Family, Friends, & Fun at the
78th Annapolis Valley
Apple Blossom Festival
May 26 - May 31, 2010

Co-President

Cathy Briggs

Cathy brings her talents for managing and organizing to the Festival from a background in retail, as owner of Absolutely Fabulous Bed, Bath & Home in New Minas, and from her daily life as a mother and volunteer.

An active member of the community, Cathy sits on the board of the Kings Economic Development Agency, and has been active in past years with the NKEC Home & School Council as well as in the Kentville Rotary Club.

Cathy has served on the Apple Blossom Festival Board for seven years, beginning her Apple Blossom career with the Directorship of Concerts. Creating the magic that is the Apple Blossom Festival is both her primary motivation and goal.

Co-President

Sally Swanburg Wallace

After graduating from Acadia University, Sally moved to Toronto and practiced financial services in her own successful practice with seven other individuals. Sally returned to Wolfville with husband Bill Wallace to raise her family in the Valley. She now lives and practices as a financial planner in Wolfville and has two daughters; Sasha and Keeley. Sally successfully completed the Certified Financial Planners (CFP) course in 2001- the pinnacle for the financial planning industry and is always enrolled in the additional specialty course to add to her credentials.

A member of the Board, originally in the Finance portfolio, since 2001 Sally, in 2006 became the first female President of the Apple Blossom Festival. Sally continues to serve the Board in the role as Co-President of the Festival.

Secretary

Linda Manning

Linda is pleased to be joining the Apple Blossom Festival board as Board Secretary.
Originally from New Brunswick, Linda moved to the Valley in 1971 with her husband Sandy. She has two grown children Scott and Vicki and two grand children Lauren and Rachael.
Linda spent her career in the customer service industry first as a head cashier bookkeeper with a major grocery chain and then moved into the banking industry where she retired as Manager of Customer services with one of the major banks. Linda joined the festival in 2008 as office assistant and is looking forward to her recent move to office manager.

Treasurer

Phyllis Crowe

Phyllis graduated from Acadia University with a degree in English, and has been working in the financial services industry ever since. She works at TD Canada Trust as a Financial Advisor and holds professional designations; as a Personal Financial Planner, Specialist in Financial Counseling and Associate of the Institute of Canadian Bankers.Previously, Phyllis has served as Treasurer with Lunenburg Jaycettes, Wolfville Band Parents, Horton
Music Parents, & Centre Stage Theatre in Kentville.

"Treasurer is the best job," she says. "No grey areas!" Born in Kentville, Phyllis still has pictures of herself as a participant in the Apple Blossom Children's Parade and fondly remembers when she was finally allowed to attend the Big Parade without parental supervision. Three children, three grandchildren, one spouse, one dog, a great big garden & a love of camping keep her both busy & sane.

Co-Cultural

Mark Pound

Mark graduated from Acadia University with a B.A. and a B.Ed. and is currently substitute teaching for the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board. Active in his community, Mark is a volunteer firefighter with the Kentville Volunteer Fire Department, and a team leader for the Canadian Red Cross. He is also the Superintendent for St. John Ambulance, Waterville Division #497, and a volunteer with Valley Search & Rescue. Mark believes this is going to be the best festival yet.

Co-Cultural

Kara-Lynn Scallion

Kara-Lynn is currently completing her Masters of Science degree in Earth Sciences from Dalhousie University. After spending a year in the city, she is happy to be back in the valley! Kara-Lynn loves working with children and has been involved with Girl Guiding for 17 years, currently working with the New Minas Brownies. When she is not busy with research or volunteering, she enjoys baking, and spending time with her family, fiancee, Scott, and cat, Lucky-Spook.

Kara-Lynn is no stranger to the festival. She remembers participating in the Children's Parade as a child. In 2007 she represented "the Biggest Little Port in the World" as Princess Port Williams and was chosen as 2nd Lady-In-Waiting to Queen Annapolisa. She is happy to be involved with the festival in a new capacity and contribute to its continued success.

