Leadership
Audra Gallant PDt
Director of Food and Clinical Dietetics
Audra Gallant brings more than 25 years of experience as a Professional Dietitian to her role at Ocean View. Prior to her work at Ocean View, she developed a wealth of experiences in diverse roles in Acute Care, Community Nutrition, Diabetes Education, Administrative Dietetics and Long Term Care. She is actively involved in her field, as a member of the Nova Scotia Dietetic Association (NSDA), the NSDA Registration Committee, and the Nova Scotia Dietitians’ Continuing Care Action Group.
As Director of Therapeutics at Ocean View, Audra works with staff that have an important impact on resident life, including our Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team, Housekeeping team as well as the Food Production and Dietary team. She is proud of the work her team is doing, and believes that they put “residents first” in their work each and every day. Audra also chairs the Ethics Committee, Spiritual Care Advisory Committee and Engagement Team.
Audra truly enjoys working with our residents and all staff at Ocean View. “Residents first” is a phrase that also drives Audra’s work, as she strives to understand resident life stories and current needs, and to provide staff the support and education they need to do the same.
Hillary Hawes CMAA
Executive Assistant
Hillary joins our team with many years experience in healthcare. She is a graduate of the Medical Office Administration Program through NSCC. She is a highly organized, capable and motivated administrative professional with the technical, transcription, and communication skills needed to thrive as our Executive Assistant.
In recent years before joining our team, Hillary gained valuable experience as an Administrative Assistant at IWK Health Centre. She also has a history of contributing to the community through volunteer work, including volunteering at one of our fellow Nova Scotia nursing homes.
Hillary is passionate about working with others, bringing a positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills to her work. She loves to embrace new challenges and is thrilled to do so in support of our work.
Jacob D. Hillier HMT, SMT, C.E.M., DHSA
Director of Hospitality and Infrastructure
After working in both Acute Care and Long-Term care for many years in a variety of front line and management roles, Jacob came to work at Ocean View in 2003. His role today is Director of Operations. He has been working in Nova Scotia’s healthcare system since 1985 and in Long Term Care continuously since 1997.
In 2005 he was elected as the President of the Special Care Emergency Preparedness Association of Nova Scotia, which is a not-for-profit association focusing on Emergency Preparedness and Management for the Continuing Care sector of the Nova Scotia Health System. In this role, he works closely with other Long-Term Care facilities to ensure they are prepared for all emergencies making the system safer for all residents. He also works closely with the Department of Health and Wellness, EMO NS, Department of Community Services, Office of the Fire Marshal and other stakeholders in this field.
At Ocean View and The Birches, Jacob provides leadership for capital projects, housekeeping, laundry and our hair salon. He is accountable for emergency preparedness and promotion of a safe environment and works closely within the management and staff teams to provide effective leadership for Ocean View and The Birches.
Jacob facilitates a number of teams and committees at Ocean View and The Birches and believes in fostering an open and positive working relationship with staff at all levels. He tries to build capacity within others to achieve their goals, and strives to motivate critical thinking in others, for their personal growth and empowerment. His favorite quote sums up his philosophy on life, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Steve Vincent CPA
Director of Finance
Steve joined Ocean View in February of 2016 as the Director of Finance. With his CPA designation for 25 years, Steve brings senior management and financial experience from several industries, including public accounting, cooperatives, owner-manager businesses, as well as government organizations. Steve also brings to the table the ability to streamline processes, manage costs, prepare budgets and cash flow, and explore and evaluate new opportunities and systems.
Steve leads the Finance team at Ocean View and The Birches. He is passionate about not only leading a team who assists residents and their families, but also ensuring the organization effectively uses and has resources to carry out its work towards its goals and in line with its values. Steve and his team are very innovative and proactively looks to find new solutions, processes and resources to grow the organization.
Suzanne Wamboldt, PT
Director of Life Enrichment
Suzanne Wamboldt provides leadership in a newly-established role as the Director of Life Enrichment. She oversees committed teams that enrich residents lives at Ocean View and The Birches including the Client Engagement Leader, Music Facilitator, Therapeutic Recreation, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy. She also chairs the Spiritual Care, Falls Prevention and Safe Resident Handling Committees.
Prior to beginning this role in January 2023, Suzanne has nearly 30 years of experience as a Physiotherapist, including at Ocean View and the Birches. She has a breadth of clinical and managerial experience in public and private healthcare in Canada and the USA, seniors home care, and disability management.
Suzanne has the benefit of working alongside her team in direct resident care and observes meaningful interactions in long term care as well appreciates where challenges exist. Suzanne strives to focus on processes that create efficiencies; allowing her team and all staff more time to serve residents. She strongly believes in taking the time to listen and understand residents’ life stories and how past experiences impact their behaviour and preferences when living at our homes. Suzanne feels the Ocean View and The Birches Life Enrichment team has the compassion, dedication, skills and critical thinking to provide exceptional resident-centered care.