Me

Meet our Staff

Angela Bishop

Angela Bishop, ICD.D

Executive Director

Angela joined the Housing Trust with 20 years of leadership experience in the non-profit sector.  She has worked in diverse roles always with the goal of creating vital and vibrant communities.  Angela worked to advance solutions to the affordable and homeless crisis twenty years ago and joining the Housing Trust as it first Executive Director is like coming home. Angela is excited to be working with dedicated volunteer Board who are leveraging their exceptional expertise and experience in building a legacy for the HRM community of safe, quality, and affordable homes. 

Scott Wellard

Scott Wellard

Construction Manager

Scott has 18 years experience in general contracting and renovation in the construction industry in Nova Scotia and Ontario. Scott is a graduate of Nova Scotia Community College’s Construction Management program and is a LEED Accredited professional. Having worked as a project manager on large and small builds, an estimator and a carpenter, his unique experience contributes to how he approaches a wide range of construction projects. With a belief that everyone should have access to quality in construction, he joined the Housing Trust to contribute to positive social change in Nova Scotia.

Andreas Schlief

Andreas Schlief

Site Superintendent

Andreas proudly brings over 35 years of experience as a respected builder and contractor in the commercial and residential industry. His “boots on the ground” approach, delivers high quality workmanship with considerable attention to detail. His extensive knowledge and skills enable him to offer “out of the box” solutions to challenging situations. Andreas is grateful to be a part of the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia team, providing affordable quality housing solutions and whose values align with his own. One thing he loves most about his job is seeing the end result when it’s finished.

Megan Mariano

Megan Mariano

Project Manager

Megan joins the team with over a decade of experience in the private sector working with construction companies and real estate developers. She has a background in Civil Engineering and Commerce and holds a Professional Engineer of Ontario designation and LEED accreditation. Megan has delivered over 1,200 apartments in Toronto and has expertise in design, permitting, procurement and construction management. She looks forward to dedicating her time and efforts to build affordable quality housing to give smaller communities better access to healthcare professionals and services.

Kara MacKinnon

Controller

Kara joined the Housing Trust with over 10 years of experience as a CPA in the real-estate industry. She is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University’s Business Administration program and holds a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University. She is excited to join the Housing Trust and provide financial support to the team so they can continue to provide quality, affordable housing across Nova Scotia. 

Sophie Weller

Communications and Outreach Coordinator

Sophie is a student within the Bachelor of Community Design program at Dalhousie University studying Urban Planning & Architecture. This program has helped her foster an interest in providing equitable and affordable housing through policy and design. She has worked with many non-profit housing organizations for low income residents and youth. Sophie is excited to foster a relationship with the community with ongoing engagement through the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia.

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Tatum Drake

Program Administrator

Tatum is a recent graduate from Mount Saint Vincent University, where she studied and earned a Bachelor of Public Relations with a Minor in Management. Tatum’s previous roles have honed her skills in strategic communication, digital marketing, and project management across various diverse sectors within Nova Scotia. She is excited to contribute her time and expertise towards advancing The Housing Trust’s future goals and objectives!

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Samantha Gaetz

Housing Initiative Coordinator

Samantha joins the Housing Trust with a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Mary’s University and is actively pursuing a Bachelor of Business Real Estate alongside a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia. Samantha possesses a profound understanding of real estate dynamics; her professional experience encompasses event planning, marketing, property assessments, and property management. Driven by an enthusiastic commitment to ensuring access to safe and mixed-income housing options, Samantha is excited to be part of the mission to drive positive change and foster the development of sustainable communities across Nova Scotia in collaboration with the Housing Trust’s team.

Jamie Haynes

Capital Projects Manager

Jamie has joined The Housing Trust of Nova Scotia with 20 years of experience in construction, ranging from custom home building, to energy efficiency and renovation. He has obtained a diploma in Construction Management from NSCC and is a certified energy auditor. At the Housing Trust he wears a lot of different hats and is the “in house” trouble shooter and problem solver. Working in affordable housing is a welcome and rewarding change of pace.