Committee member

Hi, my name is Brenda Sheppard and I am the Executive Director of Burin Peninsula Brighter Futures, a charitable organisation dedicated to promoting the healthy development of young children and families.

I am a “Come from Away”, having spent my childhood in small communities in Northern Ontario and my younger adult years exploring other provinces such as BC, and NS, where I met a Newfoundlander and married in 1992. Like many people have done before us, we headed to Alberta after a short year in NL to secure employment. And as everyone can attest to, when you marry a Newfoundlander, you are apt to return to NL, which we did in 1996. We have been here ever since, raising two fine young gentlemen, in the small community of St. Bernard’s-Jacques Fontaine.

Although I have held several positions throughout my working career, I have enjoyed the entirely of it working in the not-for-profit community sector. I am passionate about helping people live their best lives, and have dedicated over twenty years to see that children in rural communities have access to programs and services that provide them every opportunity to grow and thrive. My relationship with Family Resource Centers and Healthy Baby Clubs actually began as Coordinator with Northwestern Alberta’s Brighter Futures Coalition way back in 1994. I find it serendipitous that I have come full circle, working in the same role where I once began in my early 20’s, for an organization with the same mandate and similar name. It was meant to be!

I was first introduced to the Eastern Regional Wellness Coalition in the Spring of 2009 when I attended a Networking Day held in Clarenville, with T.A. Loeffler as their guest speaker. I remember being so impressed not only by her presentation, but that the day included stretch breaks and a short hiking excursion! Being an outdoor enthusiast, I was hooked and have participated in many networking events since. In 2017, I became a member of the National Advisory Committee for a project called Healthy Together, and subsequently developed and implemented Healthy Together with an outdoors focus, presenting at the Early Years Conference 2020 in Vancouver, BC, and again virtually at the Together for Families Conference in 2022. I am truly honoured to now be involved as a Steering Committee member for ERWC. They continue to inspire me to seek my path to wellness and to guide families and children on their own “Road to Wellness.” I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with coalition members and eager to continue to promote the excellent work they do!