Grand Street Parade

Wilf Andrews

A Sergeant with the Kentville Police Service, Wilf has served as a Director of the Police Association of Nova Scotia for several years and is a member of the Canadian Police Association.
Wilf has had direct involvement with the Apple Blossom Festival for the past 25 years through his work with the Kentville Police Service as the person responsible for coordinating traffic, and crowd control for events such as the Grand Street Parade, as well as concerts in the park and the fireworks display.

Children's Parade

Lisa Misner

Lisa is currently a Biology student at Acadia University. Lisa has been involved with the Festival from a very young child as her mother has been lead judge for many years and was also once the Children’s Parade Director. Lisa is involved in many community leadership opportunities such as helping coach the Berwick Junior Ringette team, a team captain for Relay for Life, an ice marshal for Hearts on Ice, as well as many other activities. She loves working with children and participates in S.M.I.L.E. Lisa has recently joined the Canadian Forces as a Private. The Festival is something that she looks forward to every year and she is excited to take on this new role.

Transportation

Blair MacMurtery

Cst. Blair MacMurtery is the Community Policing Coordinator and Media Relations Officer for the RCMP in Kings District. Cst MacMurtery has 26 years policing in Kings County and is currently stationed at the Wolfville RCMP Detachment. He has lived in the Kings County area of the Annapolis Valley for 25 years with his wife and family.

He is currently a member of the Kings Crime Prevention Association, Kings County Seniors' Safety Program, MADD Annapolis Valley and Annapolis Valley Crime Stoppers.

Cst MacMurtery will be responsible for the transportation arrangements for the Queen and Princess' as they tour the many functions and events of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival.

Protocol & Royal Tour

Judith Allison

Judy resides in Windsor with her husband, Jim. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
The festival is not new to Judy. She previously chaired the Princess Windsor Pageant Committee and then held the positions of Eastern Representative, Protocol and Pageant Assistant on the board of the Apple Blossom Festival. After an absence from the board she again served on the Princess Windsor Committee. She recently retired as secretary in the school system of the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board. Judy has always been a proud supporter of the festival and looks forward to all activities as each year brings with it new events and new ideas. She is excited to return to the board as Director of Protocol.

Royal Affairs

Mary Ella Cleveland

Mary Ella is excited to be joining the Festival Board as Director of Community Liaison. She is a life long resident of the Annapolis Valley and has been involved with the festival for a number of years. Most recently as Queen mother of Queen Annapolisa the 75th. The Annapolis Valley Princess Teas are her favorite part of getting ready for the festival.

She is the proud mother of three great young adults, Tom, Chris and Kathryn. Mary Ella has over 30 years experience as a Professional in Health Care.

She is looking forward to making this year a very successful one for the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival.

Co-Events

Greg Miller

Bio Coming Soon

Co-Events

Maribeth Wilson

Maribeth was born and raised in Dartmouth, NS and is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University. She has over 22 years experience in the tourism/transportation industry, most recently as the Manager of the Charter Services division of Brewster Inc. in Banff, AB. In the fall of 2008, Maribeth and her husband Danny fulfilled a long-term dream and moved across Canada to the beautiful Annapolis Valley. With their sons now living on the west coast, Maribeth and Danny are truly a ‘bicoastal family’.

Maribeth is currently under contract with Pacific Western Transit in Whistler, BC. She will be working with Whistler Transit’s operating team to provide public transportation for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. She first volunteered with the Apple Blossom Festival in spring of 2009 and is proud to be serving on the Apple Blossom Festival Board as Co-Events Director. She is looking forward to returning to the Valley after her ‘Olympic experience’ and can’t wait to be working side by side with the Festival team!

Community Liaison

Rose Stevenson-Davidson

Rose is delighted to become a member of the Festival Board as Director of Community Liaison. She is a life long resident of the Annapolis Valley and has been involved with the festival for a number of years. Her participation began in the 1970’s as a majorette in the Grand Street Parade.

An active member of the community, Rose is also involved with the Black Business Initiative, the Windsor African Education Committee, the Council on African Canadian Education and the Hants County Christmas Angels Program. She has also volunteered with the Princess Windsor Tea Committee for the past six years and has acted a Chair for three years.

Graduating from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Rose has been employed with Service Canada for 20 years. Rose resides in the town of Windsor with her spouse Kent and their four children.

Director-at-Large NSFG

Lloyd Dyck

Coming Soon