The Nova Scotia Doula Association began in 2007 with a group of women who desired to grow awareness of the Doula profession and provide educational opportunities to doulas wishing to further their knowledge and skills.
Our mission: The Nova Scotia Doula Association (NSDA) cultivates the growth of individual Doulas and the collective profession, thereby increasing the quality of prenatal, birth and postpartum support given to the pregnant person and their families in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia is home to many Doulas who operate across the province of Nova Scotia, some serve as volunteers providing services to families in need. Our members and associates are committed to expanding and raising awareness of the Doula profession throughout our province and Atlantic Canada.
Our Board of Directors
Jenny Jarrett
Chair
Jenny has always had a passion for birth and perinatal wellness. As a registered massage therapist for fifteen years, she wanted to further support people throughout their pregnancies and became a Birth Doula. She has had the privilege of helping families in this role for many years since completing her training with Doula Training Canada. She is also certified in her Level 1 & 2 of Pelvic Health Massage Therapy. She is a mother to two beautiful girls who fill her days with a little bit of crazy and a lot of laughter. Her family loves going on adventures around Atlantic Canada and love to camp, explore beaches, take hikes, and the never ending pursuit for the best ice cream! As Chair of the NSDA Jenny is excited to further advocate and educate the public and healthcare professionals about the important role that Doulas play when it comes to perinatal wellness. Jenny can be reached at chair@novascotiadoulas.org
Karen Reid
Treasurer
Karen is our wonderful and talented Treasurer and beings to her role an impressive 15 years of experience as an Analyst and Accountant. She has a Bachelor's in Biology from Dal and completed the academic portion of the Certified Management Accountant Program in 2015. Karen keeps our books balanced and our mouths drooling with her yummy yet healthy recipe contributions to our newsletters. Please contact Karen with any payment questions at payments@novascotiadoulas.org.
Liz Burns
member at Large
Liz (she her) is a mother of two, a childbirth educator, and a birth and postpartum doula. She is currently working on her Masters in Counselling at Acadia University. She grew up in England and moved to Toronto in 2011 before settling in Halifax in 2013. With a background in psychology and previous work in addictions, HR, and mindfulness, she has a unique toolkit that she brings to her work as a doula, and as a board member. Liz is the owner of Driftwood Doula Care, and also volunteers with the IWK Volunteer Doula Program. Liz is passionate about creating systemic change and advocating for better birth practices and outcomes for Nova Scotian families.
Alyssa Porter
COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR
My name is Alyssa, I am the Community Outreach Director for the Nova Scotia Doula Association. I am passionate about finding ways to bring the perinatal professional community of Nova Scotia together. My role includes, but is not limited to developing and implementing ideas that engage and support the Doula community as a whole. This includes Doulas themselves, families who have hired doulas, and those looking for more information about what doulas do. My goal is to build and maintain relationships with community members and organizations to promote our association’s mission statement. I am eager to coordinate events, manage fundraisers, and ensure that the needs of the community are addressed in alignment with the association’s goals.
Kelsey Marr
Director of education
Kelsey Marr, PhD, is a reproductive anthropologist and birth and postpartum doula. With a background as a university lecturer and researcher, Kelsey is deeply passionate about the role of evidence-based information and practices in empowering birthing people and families. She brings this dedication to her role as the Director of Education for the NSDA, where she develops and promotes learning opportunities for members, community partners, and the public.
As a researcher, Kelsey specialized in the intersection of feminist gender theory, anti-racist frameworks, and decolonizing approaches—principles she integrates into all NSDA-hosted or affiliated trainings and educational initiatives.
When she’s not immersed in birthwork, Kelsey enjoys relaxing in her bathtub with a good book, often accompanied by her cat, Chickpea (affectionately known as Pea).
Kelsey is happy to answer any questions about doula training or certification. If you’re seeking information or would like to propose a workshop or educational seminar for our members, feel free to reach out to her at education@novascotiadoulas.org.
