Our Mission
The Gordon Foundation mission is to improve the mental and emotional well-being of children and youth. We are committed to playing a leadership role in the promotion and advancement of young people - using awareness and promotion to encourage and cause change that enhances the success and ability to thrive for children and youth.
Our focus on the mental and emotional well-being of children and youth is intended to cover the wide range of mental, emotional, cognitive and behavioural domains. The Foundation believes that children and youth with good mental health, positive self-esteem and general well-being are more likely to look after their health as adults – adults who will maintain and improve our society.
The Foundation commemorates the work of Dr. Gerald Gordon who was Executive Director of the Atlantic Child Guidance Centre (ACGC) for more than 20 years, and the associated Atlantic Child Guidance Centre Foundation. From the late 1940s until the integration into the IWK Grace Heath Centre in 1995, ACGC and its precursor organizations sought to improve the mental and emotional well-being of the children and youth of Nova Scotia.
The Gordon Foundation Nova Scotia carries on this legacy as a non-profit charitable organization that provides funding for programs that enhance and add to the quality of life and success of our young people.
2022-2023 Board of Directors
Stacey Dort, President
Stacey Dort graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Sociology. She has worked for over 25 years within the non-profit sector supporting individuals released from incarceration back to the community. During her time in university, she volunteered as a mediator with the Youth Alternative Society which diverted youth from the court system to mediation circles. Stacey recognizes the importance of positive opportunities as it relates to youth development and the result of not being afforded these opportunities. She is very excited to have the occasion to have more of a community impact on the adults of tomorrow
Debbie Williams, Vice President
Debbie William retired from Halifax Regional School Board where she held several positions from classroom to learning centre at the elementary level. She holds a bachelor's degree in Special Education and a Master's degree in Literacy. She is an active volunteer and loves a challenge. In her retirement, she actively works on her bucket list.
Samantha Rudolph, Treasurer
Valerie Blair, Member
Val received her Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University in 1989 and soon after, began a career as a
youth care worker with an agency now known as HomeBridge Youth Society. In this role, Val became
interested in youth transitions and in particular, the food related skills and knowledge that would
support the move to independent living. Pursuing this interest, Val began studies at Mount Saint
Vincent University, earning both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s of Science in Nutrition. Her Master’s thesis
explored food literacy and food security of youth who had exited the child care system and the societal
factors that contributed to these challenges. Since 2009, Val has worked in Public Health, in various
positions; here, she continues to use her youth care experiences in her daily work to impact the social
determinants of health. Val is a licensed nutritionist, with a passion for food- eating -cooking -growing
and preserving. She lives in Dartmouth, with her spouse, as new empty-nesters.
Amy Bailey
Amy Bailey, a Saint Mary's University graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, has been driven by a deep passion for non-profit work throughout her life. Her dedication is rooted in her personal journey of overcoming homelessness and poverty, which has ignited her commitment to youth wellness and mental health. Over the past two decades, Amy has worked with several organizations, most notably Oxfam Canada and Amnesty International. She's now eager to discover and support local organizations creating meaningful impacts in their communities.
Tammy Smith
John Cameron