A resident of Fall River for 25 years, Cathy Deagle Gammon was elected to represent District 1 – Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley on Halifax Regional Council in October 2020.
Currently Serving On the following boards:
- Regional Council
- North West Community Council
- Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee
- Audit and Finance Standing Committee
- Executive Standing Committee
- Appeals Standing Committee
- Grants Committee
- Halifax Water Commission
- North West Planning Advisory Committee
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
After growing up in Inverness, Cape Breton, Cathy moved to Halifax to obtain a Bachelor of Child Studies degree from Mount Saint Vincent University, followed by a 40-year career in the non-profit sector.
Over the course of her career, Cathy excelled at establishing and maintaining partnerships, negotiating with all three levels of government, and inspiring corporate and business communities to share in her vision of an inclusive society. She spent the most recent 25 years as Executive Director of DASC Industries, a vocational and social enterprise in Dartmouth which has become a leader in service provision for persons with intellectual disabilities.
Cathy has held numerous leadership roles including Past President of the Directions Council of Nova Scotia and founding President of the Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia (SENNS). Under her guidance, SENNS developed a Social Enterprise Strategy that was adopted as the paradigm through which the provincial government will engage with the sector.
Nominated for the RBC Canadian Women of Excellence Award four times, Cathy was the 2017 Finalist for the Social Change Award. Cathy was named a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Foundation, received The Workplace Diversity Award from Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. She was also named a Woman of Excellence: Health & Wellness by the Progress Club and was the recipient of the Canada 150 Award.
Cathy exemplifies life-long learning, leadership and advocacy. Her commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and giving back to her community make her a beacon of change in HRM, Nova Scotia, and beyond.
Never idle, Cathy recently left positions as Secretary of the Greater Burnside Business Association (GBBA), Vice Chair of Make-A-Wish Atlantic Provinces (ended 2020), Board member of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association Atlantic, an inaugural member of the NS Non-Profit COVID Coalition, Secretary of the LWF Ratepayers Association, and as a member of Fall River Lions Club Christmas Express and Christmas This Spring. She is in the process of assisting with the registration of the Ditch Divers Society.
Cathy and her husband Percy have lived in District 1 for more than 25 years. She gives of her time and talents to organizations such as 100+ Women Who Care Halifax and Progress Club NOVA and serves St. Andre Bessette Parish as a Minister of the Word and a member of its Hospitality Committee. In her leisure time, Cathy takes in live music and attends events like the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, hikes the many trails in District 1, and loves all things Cape Breton.