Staff | ChrysalisHouse

Staff Directory

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Front Line Staff

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Outreach Team

We are the Women’s Outreach Team! Our catchment area has an Outreach Worker serving each county, Kings by Kally, West Hants by Betty, and Annapolis by Laura. Our role includes advocacy, support, safety planning, and accessing community resources. We meet with women, listen to their needs, and assist by reducing barriers and making referrals.We also participate in and facilitate various public education and information sessions throughout the Annapolis Valley in community, schools, churches and other organizations.Our team is dedicated to supporting women to become their best selves and building a life free of violence.

Family Transition Support Worker

My name is Brenda.

As the Family Transition Support, I work with women and families who are transitioning from shelter to community living, as well as providing continued support on an outreach basis. This includes support with housing, budgeting and financial literacy, taxes, and assistance with other needs. I also organize educational groups through a Lunch ‘n Learn program offering various topics on digital safety, scams, tenancy rights, women’s health issues, and topics of interest to women. My goal is to assist women in making whatever changes they choose towards becoming self reliant and living a sustainable life free of violence.

Children's Program

Our Children's Program Team consists of 3 workers:

Flo – In-House Children's Coordinator
Elizabeth – Children's Program Staff
Linda – Children's Outreach Worker

Our role is to offer support, counselling, programs, advocacy, information and resources to women & children residing at the Shelter and in the Community. We also offer outreach support, programs and events, as well as the Roots of Empathy Program that has been offered for years at a local School.

We recognize that Moms are in the leadership role when it comes to their children. Our goal is to support Moms and ensure children have a positive experience while they are at the Shelter. We facilitate activities that allow them to feel safe to express their emotions through creativity, art, recreation and play. Every child needs to feel safe, loved, heard and have the opportunity to shine!

Daily Living & Resource Coordinator

Hi! I’m Andrea, and I am the Daily Living and Resource Coordinator at Chrysalis House. I play a key role in supporting the daily functioning and comfort of residents while staying at the shelter.

This position fosters connection and empowerment by engaging residents in practical skill building activities, such as informal cooking and baking lessons, home-based skills programming, and aiding with housing searches.

My role is diverse and varies from day-to-day based on the needs of our residents. I am available to accompany residents to a variety of appointments such as medical, school and housing. I work closely with residents to help them navigate these experiences and access the resources and support they need

Our goal at Chrysalis House is to find safe and affordable housing for our residents. I play a role in this search by assisting women with identifying and sourcing safe, suitable and affordable housing.

Executive Director

Hi, I’m Xylia!

As the Executive Director of Chrysalis House Association, I am responsible for providing leadership and oversight to the organization, supporting our staff and programs, working with our Board of Directors and community partners, and helping to ensure that the women and children we serve receive compassionate, trauma-informed support.

Before becoming Executive Director, I worked with Chrysalis House as Shelter Manager, as well as a member of our front-line team. I am also a sociologist at heart, with a background in social movements. These experiences have shaped the way I understand advocacy, systems, and social change, as well as Chrysalis House’s role in supporting those impacted by gender-based violence and abuse.

Operations Lead

Hi there, I'm Lesley.

I'm the Operations Lead for Chrysalis House, which inevitably means I am a skilled juggler of many balls in the air at any given time. I support the Executive Director in her role and work with frontline and program staff to ensure that services are delivered in a compassionate, trauma informed manner. I manage people, building maintenance and needs, and help support all staff to do the work needed to ensure the shelter runs smoothly.

I have been working with Chrysalis House for the last 5 years, first as a casual, then in part-time positions while juggling other work commitments. My passion and desire to work in the field full-time led me to this position. I am a registered social worker, and while not wearing that hat in this role, my background in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and working within many of the systems that the women we work with are involved in has equipped me with invaluable knowledge that strengthens the care we are able to provide.