Rooted in Belonging, Connected in Action.

Bridging lived experience, community leadership, and collaborative action to transform substance use health, mental health, and social inclusion across Atlantic Canada.

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Who We Are

SUN ARC Community Hub Inc. (Shared Understanding Network, an Atlantic Resource Collaborative) is a newly established non-profit dedicated to community-driven systems change across Atlantic Canada.

At our core, we are Rooted in Belonging. We believe that genuine transformation happens when individuals and communities are not merely invited to the table to share stories, but are grounded as true leaders, experts, and co-creators of the systems that serve them.

By convening peer leaders, frontline workers, researchers, elected officials, and community leaders, SUN ARC aims to break down institutional and social barriers and replace them with shared power, true belonging and transformative, community-led action for change.

What We Do

Online and in-person community conversations on substance use, mental health and social inclusion

Peer leadership and lived experience engagement and employment

Training, education and development opportunities for businesses, government, nonprofits and community members

Community-based research & evaluation

Evidence-informed knowledge creation and sharing across Atlantic Canada

Service navigation & community resilience toolkits

Practical frameworks & implementation resources

Board of Directors

Tobin LeBlanc Haley, PhD

Chair
Tobin LeBlanc Haley, PhD (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Political Science at UNB, co-director of HOME-RL and a settler living on the territory of the Wolastoqiyik. A community-engaged research and activist, her academic and volunteer work is focussed on understanding and improving social policy in the areas of housing, socio-economic poverty and disability. She is excited to join SUN ARC, to continue to learn from those with lived and living experience and to support this important initiative.
Brandi-Lee Hanna, MA (sociology), MA Counselling Psychology, LCT-C

Vice-Chair

Brandi is a practicing psychotherapist and co-owner of Adica Wellness Inc. in Fredericton, NB. She uses a multidisciplinary background to inform her practice with her work spanning research on rural literacy, food insecurity, poverty stigma, and substance use, including her practicum with Riverstone Recovery Center and continued focus on substance use health in private practice. A national speaker on food insecurity and frequent guest on Canadian mental health podcasts, Brandi integrates intersectionality, including neurodivergence, substance use, family structure, and shame, into her practice and her role as Vice-Chair of the SUN ARC board.
Jacob LeBlanc

Treasurer

Born and raised in New Brunswick, Jacob graduated with a BBA from UNB with an Honours in Finance in 2022. His student volunteer work included being President of the Finance Club and student representative on the endowment fund. Since graduation, Jacob has volunteered as a member of the Finance & Audit Committee for the Fredericton Community Kitchens, helping prepare budgets and financial strategies for the organization, and is now thrilled to be continuing to make a difference in his hometown by serving on the SUN ARC board of directors as treasurer. Jacob currently works as a Property Accountant at Plaza REIT in Fredericton, NB.
Margaret Parkins

Secretary

Maggie has been working in Education for 15 years as a preschool educator, teacher, and as a staff member at the Fredericton Public Library for the past 8 years. As coordinator for Julia's Fridge, the library's community fridge, Maggie has become passionate about food security and food literacy in the community. In her spare time, you can find Maggie with her family, walking her dog, or with her nose in a good book. Maggie is currently the Children’s Library Assistant at the Fredericton Public Library.
Frank Paul

Director
Frank Paul is a lifelong resident and proud member of Sitansusk, St Mary's First Nation. He is a retired member of Fredericton City Police who now works as the Medical Transport Driver in his community. Frank and his wife, Connie Paul, volunteer in many capacities with Street Outreach in the Greater Fredericton area.
Isaac Gallagher

Director
As a filmmaker, Isaac brings a decade of marketing and communications experience from his day job. He also brings board experience, specifically with FASSCI, a local skating club where he has volunteered for 14 years and currently serves as the lead coach. Isaac is passionate about giving back to his community and is excited to work with SUN ARC to create meaningful change in how the community views and supports those in need around us. Isaac is the owner/operator of Dark Fire Films Inc.

Staff & Co-Founder

Cassandra LeBlanc Greene

Director of Outreach & Engagement
cassandra@SUNARChub.com
Cassandra is a dedicated public servant and community advocate based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. With a career rooted in civic action and social impact, Cassandra spent six years tackling regional food insecurity as Executive Director of the Fredericton Community Kitchens while serving the residents of Ward 10 on Fredericton City Council from 2021 to 2026. Now as Executive Director of Wilmot United Church during the day, she leverages her expertise in governance, policy, and fundraising to build collaborative, community-first solutions.
Steve Colwell, BA, MACP, LCT-C

Director of Programs & Systems
steve@SUNARChub.com
Steve is a licensed counselling therapist candidate, peer researcher, and community health advocate based in New Brunswick. His practice bridges lived experience with evidence-informed, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction approaches to support individuals navigating complex life transitions. Drawing on a decade of community-based mental health and harm reduction work, including collaborations with SUNAR and national health organizations, Steve has consistently driven peer-led systems change and community engagement across Atlantic Canada and beyond!
Jenica Atwin, M.Ed, BA

Director of Indigenous Engagement
jenica@SUNARChub.com
Jenica Atwin is a dedicated educator and public servant from Oromocto, New Brunswick. Holding a Master’s in Education from the University of New Brunswick, Atwin spent her early career as a cultural transition coordinator, organizing initiatives to support Indigenous youth and bridge communities. She carried that passion for community-driven advocacy into federal public service, representing the riding of Fredericton as Member of Parliament from 2019 to 2025. Throughout her career, Atwin has remained focused on social policy, Indigenous services, community safety, and local economic development.
Dr. Sara Davidson

Co-Founder & Research Advisor
Dr. Davidson is an innovator in the intersection of medicalized approaches to substance use health issues, along with a focus on social justice and equity for people who experience harms from the criminalization of some substances. This approach recognizes and works to transform the challenges within health care, and communities, that have ended up bearing the brunt of lack of investment in social health and wellness over the last few decades across Canada.