The Halifax Water Board of Commissioners includes four members of Halifax Regional Council appointed by Council, three residents of Halifax municipality who are appointed by Council and the Chief Administrative Officer of Halifax municipality or a Halifax municipal employee appointed by the CAO.
The Board meets once every quarter, usually the last Thursday of that month.
The Halifax Water Board of Commissioners will uphold a policy of openness and transparency, balanced with its roles in representing the interests of Halifax Water, its customers and other stakeholders.
Board meetings are open to the public and to the media in accordance with a Resolution of the Board passed on September 27, 2018.
Meet the Board Members
Halifax Water Board of Commissioners
John MacPherson was appointed to the Halifax Water Board in April of 2024, and is one of three residents of Halifax Regional Municipality appointed by Regional Council. John was appointed Board Chair as of April 1, 2025.
John C. MacPherson, KC is a lawyer who practiced for over 40 years in Halifax. He received his undergraduate degree from Acadia University, an LLB from the Weldon School of Law at Dalhousie University and a Masters of Law from Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand). His practice focused on regulatory, environmental and labour and employment law. He frequently appeared before the NSUARB on behalf of utilities including Halifax Water.
Councillor Deagle Gammon was appointed to the Halifax Water Board by Regional Council on December 15, 2020 and was elected as Vice Chair on March 23, 2023.
Ms. Deagle Gammon has had a 40-year career in the non-profit sector, most recently as Executive Director of DASC Industries for 25 years.
Councillor Deagle Gammon has held numerous leadership roles including Past President of the Directions Council of Nova Scotia; founding President of the Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia; Secretary of the Greater Burnside Business Association, Vice Chair of Make-A-Wish Atlantic Provinces, and Board member of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association Atlantic, among others.
Ms. Deagle Gammon has received numerous awards including a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Foundation, and the Canada 150 Award.
Councillor Cathy Deagle Gammon was elected to Halifax Regional Council in October 2020.
Councillor Cuttell was appointed to the Halifax Water Board by Regional Council on November 17, 2020.
Ms.Cuttell has a Master’s degree in Urban and Rural Planning from the Technical University of Nova Scotia and brings over 20 years of experience working with communities throughout the Atlantic Provinces.
Prior to her election to Regional Council, Ms. Cuttell was the Executive Director of the North End Business Association and worked developing strategic plans and change management solutions with public and not-for-profit organizations,a including Halifax Regional Police, Public Health-Capital Health, Nova Scotia Barristers Society and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Councillor Cuttell also spent several years working at Dalhousie University as a research associate, and an Adjunct Professor. Ms. Cuttell has been a keynote and panellist at regional, national and international events and conferences on a variety of community development issues.
Councillor Cuttell was elected to Halifax Regional Council in October 2020.
Peter Duncan, P.Eng. has served the residents of HRM for the past 26 years in a variety of leadership roles, including Manager of Development Engineering, Infrastructure Planning, and Director of Engineering and Building Standards. Peter has managed corporate and strategic files related to Regional Planning, Development Charges, Climate Change, and Asset Management.
Peter is a Professional Engineer with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia.
Councillor Purdy was appointed to the Halifax Water Board by Regional Council on November 19, 2024.
Married for 23 years to my husband Ken, we have been blessed with a large, diverse, and wonderful family. I have spent the last 26 years in the health and wellness industry in various roles. Four years ago I started my Master of Divinity at Acadia with the intention of transitioning into community ministry. I believe my education has helped equip me for community leadership and service. This new position as Councillor for my District is an exciting opportunity to use the passion and concern that I have for people, and collaborate with businesses, organizations, and government to help make our amazing community even better.
Nancy MacLellan was appointed to the Halifax Water Board in April of 2024, and is one of three residents of Halifax Regional Municipality appointed by Regional Council.
Ms MacLellan enjoyed a more than 25 year civil service career, with her last 10 years in Associate Deputy and Deputy Minister roles. In these leadership roles, Ms MacLellan led significant change and service delivery transformation in social progamming, including housing, income assistance, child protection, and disability supports. Ms MacLellan also held Deputy Minister portfolios in Housing and Municipal Affairs (Emergency Management), Seniors, and Advanced Education.
Ms MacLellan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University, a Masters in Business Administration from St. Mary's University (Sobey School of Business) and an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Councillor Steele was appointed to the Halifax Water Board by Regional Council on December 10, 2024.
Ms. Steele is a former federal public service executive with extensive experience in economic development, policy analysis and relationship building with other levels of government.
Ms. Steele holds a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Francis Xavier University.
Councillor Steele was elected to Halifax Regional Council in October 2024.
Recent & Upcoming Board Meetings
Halifax Water Board Meetings are held via Microsoft Teams, an online video conferencing platform.
Unless otherwise noted, Halifax Water Board meetings begin at 9:00 AM. The initial portion of the meeting is in-camera and not open to the public.
