Our Board of Directors
Stéphane Pigeon, President
Stéphane is a new resident to the area, having moved from Quebec in January 2023. He fell in love with the Moving Forward Co-operative while staying at Station8 for several months before buying a house in Tantramar and moving his family here. He spends his free time enjoying outdoor activities from hiking to snowmobiling and motor biking. Prior to his taking over as President of Moving Forward in June 2023, Stephane served for 5 years as President of La Source d’Entraide, a non-profit in Saint-Lazare QC with over 100 volunteers helping the community with projects such as food and clothes donations, community fridges, school and city programs.
Melissa Trenholm, Vice President
Melissa grew up in Dorchester, the youngest of 8, and raised her 2 children here before moving to Sackville in 2012. An employee of the federal government for the past 17 years, with 8 of those spent at Westmorland Institution and Dorchester Pen, she now works with Child and Family Services for Indigenous Services for the Atlantic region.
A history buff, Melissa has a ton of local knowledge, having researched, interviewed and compiled information and photos for the Dorchester Veterans Book of Remembrance. She is an avid hiker and photographer, and spends much of her time exploring and showcasing the beautiful views of the Bay of Fundy.
Melissa has been a very active member of our Trails Committee and believes deeply in what Moving Forward is doing to help sustain and grow the community.
Nina Stright, Executive Secretary
Nina grew up in Cap-pele, NB. She and her husband Aaron lived in Dorchester prior to moving to Alberta for 10 years. Fortunately for us, they decided they wanted to raise their two boys in Dorchester and moved back in May of 2022.
Nina’s background is working with Children and Youth. In Alberta, she worked with homeless youth, managed group homes and helped support families. She currently does similar work at Maggie's Place in Amherst, NS.
Nina says “Being a part of the co-op has allowed me to get involved in the community and to keep following my passion of helping people and our community thrive”.
Kristina Tower, House Manager
Krissy joined Moving Forward as a volunteer in 2024, after relocating to help care for her Father. Growing up, she spent many summers in Dorchester and Sackville with family and made lifelong friends along the way. Joining the Trails Committee saw her reconnect with her childhood best friend (and fellow Board member) Melissa Trenholm. Since then she has rediscovered all of our local trails and found a few secret spots of her own.
Krissy brings a wealth of knowledge from her years in retail management as well as a strong belief in building community through social change- She has taken an active role across all channels of Moving Forward. In her spare time she enjoys supporting local music, long-distance walking, gardening, dinosaurs and supporting her local library.
Martin Steen
After moving from the UK in 1980, Martin studied both photographic arts and plant biology at university and still maintains an avid interest in both.
Spending 24 years in both the financial and payment processing fields Martin has a strong financial background.
Upon building a tiny home and recognizing the need for sustainable and reliable food access, Martin joined the board of Moving Forward to assist with the demands that families deal with on a day to day basis.
Joanne Rochon
With 18 years of experience in both school and public libraries, Joanne has developed a strong background in education, community engagement, and resource management. She has also directed and performed with Curtain Call Theatre in Moncton, demonstrating leadership and creativity in the arts. A graduate of Sheridan College’s pottery program in Mississauga, Joanne went on to teach pottery, combining technical skill with a passion for teaching. She is also the founder of Wylde Earth, a handcrafted soap and beauty product line that reflects her commitment to quality and creativity.