reachAbility's Board of Directors
Dr. Bruce Mills
Bruce Mills, President (2007)
Bruce Mills is founder and president of reachAbility (Halifax, Nova Scotia); an organization dedicated to the rights, needs and interests of persons living with disabilities. Before this time, he was president of Reach Canada (Ottawa, Ontario) - a national agency that exists to provide legal and educational resources for and about persons with disabilities.
Dr Mills received a BA from Mount Saint Vincent University, followed by a MA (Psychology) from University of Georgia where he studied under renowned cognitive psychologist James Klee. Subsequently, he was awarded a second MA and a PhD in social sciences (psychoanalysis) at University of Ottawa under academic psychoanalytic scholar Naomi Goldenberg. All of his degrees were awarded with distinction, and Bruce was the recipient of many academic awards, including a full fellowship from the Social Sciences and Research Council (Canada) for his ground-breaking psychoanalysis of the social response to AIDS (HIV disease). Bruce's graduate work included a critique of American psychology, a psychosocial study of Islam and an analysis of religious themes in psychopathology. His study of sexuality in Romanesque European art was presented at a world congress on Art and Sexuality in Paris in 1988. Much of his work was published, and includes the prestigious Queen's University Review.
Since 1986, Dr Mills has been an important partner in national and international health and social sciences projects. He worked a long time with Health Canada (Ottawa), the Canadian Psychological Association (Ottawa) and with numerous other organizations including the College of Family Physicians of Canada (Toronto), the Canadian Medical Association, Human Resource Development Canada, Ottawa-Carleton Public Health Department and with Paragon Audit and Consulting (Ottawa). Bruce has presented his work at dozens of international meetings and was instrumental in the delivery of many noteworthy conferences notably in the areas of palliative care, HIV disease, pain management and evidence-based systems.
Among other distinctions, Dr Mills received the 1998 Community Action Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario for his contribution to the philanthropic / voluntary sectors. In 1998, Bruce was a guest of the Prime Minister of Canada at the United Nations (New York) for his nomination of Canada for the Roosevelt International Disability Award. Dr Mills was registered in Who's Who in America (Washington, DC) in 2004.
Bruce lived in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver before returning to his native Nova Scotia in 1999. He continues to provide professional consultation and research services to clients across Canada. Now his passion as a composer is a full time occupation. His music (produced by acclaimed Juno winner Dennis Field) has won several international awards in the past two years - honours from Billboard Magazine, a President's Award from Paramount Entertainment Group and accolades from both Allure Media (Los Angeles) and AMMA (Australia). Bruce is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (New York) and is featured on many media sites in Canada, the US and Europe.
Bruce lives on the Atlantic coast near Halifax, with his Briard dog, Napoleon.
Bruce Mills
blmills@eastlink.ca
www.hightidesongs.com
Prof. Archie Kaiser
Vice-President
Sandra Smith-Muir
Sandra Smith-Muir is an Officer on reachAbility's Board. She has a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University. Sandra has been employed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission since 1989, working in investigative and educational roles, and is currently the Director of the Atlantic Regional Office in Halifax. Tova Sherman requested that Sandra become involved with the reachAbility Board, and says that apart from her role in Board meetings, she "would like to be both a resource for, and a partner with, reachAbility."
Sandra lives in Bedford with her husband, teenaged son, and their dog. She has a grown step-daughter and father here in Halifax, and is an aunt and great-aunt to her sister's three children and six grand-children!
Peg Britton
Peg Britton is an Officer on reachAbility's Board and has only recently become involved at Tova Sherman's request. She is currently enrolled at NSCC (the Nova Scotia Community College) for the Graphic & Print Production program (graduating in 2009). From 1997 through 2001, Peg was employed in the Food Production industry, working in every aspect of it (including catering, prepping, cooking, inventory, packaging, and sales). She also worked as a Disc Jockey at the Attic, here in Halifax, from 2000 through 2005, and is currently an interviewer for Statistics Canada.
Kathleen Anderson
Officer
Patrick Atherton
Officer
Brian Maillet
Treasurer
TOP