Attendees are able to join the lobby of the public portion of the meeting at 9:00 AM. The meeting will begin as soon as the in-camera meeting is finished. The in-camera portion of the meeting may range from 30 to 90 minutes.
| Date | Agenda & Board Package (PDF) | Minutes (PDF) | Video |
|---|---|---|---|
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June 20, 2024 |
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July 11, 2024 (AGM) |
To be posted. |
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September 26, 2024 |
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November 28, 2024 |
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January 30, 2025 |
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February 27, 2025 |
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March 27, 2025 |
To be posted |
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| May 2, 2025 | Board Package | To be posted | Video |
Agendas and reports for regular meetings of the Board will be posted in advance of a meeting. Halifax Water does not provide print copies of board packages.
Attendees may not comment or ask questions during regular board meetings. A question period is open to the public during the Annual General Meeting (time limits may be set to keep the meeting on schedule.)
Board package materials may be revised at any time up to, or during meetings.
Board Meeting Recordings
Links to attend an upcoming virtual Halifax Board Meeting can be found in the table above along with links to recordings of meetings that took place this year.
Past Halifax Water Board Meeting recordings can be found on the Halifax Water YouTube channel.
Attendance & Conduct During In-Person Board Meetings
- Individuals must arrive in advance of the meeting start time
- Attendees may not comment or ask questions during the meeting
- All cell phones, email devices and other electronic devices must be turned off
- Private photographs or recordings of proceedings are not permitted
Anyone who violates the above protocol, or is disruptive to the proceedings, will be asked to leave and may be prohibited from attending future meetings.
Media & Questions
In the event that the attending media have questions arising from the Board meeting, the Communications and Public Relations Coordinator or General Manager will be available upon adjournment to address queries.
What is an In-Camera Meeting?
In this context, an in-camera meeting means an "in private" session. It involves a confidential meeting, or a portion of a meeting, taking place with only Board members present. These meetings are sometimes called "Board only" sessions.
The Board may move in-camera or hold special meetings that are not open to the public where it determines it is in the best interest of the Commission to do so.
The Chair may order that the meeting move in-camera or any Commissioner may request a matter be dealt with in-camera in which case a vote will be taken to move a meeting to in-camera proceedings. If a majority of the Board agrees, the matter shall be dealt with in-camera.
The following matters may be dealt with in-camera:
- Matters involving property
- Matters involving litigation
- Human resource issues
- Contract negotiations
- Legal advice subject to solicitor-client privilege
- Litigation or potential litigation
- Professional staff appointments, re-appointments and credentialing issues
Any matter that the Board determines should be the subject of an in-camera session.
Persons designated by the Chair may remain during an in-camera session.
Corporate Governance Manual
The Halifax Water Board Governance Manual sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Halifax Water Board, the individual Board members, and the Board Committees. This Manual should be read in conjunction with the Halifax Regional Water Commission Act.
Older Board Reports
| Date | Agenda & Board Package (PDF) | Minutes (PDF) | Video |
|---|---|---|---|
|
January 25, 2024 |
Approved Minutes |
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February 22, 2024 |
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March 28, 2024 |
| Date | Board Package (PDF) | Minutes (PDF) |
|---|---|---|
| January 26, 2023 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| March 23, 2023 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| June 22, 2023 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| 2023 AGM July 13, 2023 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| September 28, 2023 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| November 23, 2023 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| Date | Board Package (PDF) | Minutes (PDF) |
|---|---|---|
| January 27, 2022 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| March 24, 2022 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| June 23, 2022 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| 2022 AGM July 14, 2022 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Board Package | To be posted. |
| September 22, 2022 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
| November 24, 2022 | Board Package | Approved Minutes |
Agenda & Board Package
Approved Minutes
- January 28, 2021
- March 25, 2021
- June 17, 2021
- July 15, 2021
- September 23, 2021
- October 28, 2021 (Single Agenda Item)
- November 25, 2021
Agenda & Board Package
Approved Minutes
- January 30, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes - Approved on March 26, 2020
- March 26, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes - Approved on June 25, 2020
- June 25, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes - Approved on September 24, 2020
- July 16, 2020 AGM Minutes - Approved on July 15, 2021
- September 24, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes - Approved on November 26, 2020
- November 26, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes - Approved on January 28, 2021
Agenda & Board Package
Approved Minutes
- January 31, 2019 Minutes - Approved March 28, 2019
- March 28, 2019 Minutes - Approved June 20, 2019
- May 22, 2019 Minutes - Approved June 20, 2019
- June 20, 2019 Minutes - Approved September 26, 2019
- July 18, 2019 Minutes - Approved on July 16, 2020
- September 26, 2019 Minutes - Approved November 28, 2019
- October 31, 2019 Minutes - Approved November 28, 2019
- November 28, 2019 Minutes - Approved January 30, 2020
