Facilitators of the Redefining Retirement program

Joel Stoddart is a business counsellor, consultant, and trainer with the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre in Wolfville. A graduate of Acadia University’s School of Business (’03), Joel has owned and operated two of his own businesses while working to support an entrepreneurial culture here in the Valley. He is the co-founder of 100 Men Who Give a Damn! Annapolis Valley, and resides in Kentville with his wife, son, and daughter. He is not retired, but his parents are.

Anne Stieger is a facilitator, trainer and business counsellor . She designs high-quality processes that are effective, engaging and rooted in principles of adult learning.
As a facilitator and trainer, she helps organizations reach their full potential by leading strategic planning and innovative Design Thinking processes.  
Before joining the team at the AEC, Anne taught Community Development and Facilitation at Acadia University and ran her own facilitation and training business for several years.  
In her free time, she enjoys dancing and bringing community together at the Front Street Community Oven in Wolfville.

  Tom Dalmazzi, Community Entrepreneurship Facilitator, brings 9 years of professional facilitation experience to the Redefining Retirement team. Tom has worked with countless individuals who are navigating a major transition – university students, marginalized youth, entrepreneurs, and older adults. He prides himself in his ability to design programs that meet people where they are, and create safe spaces that promote sharing and productivity.

Whether it be facilitating a strategic planning process for a non-profit organization, coaching a local small business through a Design Thinking process, or helping older adults explore and redesign their retirement years - Tom is passionate about process facilitation and helping people and groups make informed decisions about their future.

  Donna Fancey is a business counsellor and facilitator with the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre working in Bridgewater, NS. Her focus is on administering the Self Employment Program for the Province of Nova Scotia - supporting clients who are unemployed and interested in starting their own business. 

Donna operates her own part-time bookkeeping business providing services for local small businesses.

Donna has volunteered with various local organizations such as the NS Health Authority’s, Your Way to Wellness Program, a chronic disease self-management program that helps people live well with their chronic condition.

When Donna is asked by friends about retiring, she always answers that she has no intention of retiring anytime soon and if and when she does, she intends to continue with her passion for lifelong learning, contributing to her local area and pursuing new interests.

 Chantal is an experienced facilitator who has worked with private, public and third sector organizations. While working in the provincial government, Chantal was responsible for departmental strategic planning projects, policy and program development and engagement activities.  Chantal is completing her Masters of Business Administration with a focus on Community Economic Development. Chantal, through Third Sector Enhancement, is a member of the International Association of Public Participation, the Canadian Evaluation Society and the St. Margaret’s Bay Chamber of Commerce. Chantal is a board member of the St. Margaret's Bay Community Enterprise Centre, and also helps out with various aspects of her kid's activities.

Chantal lives in St. Margaret's Bay with her husband, two children, young dog and a grumpy cat.

Chris is the former Executive Director of the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre. Chris is a seasoned facilitator and has in excess of 25 years of experience community revitalization, business, not for profit development, and community economic development. He is a recognized leader in strategic planning for not-for-profit organizations, an internationally certified small business counselor, and was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship for his contribution to entrepreneurial education and development in Canada. Chris is the current president of the St. Margaret's Bay Community Enterprise Centre and enjoys sailing, gardening and spending time with his grandkids.

Redefining Retirement is one of Chris' retirement projects.