Board of Directors

Logan Morse - President

Logan has lived in the Annapolis Valley his whole life and is excited to be a part of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival’s Board of Directors again for the 2023 Festival season. Logan was previously the Vice-President and Treasurer of the festival in 2017 and 2018, and President in 2019-present. Logan is an active community volunteer and a member of several community-interest organizations. Logan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Acadia University, majoring in Accounting. He is a licensed REALTOR® and works as a real estate agent in the Annapolis Valley. Logan volunteers for Junior Achievement Nova Scotia and Inn From the Cold. He is also a director of the Valley Regional Hospital Foundation. Logan was previously an army cadet and is now employed by the Department of National Defence as a reservist officer, and works with the Canadian Cadet Organization. In 2016, Logan was nominated for an Emerging Leader recognition award from the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame for his community involvement work, entrepreneurial spirit, and for founding a real estate development company within the Annapolis Valley. Logan is passionate about his community and our province. Logan aims to help ensure the continued success of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival for many years to come. 


Contact Logan at: President@appleblossom.com

Juli MacHattie - Sponsorship, Carnival For Kids, Marketing/Social Media

Juli grew up a valley girl in Middleton and enjoyed many Apple Blossom Festivals with friends over the years. After graduating high school, she moved to Halifax to attend Dalhousie University and graduated with her bachelor degree. She found her way back to the valley in 2010 and hasn’t looked back! Her employment experience is in marketing, advertising and she has over 10 years in the field working with local small to medium businesses. She has a passion for digital and traditional marketing, social media marketing, online reputation management and business promotion. Presently, Juli runs two Licensed Child Care Centres in Kentville, property management and volunteers with the Festival, Special Olympics (over 18) and CANSkate. You’ll rarely find Juli without a smile on her face and guaranteed to brighten your day – give her a text or email to learn how you can help get involved and sponsor the Apple Blossom Festival.

Contact Juli at: sponsorship@appleblossom.com 

Erica Gillis - Events

Erica grew up in Halifax and moved to the Annapolis Valley in 2010 to attend Acadia University. Erica works for the Village of New Minas as the Recreation Coordinator. She is passionate about the Community. Erica joined the board in 2021 as the Events Director and is excited to continue planning the traditional Apple Blossom events and implementing some new ones! 

Contact Erica at: 

Events@appleblossom.com

Burnell Lyons - Grand Street Parade

Burnell was born and raised in the Annapolis Valley originally from the small rural community of Blomidon and has participated in the Apple Blossom Festival for many years. This will be his third year serving on the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival’s Board of Directors. Burnell serves as Grand Street Parade Director. Burnell has always been a strong community volunteer past Chair for a local political association currently a volunteer firefighter and Recording Secretary for the Kings County Firefighters Association member of the Rotary Club of New Minas Sunrise and Royal Canadian Legion Wolfville Branch. He is currently employed as BusinessNOW Officer with the Valley Regional Enterprise Network where he works one-on-one with small businesses at any stage providing resource navigation and supports. Also plans networking events and regional marketing initiatives. Burnell places a high value on patriotism and community involvement, he is looking forward to assisting the festival in future years to come.

Contact Burnell at: 

Grandstreetparade@appleblossom.com

Vanessa Thurston - Childrens Parade

Vanessa grew up in Yarmouth NS and it was here that she developed a passion for community and for volunteering. As a youth she received many accolades for her volunteer work and that experience and confidence led her to compete in her local town pageant. After competing in and winning the Seafest pageant in 2006, she was then invited to take part in the Grand Street parade here in the Beautiful Annapolis Valley. The Valley was already like a second home as her now husband’s grandparents were from Kentville. After having their son and living in Halifax for many years, they decided that the Valley was where they wanted to settle and raise their family. For over 20 years she has travelled to the Valley with her family to participate in the Apple Blossom Festivities. Her love for the festival has grown into a family affair as they gear up every year in costume for the annual children’s parade and other festivities! Vanessa is excited to be part of the board and hopes to bring lots of energy and creativity to the table to make the festival fun for whole family. Vanessa loves kids and hopes to draw out the littles in the community to participate in all the events that the festival has to offer. 

Contact Vanessa at: 

Childrensparade@appleblossom.com

Yuning Pan - Childrens Parade Assistent

Yuning moved to Canada with her family from Beijing, China in 2018.  Yuning has bachelor degree and had been working in an international high school for five years. Presently, she is an Early Childhood Educator at Kingstec Campus Learning Centre in Kentville. Watching children grow and excel everyday under her influence and aide makes her heart full and that is the reason why she chose this path career. Yuning has been volunteering at Catholic church since 2019, and she is also a member of the Kentville Inclusion and Access Advisory Committee. The sense of community and support available in the Annapolis Valley has helped her family's  transition from China. Yuning and her family are enjoying the life in Kentville and are proud to call the Valley home. Yuning joined in the board of Apple Blossom Festival is because she is very passionate and desired to give her best for the community. 

Contact Yuning at: 

Childrensparade@appleblossom.com

Lexie Burgess - Office Manager

Lexie grew up in West Hants and remembers looking forward to the return of the Apple Blossom Festival every year.  Lexie is a graduate of the Coady Institutes Womens Leadership for Community Development program and Red Deer College.  As a life long learner Lexie has taken advantage of many professional development opportunities including business administration, Basic American Sign Language,  Early Childhood Education, and training in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.  Lexie is passionate about community. In her youth she travelled throughout the province as a keynote speaker for positive youth inclusion and volunteered extensively with many organizations. She was a recipient of the Queens Golden Jubilee medal in 2002.

Lexie has joined the festival in the role of office manager and is excited to support the board in making the event a success!

Contact Lexie at: 

Info@appleblossom.com