members: In our previous By-laws there was no process to determine whether an incumbent Board member could serve a second term. New changes to the By-Laws indicate that they now must follow the same process as new candidates, which is inline with Nursing Regulations requiring Board members to be elected.
• Use of Chief Elections Officer: NSCN CEO & Registrar will fulfill the election duties previously given to a Chief Elections Officer instead of appointing an external person. Since the election occurs electronically using a third-party voting system, some of the previous duties of a Chief Elections Officer were unnecessary. In professional regulation, the trend is to use staff to fill these duties which is what NSCN has moved towards for further efficiencies.