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Team Members

Sarah Upshaw

Sarah Upshaw

Director of Operations

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Tracey McCallum

Tracey McCallum

Family and Child Welfare Unit

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Brandon Rolle

Brandon Rolle

Director of Legal Services, Criminal and Youth Justice Unit

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Desireé Jones-Matthias

Desireé Jones-Matthias

Lawyer

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Charys Payne

Charys Payne

Director of Legal Services, Family Division

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Tiffany Gordon

Tiffany Gordon

Manager, Data Collection & Justice System Accountability Unit

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Shawna Paris-Hoyte

Shawna Paris-Hoyte

Executive Director ANSJI

Shawna is a 5th generation African Nova Scotian who has worked tirelessly for equity and the human rights of women, children, youth, and families and community as a lawyer, mediator, clinical/forensic social worker, educator, and business owner in Nova Scotia and throughout Canada.

DeRico Symonds

DeRico Symonds

Director of Community Engagement and Justice Initiatives

DeRico Symonds is a 7th generation African Nova Scotian. Prior to ANSJI DeRico worked for The Province of Nova Scotia for 2 years, in the Office of Equity & Anti-Racism Initiatives as Senior

Naomi Marsman

Naomi Marsman

Director of Community Engagement & Justice Initiatives.

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Veronica Dossah

Veronica Dossah

Paralegal

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Natalie Hodgson

Natalie Hodgson

National IRCA Training Program- Senior Training Lead

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African Nova Scotian Justice Institute 

5832 Bilby Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3K 1V8
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Phone: 902-492-5619

Toll-Free: 1-888-428-4233

Email: info@ansji.ca

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This website has general information for people in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is not general legal advice.

© 2025 African Nova Scotian Justice Institute. All Rights Reserved.

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