Every community holds a wellspring of skill, interest and goodwill. We exist to nurture the caring reflex—that natural human urge to create with others—and provide the structure to turn it into the power to act.
We aren't just consultants; we are facilitators, coaches, and purpose-driven adventurers. We know that most community efforts fail not for lack of heart, but for lack of a sturdy operational backbone. By blending human-centred design with rigorous systems, we act as a catalyst for surfacing the genius already present in our neighbourhoods.
Our role is to support the journey, not take over the wheel. We provide the expertise and the slow cook space required for complex ideas to mature. We ensure that local initiatives don't just spark and fade, but take root, stay strong and belong to the people who built them.
Built on Experience and Evidence
Too many initiatives fall short of their goals despite the best intentions. We found that the biggest challenges often lie in the early stages—and we knew that could change. Our founders launched this organization by leveraging:
40 years of combined field experience with over 100 project teams.
3 years of robust, peer-reviewed research across nine well-funded rural, remote and urban Community Youth Development projects.
65 deep-dive interviews and hundreds of hours of side-by-side field observation.
These insights translated into a decade of work across hundreds of collaborative efforts—a proven bridge between theory and grassroots reality. Today, we equip early-stage initiatives with the critical social infrastructure needed to transition from idea to impact:
Backbone Services to fortify foundational operations.
Humanity-Centered Design Principles to ensure equitable, community-led development.
A Systems-Informed Roadmap to navigate real-world complexity.
ThE founders speak
(Community Vibes is now the operating name of Twelve Canada.)
We are a collective of professionals—from artists and engineers to grassroots leaders—united by a single, adventurous volunteer mission: making life better for others.
The team consists of the core volunteers and others who engage in a variety of speciality roles and tasks as interest, need and opportunity arises.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are reflected in our principles of operation. We would also like these qualities to be reflected in our Board, our policies and all our operations.
If you’re ready to apply your expertise to meaningful change, let’s start a conversation.
Our team
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” –Aesop
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He/Him
Board Member
I'm Adam, and I value environments that allow people to feel seen, supported and invited to experience a sense of community connection. I work to advance the practice of compassionate public administration by uncovering and cultivating potential for change in places where we might not expect to find it, e.g. governments, institutions, political parties, workplaces, administrative and management processes, and disciplinary processes. I coach individuals and teams and often jump into roles within systems and initiatives. I run ultramarathons, raise service dogs, write songs, make films and write from my home-bases in Fredericton, London, Halifax and Steady Brook. I'm a Level One trained Internal Family Systems practitioner, hold a Master of Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario and an undergraduate degree from Huron University College. Currently, I cook wood-fired pizza at Milda’s Café and More.
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She/her
Board Member
I'm Leann, a firm believer in exceptional service and the art of hosting. With more than two decades of experience in hospitality, guest experience and communications, I established Élann Consulting to forge connections with small businesses, supporting them in celebrating their unique offerings and experiences. I am a passionate storyteller who loves connecting with people. At home, I find joy by being outside in my garden. To share our abundance, we have a pay-what-you-can farm stand, offering our community access to fresh, nourishing food. Through my consultancy and community work, I am inspired to create a world where everyone feels welcome and there is always room at the table.
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He/him
Board Member
I'm Mark, and I am driven by the belief that connecting employers with immigrant talent is vital in fostering economic prosperity. Coming from a multicultural background, I deeply value diversity and recognize its transformative impact on communities. Drawing upon my strong communication skills and intercultural experiences, I am dedicated to bridging the gap between employers and immigrant talent. Through my work as a Job Match Advisor at Immploy, I am committed to creating equal opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds, fueling our region's economic growth and contributing to a thriving community where everyone can flourish.
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She/her
Board Member
I'm Liz, a dedicated advocate for innovative solutions to organizational challenges. My journey spans diverse roles, including educator, superintendent and leadership specialist, providing me with invaluable experience in both private and public sectors. My passions lie in promoting dialogue and fostering connectedness to facilitate effective problem-solving. With a wealth of knowledge in board governance I bring a unique perspective, acquired through serving on local and national boards. Through my work with Community Vibes, I aim to create transformative change by empowering individuals and organizations to tackle challenges and forge a path toward a better future.
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He/him
Board Member
I'm Kevin. I've lived in the Riverport area my whole life. I am passionate about the community and people getting involved in helping it stay a great place to live. I have been a creator of things all my life, from wood carving to home renovations. All my work centres back to my passion and drive to create long-term positive impact, in some shape, way or form.
