Meet Megan Marshall, Avalon Employment

Megan Marshall will be speaking on the "Training Opportunities for Inclusion and Diversity" panel on Friday, October 17th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Megan Marshall is a committed advocate with extensive experience in disability advocacy, program development and implementation, and case management. In 2020, she joined Avalon Employment Inc. (AEI), where she played a key role in developing and launching the Autism Employment Pilot Project. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Megan began her involvement with the disability community at a young age while working in her family’s business, where she provided essential services in therapeutic recreation and adapted physical education for individuals with complex physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. Holding certifications in Developmental Services and Horticulture Therapy, and having completed training in Auticon’s NeuroPositive Ambassador Program, her career includes leadership positions focused on supporting and advocating for individuals with Autism. Megan has experience in reaching individuals from early childhood through senior years. Since 2000, Megan has had a substantial impact on those in residential care, the education system, and pre-employment settings. Upon her move to St. John’s, Newfoundland, she began a decade-long leadership role at the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. She was nominated for the YWCA Woman of the Year for Social and Community Development in 2019, which reflects her influential advocacy efforts. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Megan has actively contributed to her community by serving on the Board of Directors for Bridges to Hope Food Bank in St. John’s from 2016-2021, where she held the positions of Secretary and Program Chair. Furthermore, she contributed to AEI’s recognition for best practices in diversity and inclusion by the Zero Project (United Nations, 2021) through her leadership in the Autism Employment Project. Megan employs a person-centred, holistic, and skills-focused approach to her work, seeking to connect qualified Autistic job seekers with meaningful employment opportunities. She also guides employers on best practices for inclusion, fostering supportive workplace environments. Megan is a strong proponent of diligent work, collaboration, and mutual accountability, which she considers essential for achieving true inclusion within the Autistic community.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about opportunities for your organization to grow with diversity and Inclusion.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Speaker Introduction - Rebecca Ralph, Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society

Rebecca Ralph will be speaking in the Peer Share Panel on Saturday, October 18th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Rebecca Ralph, who is from Traytown, NL, completed her BAH (2011) and MA (2014) at Memorial and PhD (2020) at the University of Calgary. She has served on the board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society since 2022 and is the current President. Her research has focused on the history of education in Newfoundland and Labrador, and she has published articles in Acadensis, Historical Studies in Education, Newfoundland and Labrador Studies, and the Newfoundland Quarterly.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear other organizations' projects, plans and accomplishments.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5


For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

 

Speaker Introduction - Governor General’s History Award winner Jo Anne Broders

Jo Anne Broders will be speaking in the Peer Share Panel on Saturday, October 18th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Joanne Broders is a secondary English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Smallwood Academy in Gambo, Newfoundland and Labrador who has thirty years teaching experience. She was born and raised in Tilting, Fogo Island and began her teaching career at Hopedale, NL, where she taught from 1995 to 1999. She is currently teaching at Smallwood Academy in Gambo and has been there since 2001. Joanne also worked as an assistant principal and as an ELA program specialist for grades 7, 8, and 9 with the Department of Education in Newfoundland and Labrador. Joanne received the Premier’s Award for Excellence in Innovative Teaching in 2023 and the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching in Canada in 2024. 

Joanne enjoys focusing on people, history, culture and heritage in her classes working on such collaborative projects such as 9/11 visual art which hung at the Come From Away show in New York for five years. Another project in 2023 encouraged signage and rediscovered the people-history of the Mi’kmaq Cemetery in Gambo with students, the town council of Gambo, and Chief Mi’sel Joe. This project was featured on CBC’s Land and Sea. In the spring of 2025, Joanne, high school students, Colleen Fox, and members of the Mi’kmaq Cultural Foundation spent many months working on Patty Boy’s Project honouring the life of Mi'kmaq RCMP officer, Patrick Gehue and the importance of Truth and Reconciliation through canvases, art quilt, a digital book, and hoodies. Joanne also interviews people from Tilting and beyond during their annual Irish celebration, Feile Tilting, capturing and preserving the heritage and history of the people. Her passion is listening to and honouring the stories of all people.


Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear other organizations' projects, plans and accomplishments.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Speaker Introduction - Nicole Henbrey, Canadian Museums Association

Nicole Henbrey will be speaking in the Women in Heritage panel on Friday, Oct 17th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Nicole Henbrey, Canadian Museums Association’s Moved To Action Coordinator, is a gifted storyteller, public speaker, and educator passionate about sharing knowledge of the land. She is Tlingit and Southern Tutchone, from the communities of Teslin and Champagne Aishihik in the Yukon on her mother's side, and Anglo-Canadian from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on her father's side. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, on Treaty 7 territory, her work is about changing the way we, as Canadians, talk about our shared histories and how we can use them to move forward together.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear the insights of many prominent figures in the heritage community.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Speaker Introduction- Aimee Chaulk, Them Days

 

Aimee Chaulk will be speaking in the Getting the Stories Out panel on Saturday, October 18th. 

Aimee Chaulk is Editor of Them Days magazine and the de-facto archivist at Them Days Labrador Archives. She holds a Hon.B.A. in English and Mediaeval Studies from the University of Toronto. Aimee is an active community member in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, splitting her volunteer time between supporting breastfeeding families and environmental causes, such as the HV-GB Recyclers and Boomerang Bags. She is also a founding member of the Tamarack Camera Club.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about cost effective online resources available to institutions.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Speaker Introduction - Kathy Hawkins of Empower

Kathy Hawkins will be speaking on the "Training Opportunities for Inclusion and Diversity" panel on Friday, October 17th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Kathy Hawkins (She/Her) serves as the Executive Director of Empower, The Disability Resource Centre, which includes their Corporate Services – InclusionNL. Kathy has extensive knowledge and expertise in the services available for people with disabilities. She supports employers in creating inclusive workplace environments for current and new employees with various types of disabilities. In her role, she advises businesses on all aspects of creating barrier-free work environments, including recruitment and hiring, accessibility reviews of physical locations, reasonable workplace adjustments and employee accommodations, staff training, and professional development. 

Kathy also holds professional certification in website accessibility from the University of South Australia and provides expertise to businesses interested in creating accessible websites, mobile apps, technical applications, and online platforms. Currently, Kathy is the President of the DisAbled Women's Network of Canada, sits on the IL Canada Accreditation Committee, is a new Board Member of Persistence Theatre Company, and an active member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about opportunities for your organization to grow with diversity and Inclusion.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Speaker Introduction - Joanna Dawson from Canada’s History Society!

Joanna Dawson will be one of our special keynote speakers in the Women in Heritage panel on Friday, Oct 17th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Joanna Dawson is the Director of Programs of Canada’s History Society, a national, charitable organization that strengthens understanding of the complex and diverse histories of our country. Joanna provides oversight and strategic direction to the organization’s education, recognition, and youth initiatives, including the Governor General’s History Awards and the much-loved Heritage Fair program. She is passionate about celebrating the work of educators, students, and community members and building connections throughout the country. 

Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Joanna now lives in Winnipeg and holds a Master’s degree in Public History from Western University.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear the insights of many prominent figures in the heritage community.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Meet Kevin Coffey, the inaugural Knowledge Sharing Guide at First Light

Kevin Coffey will be speaking on the "Training Opportunities for Inclusion and Diversity" panel on Friday, October 17th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Kevin Coffey (Nunatsiavut Inuit) is the inaugural Knowledge Sharing Guide at First Light, an Indigenous-led organization rooted in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Kevin leads outreach, advocacy, and training for partners across arts, education, health, government, and community sectors - helping organizations move from awareness to meaningful action on Indigenous inclusion and the Calls for Change.

An experienced facilitator and program developer, Kevin specializes in making concepts like reconciliation, respectful language, and inclusive interpretation accessible and actionable. He has developed and delivered immersive learning experiences for a broad range of groups across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Grounded in storytelling and heritage, Kevin’s work focuses on building trust-based partnerships to advance truth and reconciliation alongside communities.

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about opportunities for your organization to grow with diversity and Inclusion.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/

Speaker Introduction - folklorist Dale Jarvis

Dale Jarvis will be moderating the Amplifying Craft panel on Friday, October 17th at the upcoming heritage conference.

Folklorist and author Dale Jarvis is the Executive Director of Heritage NL, helping communities to safeguard living heritage and historic places. Dale has been working for Heritage NL since 1996, and holds a BSc in Anthropology/Archaeology from Trent University, and a MA in Folklore from Memorial University. He has served on the UNESCO Consultative Body to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and regularly teaches workshops on oral history, cultural documentation, and public folklore. 

Register for the 2025 Heritage Conference to hear about the Newfoundland and Labrador craft scene and its part in heritage.

Registration deadline is 4:30 PM NDT on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

To register: https://forms.gle/ecQFJqkHeVkaFzwu5

For more information, visit the conference website at: https://museumsnl.ca/2025-heritage-conference/