Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac (they/them) – Chair
Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist living in Mi’kma’ki. The Artistic Producer of The Villains Theatre, they have collaborated with theatre companies across Mi’kma’ki as a performer, designer, producer, graphic designer, and playwright. They previously served as the Chair of the Bus Stop Board and Co-Chair of Theatre Nova Scotia, and are currently Vice Chair of the Halifax Fringe Festival board. Colleen’s work has been nominated for multiple awards, and they are the winner of the Halifax Mayor’s Award for Emerging Theatre Artist and the Bhayana Foundation’s Invisible Champion Award. An experimenter and a maker, a collaborator and a ponderer, Colleen uses embodied methodologies and humour in an attempt to wrangle with queer futures, the polycrisis, and our position in the universe through their process-based practice.
Lee-Anne Poole (she/her) – Vice-Chair
A writer, artist, and producer. The author of 7 produced plays. Her play Splinters was adapted into a feature film by Thom Fitzgerald and premiered at The Toronto International Film Festival. Lee-Anne premiered her most recent work Talk Sexxxy at the SMU Art Gallery in January 2025 and is currently adapting her play Short Skirt Butch into a graphic novel. Lee-Anne learns to draw at @evenquiterprocess, and Lee-Anne knits at @kinkycozies
Chelsea Dickie (she/her) – Secretary
Chelsea Dickie is a multifaceted arts manager and educator based out of Kjipuktuk/Halifax (originally from South Maitland, NS).
Chelsea works all across Mi’kma’ki with different theatre companies in a wide array of roles. Stage and production manager, arts administrator/manager, drama educator, and outreach coordinator. She is also a founder and producer for her own indie theatre company Matchstick Theatre, which has staged 14 major productions since 2017, all of which Chelsea stage managed.
When not producing her own shows, Chelsea has been a go-to stage manager around Kjipuktuk/Halifax, having worked with such companies as 2b theatre, Neptune Theatre, Nestuita’si Storytelling, Villain’s Theatre, Workshirt Opera, Theatre New Brunswick, The Doppler Effect, and Festival Antigonish.
In her previous line of work as a high school Drama teacher, Chelsea developed a passion for outreach, education and mentorship for young artists entering the arts community. This led to her work for three years as the provincial coordinator of the Nova Scotia High School DramaFest, and as the Education Director of the Halifax Fringe Fest.
Chelsea has also spent over a decade volunteering and contributing to boards and committees around town, and is incredibly grateful and proud to have sat as the previous chair of the board for the Bus Stop Theatre Co-op. She is thankful to be back, and feels incredibly energized at what lies ahead for this beautiful co-op!
Allison Watkins (she/her) – Treasurer
Allison Watkins is a senior accountant with Grant Thornton. She graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and completed her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation a few years later. Throughout high school and university she was an avid ballet dancer. During her time in Calgary she continued to be involved in the dance community by volunteering at a dance studio for autistic children. Since moving to Halifax in 2019, Allison has enjoyed supporting the local arts community and is excited to combine two of her passions…numbers and the arts!
Koumbie (she/they)
Koumbie is an award winning actor, director, writer and producer based in Kjipuktuk/ Halifax, Nova Scotia. In front of the camera they have appeared in a number of local productions with reoccurring roles on shows including YTV’s Aquateam, CBC’s Mr. D, Studio Black, Diggstown, Moonshine, and the final season of Outtv’s Sex & Violence. Since going behind the camera, Koumbie has directed a number of award winning short films, including the Short Film Face-Off winner Hustle & Heart, a 1k wave film, Ariyah & Tristan’s Inevitable Break-Up, and an episode of Studio Black S2. In 2016 she was named a “One to Watch” by Sea in Be Scene, in 2018 she was selected as a Five in Focus – Atlantic director and in the same year won a Telefilm Talent to Watch grant. In 2022 Koumbie received a Wave Award for their dedication to the industry and was named by Atlantic Business as one of their top 30 under 30. As an advocate and community member she serves as Vice President on ACTRA Maritimes Council, chair of WIFT-Atlantic and on numerous other boards and committees. Their passion for equity, safety and inclusion has also led them to become one of the first Intimacy Coordinators in Atlantic Canada. Her feature film bystanders recently premiered at Atlantic International Film Festival where is took home The Best Atlantic Script Award. Koumbie is drawn to stories that feature new voices and perspectives.
Mo Phùng (they/them)
Mo (they/them) is a documentary photographer, visual artist and aspiring filmmaker who was born in Kespukwitk (Yarmouth). Phùng has exhibited in Canada including shows at the Khyber Centre for the Arts, Toronto REEL Asian Film Festival and Nocturne Halifax, along with an international curatorial project with Future Is Color and Queer Asian Social Club. Their work practice uses analog mediums and extends into documentary portraiture, archival exploration, storytelling underwater realms and dreamscapes. In 2023, Phung began a multiphase documentary photo project called (RE)Belonging: Queer Futures in Rural Nova Scotia. They currently live in Kjipuktuk (Halifax).
Jason Edwards (he/him)
Jason is a Halifax/Kjipuktuk lawyer practicing in the areas of labour, employment, human rights, and administrative law. He primarily represents employees and unions, though he also represents some employers, mostly not-for-profits and small businesses. In his not-for-profit practice, Jason provides advice and representation to societies on matters such as organizational governance, policy development, and employment. Jason is a founding member of the Halifax Workers’ Action Centre and coordinates its legal information and support clinics. He enjoys live theatre, comedy, and all the performing arts.
Blaze Fraser (they/them)
Blaze is a queer, white settler living in Taqamiku’jk/Parrsboro and is dedicated to developing space and resources for artists to support art creation, development, and performance. Specializing in financial arts administration and project management, they are the current General Manager of Ship’s Company Theatre and Admin Assistant with HEIST. Blaze also has experience working in restaurant administration & operations management, event management, and as a project advisor.
Jake Ivany (he/they)
Jake is a queer professional coordinator with well over a decade of experience in digital media production, data management, and the non-profit sector in Mi’kma’ki. Since 2019, he has worked as the Operations Manager at I.A.T.S.E. Local 849, a labour union representing film industry technicians across the Maritime Provinces. With a background in youth facilitation and filmmaking, Jake combines his passion for efficiency with a deep appreciation for the arts, focusing on amplifying underrepresented voices in his personal work.
Coral Maloney (she/her)
Coral is an interdisciplinary artist, performance maker, actor, writer and choreographer. She was born by a big lake, raised in a prairie city, and now lives by the sea. Her original performance work has been presented in various settings including with Art Souterrain (Montreal Nuit Blanche), GenderFest (Winnipeg) and Buddies in Bad Times’ Rhubarb Festival (Toronto). Coral is a past working board member of Young Lungs Dance Exchange and Video Pool Inc, and has experience with education, facilitation, and various community-based decision-making models.
Sean Carroll (he/him)
Sean Carroll is a graduate of the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), where he completed his studies in Accounting Services in 2023. In addition to his academic background, Sean is deeply involved in the east coast punk, hardcore, and metal music scenes. He is the founder and organizer behind Crossover Bookings, and also one half of the local booking collective Harbour Hardcore. As a dedicated musician, he also performs in several local bands, including Dulse, Breakneck, Targeted Individual, and the Moncton-based group Ibex. Sean is also eager to advance his artistic career as an artist member and board member of the Bus Stop Theatre, aiming to contribute to the growth of the local arts community. Driven by his love for music and community, Sean remains dedicated to fostering an environment where artists and fans can thrive.