Whether event planning at our local church, boat making, creating art or illustrating my first children's book, Riverport has been the canvas for me to have many colourful experiences in the community to bring positive social changes.
As we continue to live, learn, cook and create in our vibrant community, I've learned to focus my energies on making an amazing place an even more vibrant and exciting place to live.Whether event planning at our local church, boat making, creating art or illustrating my first children's book, Riverport has been the canvas for me to have many colourful experiences in the community to bring positive social changes.
As we continue to live, learn, cook and create in our vibrant community, I've learned to focus my energies on making an amazing place an even more vibrant and exciting place to live. -
He/him
Chairperson/Founder
I’m Marc. From the family sandlot to small and large multi-party community projects across the country, I have been producing social innovations since I was 12. Through 40 years of experience in diverse roles from youth worker to executive director and educator, I have consistently been an organizer and entrepreneur who has created empowering team experiences with an application of adventure, learning, creativity and service. My education and research in management and whole systems design and community development fuels a drive to support people sharing their natural gifts with others.
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Cook
She/her
I'm Erica. I was born in Lunenburg and currently reside in Pentz. I work at Rose Bay Store & Bistro. I have 27 years of combined restaurant, catering, commercial, long term care facility and residential experience. Food is genuinely my love language. I have a deep appreciation for traditional flavours and techniques. I enjoy cooking down-home cooked meals, rich in flavour and nutrition, just like my mom taught me! My greatest foodie rewards come when I have the opportunity to feed people and experience their happiness and responses. There’s nothing better than happy bellies in my world! At home I am a wife and mother to three growing teenage boys—I have the best test kitchen. I'm also a hockey mom, so I'm always on the go but I still make my boys’ bellies happy! I also enjoy camping, four wheeling, fishing and just simply family time. I am very excited to be part of this community project and have the opportunity to work with a dynamic team of volunteers from our community. I am pleased to serve as staff and assist in ensuring we are caring for each other as our communities always have.
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She/her
Grant Writer
I believe that food and sharing are foundational to community. I am a retired academic with 30+ years of experience in grant writing and directing cancer biology research. At home, I enjoy making meals with my family and friends, outdoor hikes and working with ceramics. I find it deeply rewarding to use my academic skills to help Community Vibes bring people together around food, care and connection.
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He/him
Advisor
With a master's degree in sustainability and leadership and over 15 years of experience in public health, education, and community development, I specialize in advancing planetary health and well-being through community-led, strategic initiatives. As a Health Promoter and engagement specialist with Nova Scotia Public Health, I have successfully led large-scale community engagement efforts, facilitated cross-sector collaborations, and developed policies that promote health equity and climate action. My ability to navigate complex systems, build partnerships, and engage communities allows me to create meaningful, collaborative, lasting change. By applying systems thinking, I have helped organizations integrate climate action and wellbeing initiatives into their operations, ensuring that policies and programs are both impactful and representative of the people they serve and support.
In my spare time, I love music and spending time outdoors. You can find me on stage with my band, paddling in the back harbour, or walking a beach with my dog, Tuna.
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He/him
Writer
I’m Tim. I’m fortunate to have lived and worked in communities right across Canada’s compass rose points. Starting with an Education degree from Dalhousie University, specializing in experiential education, I taught a variety of subjects through Grades 4–12 and adult education, as well as curriculum writing and developing media literacy programs for a newspaper. I transitioned to media production, garnering credits with CBC Television, National Geographic Channel and more before running a production company on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. I now live in a forest where the Medway River opens up into the Atlantic Ocean. I play with words, music, trees and pucks.
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She/Her
Operations Manager
Hello! I’m Tara and I lived most of my life in the Green Mountains of Vermont before I became a Permanent Resident here in Canada in 2019. I’m a community organizer with a passion for building trust in relationships and organizations, and I am a Courage & Renewal Facilitator, a Leadership Coach and a Founding Partner of Tandem Truths Consulting. Over the years, I’ve held numerous leadership positions, including as an Executive Director and as a School Board Chair. I find magic in the wisdom of children, the beauty of the natural world and the power of a good open and honest question. I also enjoy working, learning and laughing with my husband. My family and I are grateful to live in a straw bale house surrounded by gardens on a hill outside of Sin So’sepe’katik (Bridgewater, NS).