Five Women Appointed to Advisory Council

The Advisory Council on the Status of Women has five new members. The appointments, effective April 1, 2000, were confirmed today by the legislature's all-party standing committee on human resources.

"I am pleased these women applied for positions on the advisory council," said Jane Purves, the Minister responsible for the Status of Women. "The expertise and knowledge they offer will add to the strength of the council."

The new appointees are:

• Sheila Lewis, a Yarmouth artisan, for the South Shore region
• Cheryl Bell, a Bridgewater civil servant, for the South Shore region
• Linda Carvery, a community economic and social development activist in Halifax, for the Central region
• Chantal Richard, a Halifax lawyer, for the Central region
• Doreen Paris, a community volunteer and a university employee from New Glasgow, for the Highland region.

Linda Carvery and Sheila Lewis were appointed for three-year terms, with two-year terms for the rest.

There are now 13 board members of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Patricia Doyle-Bedwell is the elected chair.

"We welcome the newest appointments to the board," said Ms. Doyle-Bedwell. "We look forward to working with them on some of the major issues we will address this year including matters in the justice system, enhancing women's participation in science and technology, and the need to balance paid and unpaid work."

NOTE TO EDITORS: Following are brief biographies of the council's new members.

Sheila A. Lewis, Yarmouth, N.S.

Since retiring from the public job market six years ago, Ms. Lewis has been working in her home-based pottery business. She has had a variety of careers including mother, volunteer, real estate agent and entrepreneur. Ms. Lewis has been a member of the board of the Yarmouth Regional Business Corp., the Provincial Apprenticeship Board, president of Business and Professional Women Nova Scotia, co-chair of Women for Community Economic Development for Southwest Nova, and a member of the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce.

Cheryl A. Bell, Bridgewater, N.S.

Ms. Bell is an administrative assistant with the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission in Bridgewater. She's also worked in the Sheriff's Office and with a transportation company. She is a community volunteer and church worker. Ms. Bell is married with three children.

Linda Carvery, Halifax, N.S.

Ms. Carvery is an accomplished performer/singer and entrepreneur with interests in community, economic and social development. She is executive director of the African Nova Scotian Training Centre. Ms. Carvery has spent many years working in the community particularly with persons with disabilities and families in crisis. She received an honourary Doctorate of Letters from Saint Mary's University in 1998.

M. Chantal Richard, Halifax, N.S.

Ms. Richard is a lawyer with Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales. Before graduating from Dalhousie Law School in 1997, she spent time in the Dominican Republic and is the founding director of the Saint George School of Languages in Santo Domingo. Ms. Richard sits on numerous committees and boards.

Doreen Paris, New Glasgow, N.S.

Ms. Paris is a social and community activist. For years, she has been involved in numerous projects and organizations. Those groups include the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia, the Tearmann Society, the New Glasgow Credit Union, the Pictou County Help Line and People Opposing Poverty. Ms. Paris has received numerous awards for her contributions, including New Glasgow's Volunteer of the Year Award and the YWCA Women's Recognition Award.