Nicole Luis joined the 7th Step Society of Nova Scotia in February 2021. She's in her last year at University of New Brunswick pursing a JD in Law. Growing up in the North End of Dartmouth she witnessed the intersecting challenges of the criminal justice system, including mental illness, addiction and conflict with the law. Her experiences have shaped her perspective and developed her passion to help those in the community who have been affected by these challenges. Nicole has dedicated herself to 7th Steps, not only as a core group member but also serving as the Treasurer on this board for 4 years. Since May 2024 she has been serving on the Board of Directors for the 7th Step Society of Canada as the Treasurer and provincial board representative.

Laura Pitts joined the 7th Step Society of NS in May of 2021. She is going into her last year at the UNB Faculty of Law and is passionate about advocating for those who are struggling with substance use disorders and who have had conflict with the law. She is excited to use her law degree to fight for positive changes in the criminal justice system and to continue to work with the 7th Step Society of NS.

Thomas has worked in the banking and commercial financing industry for the past 10 years, specifically in the Credit Union environment where the focus was helping small businesses, co-operatives, not-for-profits, and charities. Thomas first became aware of society through a banking relationship with the credit union. It was through this that Thomas learned about what 7th Step offers and the good it does in the community. Thomas officially joined 7th step in 2025. He is excited to work with the board, provide insight into organizational finance, and help further the goals of the society.

Janice Fiander grew up in Nova Scotia - having many family ties to Cape Breton. Most of my life has been spent in the HRM but she did live for three years in NYC in her early 20's. She was there to pursue a career as a Ballet Dancer. The only way she could afford to live in Manhattan was to work as a live-in babysitter. The Dad of the family she lived with was the person who patented Naloxone! In the end, she decided not to stay in NYC and came home to Halifax. She attended Dalhousie University where she completed her BA and BJ (Kings College). She was planning to become a journalist but that didn't work out! In 1995 she completed her MLIS degree and started working at a Children's Librarian at the Bedford Public Library. She has been a Manager now with the Halifax Public Libraries for 26 years. It's been an extremely rewarding career and has given her the opportunity to take part in such programs as the "Pageturners" Book Club in the CNSCF. Apart from her work, her passions have included camping, hiking and long distance running. Though she doesn't dance anymore, she is still passionate about watching ballet performances.

Pete Brown is currently the National Program Manager for 7th Step Society of Canada. Pete has lived experience in addictions, prisons, and brings a unique perspective with education (Social Services Worker), different employment and volunteering positions in the fields of addictions and with people who have had conflict with the law. Pete has dedicated his life to helping others to get out and stay out of the criminal justice system and is a firm believer that lived experience has a massive part to play in the change process.

Sophie Trinacty has been involved with the 7 Step Society since her first year in law school where she was introduced to the group through an internship program, and they haven't been able to get rid of her since. Deeply interested in the criminal justice system Sophie is exploring ways to improve access to justice for marginalized communities and to increase the understanding of the interconnection between victimization and criminality. Sophie helped developed the 7th Step Society's peer support training program and enjoys presenting to youth and community groups. In her free time, she loves challenging herself to run ridiculous distances and enjoys spending as much time outside as possible.

Brannon Hooper brings a unique experience to his work and the board. Growing up in group homes throughout HRM, he found himself in conflict with the law since 1992. He has lived experience from his struggles with trauma, mental health, and addictions. He continues to put in the effort to bring positive change in the community. Brannon joined the 7th Step Society of Nova Scotia in January 2022 becoming a core group member and had dedicated his time to the street group meetings. Shortly after he became a member, he completed the Peer Support Training and co-facilitated the training program. His continued resilience brought him to his current position as the Admin for the Pardon Me Project  and the National Program/Volunteer Coordinator with the 7th Step Society of Canada.

Renford Farrier is a man of Jamaican descent born to a single mother in Jamaica. He immigrated to Toronto, Canada where his family lived under Ontario housing in areas with limited opportunity. Farrier became involved in criminal activity as a means of monetary assistance; something common place in the areas he lived in at the time. At the age of twenty, Farrier was arrested and put on trial for first degree murder. Farrier was appointed a lawyer by legal aid, but unfortunately, this lawyer’s ambiguity in explaining Farrier’s legal options misled him and his family, whose full trust lay in him considering his family’s unfamiliarity with the criminal justice system. Farrier, under recommendation from his lawyer, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life with eligibility for parole after ten years for second-degree murder. This unknowingly allowed for the possibility that he could stay incarcerated for the rest of his life. In December 2023, over thirty-two years after his conviction, Farrier was finally released on parole at the age of fifty-two. After years of enduring racism and rejection from prison staff and parole boards, Farrier is finally free, and working toward ensuring that his unfortunate case is the last of its kind. Farrier works for the John Howard Society of Nova Scotia, a non-profit advocacy organization that advocates for a fair and humane justice system, as a transitional support worker. He assists the vulnerable formerly incarcerated in smoothly reintegrating into society. He also offers services as a professional trainer, a status he worked vigorously toward attaining for the past 30 years. Farrier serves as a source of wisdom and inspiration for his community. Farrier has gained the trust and respect of his community through an indefatigable effort to meet the needs of its members and has become necessary support for young people that are susceptible to making similar mistakes to the ones he once made. A man whose assistance a young Farrier might have needed to dodge the roadblocks that obstructed his way on the path to a free future.

Mike Warren became formally involved with 7th Step NS in October of 2022 when he was invited to the Annapolis Valley street group meetings and became a core group member in December of 2022. He became involved with many other street group meetings including Moncton, NB, Prince Edward Island and Ottawa, ON groups. Mike completed a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies degree from Cape Breton University and continued his studies in Criminology at Saint Mary’s University. Mike was born and raised in Newfoundland and Labrador and came to Nova Scotia in 1997 to attend university where he fell in love with the province. He moved to Halifax in 2000 and continues to reside in the area. Mike has worked in many facets of the Criminal Justice System including being a volunteer with Restorative Justice, a Correctional Officer, a Deputy Sheriff, a Probation Officer and his current role is Senior Probation Officer for the Annapolis Valley Community Corrections. Mike believes in a client-centred philosophy and approach and has made many worthy connections over the years to best serve the population of the Annapolis Valley and Nova Scotia but more importantly, the clientele with whom we work.

Scott came to 7th Step as a volunteer in June, 2024, thanks to a chance encounter with a future (now current) teacher of his at Nova Scotia Community College, where he's studying Social Services. His teacher connected Scott with Pete Brown, and the rest is history! Scott wants to advocate for those with lived experience as they take active steps to change their lives. One area of interest is destigmatizing people with lived experience who re-enter society, particularly when they're looking for work. After more than 20 years in broadcast media, working in Ottawa and Toronto, Scott has moved east, is back in school in his 40s, and he's looking forward to the possibilities tying the skill set he developed in his previous career with his interest in advancing the cause of marginalized people.