View Full Tourism Summit Program
Opening Musical Performance
Nova Scotia’s Own, Multi Juno Award Winner – CLASSIFIED!
TIANS is proud of our commitment to Nova Scotia talent and are so pleased to have Classified as the Opening Performer for the 2025 Tourism Summit – Nova Scotia Needs Tourism! With an inherent and candid ability to break down the barrier between performer and audience while “leading the vanguard of East Coast hip hop” (Chronicle Herald), Classified is one of Canada’s most respected and successful rap artists, producers, and songwriters. Over his career, he has released 19 studio albums and collaborated with global hip-hop icons. With over 200 million streams, Classified is a multiple JUNO Award winner who hosted the 2014 JUNO Awards and holds a combined 34 nominations and 8 wins across the JUNOs, MuchMusic Video Awards, and East Coast Music Awards.
2025 Tourism Summit Opening Keynote – Leah Goldstein
No Limit Mindset: Unlocking Mental Resilience to Achieve the Impossible
Joining us from British Columbia, TIANS is pleased to welcome Leah Goldstein as our Opening Keynote for the 2025 Tourism Summit – Nova Scotia Needs Tourism. For Leah Goldstein, surpassing limits and achieving what many deem impossible is a way of life—not luck or chance. Her unparalleled success in ultra-endurance racing, military leadership, and world championship combat sports is rooted in one fundamental truth: mental strength is the ultimate competitive edge. In this powerful keynote, Leah reveals the No Limit Mindset—the proven mental strategies she uses to cultivate resilience, overcome setbacks, and outperform even the toughest competitors. Attendees will discover the three essential practices Leah applies daily to train her mind into a relentless, focused, and adaptable force. More than just motivation, Leah’s insights provide actionable techniques to reframe challenges, maintain unwavering focus under pressure, and harness the power of mindset to transform goals into reality. Whether you’re facing business obstacles, personal challenges, or elite-level competition, the way you use your mind directly shapes your results. Prepare to shift your perspective on what’s possible and learn how to build mental endurance that fuels higher performance, breakthrough thinking, and lasting success.
Chairman’s Lunch Address
Kevin Toth, TIANS Chair
Kevin Toth is the President of Fox Harb’r Resort in Fox Harbour, Nova Scotia. Kevin is a veteran hospitality & resort development executive who took the reins of Fox Harb’r in 2015. Previously, he was President & COO at Skyline Hotels & Resorts in Ontario from 2009 to 2015. From 2005 – 2009 Kevin was Managing Partner & Owner of Rockwater Secret Cove Resort in British Columbia. Kevin is presently the Chair of TIANS, the Nova Scotia Industry Representative sitting on the Management Committee for the Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT) and sits on the Board of Directors for Hotels Canada (formerly Hotel Association of Canada).
Minister’s Address
Hon. Dave Ritcey, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
The Honourable Dave Ritcey was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River in a by-election in 2020 and was re-elected in 2021 and 2024. Prior to becoming an MLA, Mr. Ritcey worked as a business development manager, food service manager, and a sports management executive.
Gala Dinner & Awards Guest Master of Ceremonies
Steve Murphy, TV, Radio & Social Media Personality
With a career spanning close to 50 years in tv, radio and social media, Steve Murphy is among Atlantic Canada’s best known personalities. He started on CFBC radio in his hometown of Saint John, NB, at the tender age of 16. He has won regional and national awards for his commentaries, interviews and newscasts on ATV, later CTV, where he hosted Live at 5 for 7, and anchored CTV News at Six for 28 years. Murphy stepped down as chief anchor and Executive Editor at CTV Atlantic in Dec. 2021 but continues to report as the network’s special correspondent, analyst and commentator, with his popular biweekly “MURPHY’s Logic” segment. Steve has played a role in raising more than $160 million for charity, for which he was recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal and in 2023, as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.
Concurrent Session Speakers
Robert Bernard, Executive Director
Nova Scotia Indigenous Enterprise Network
Session: Community Prosperity Through Cultural Partnerships
Linda Best, BSc, Executive Director
FarmWorks Investment Co-operative Limited
Session: Plowing Our Way to Prosperity – Agricultural Heritage Driving Tourism Growth
Meredith Cowan, Executive Director, Planning and Preparedness
NS Department of Emergency Management
Session: Risky Business – Future Proofing Your Tourism Operation
Shawn Crouse, Red Seal Chef & Manager
Tatamagouche Farmer’s Market
Session: Plowing Our Way to Prosperity – Agricultural Heritage Driving Tourism Growth
Marc Crothall, MBE, Chief Executive Officer
Scottish Tourism Alliance
Session: Best Practices for a New Approach to Tourism Growth
Celes Davar, President
Earth Rhythms
Session: One Small Step – The Impact of Regenerative Tourism
Frank Denis, Executive Director
Sail Nova Scotia
Session: Game Changer – Driving Brand NS and Economic Growth Through Events
Meaghan Ferrigno, Senior Vice President and Chief Data and Analytics Officer
Destination Canada
Session: Putting AI into Action for Your Tourism Business
Suzanne Fougere, Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Business Development
Events East
Session: Game Changer – Driving Brand NS and Economic Growth Through Events
Emile Gourieux, Regional Director
Smith Travel Research Canada
Session: Checking In – A Look at Future Accommodations
Stephen Hiscock, Manager, Government and Stakeholder Relations, Atlantic Region
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC)
Session: Risky Business – Future Proofing Your Tourism Operation
Martin Kejval, CEO
Cape Smokey
Session: Chicken or Egg – Extending Nova Scotia’s Tourism Season to Drive Growth
Gwen LeBlanc, Manager, Community Economic Development
Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ)
Session: Community Prosperity Through Cultural Partnerships
Laurence LeFrançois – Specialist Director, Service Planning
VIA Rail Canada
Session: Ensuring Access – Nova Scotia’s Global Competitiveness
Darlene MacDonald, Executive Director
Tourism Nova Scotia
Session: Nova Scotia Tourism Sector Strategic Plan Update
Lewis MacKinnon, Executive Director
Gaelic Affairs, NS Department of CCTH
Session: Community Prosperity Through Cultural Partnerships
Poet MacLean, Owner
Lake City Cider/Darty Brewing
Session: Plowing Our Way to Prosperity – Agricultural Heritage Driving Tourism Growth
Kim MacPherson, Chef and Owner
Lupin Dining & Pantry
Session: Plowing Our Way to Prosperity – Agricultural Heritage Driving Tourism Growth
Marie Manning, Sr. Vice Chair, VP Business Development & CCO
Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA)
Session: Ensuring Access – Nova Scotia’s Global Competitiveness
Philip Mondor, President and CEO
Tourism HR Canada
Session: Human Excellence and Tech Innovation – Nova Scotia’s Talent Pipeline
Jeff Nearing, Vice President, Business Events
Discover Halifax
Session: One Small Step – The Impact of Regenerative Tourism
Carolann Ouellette, Director, Tourism, Film & Outdoor Recreation
Maine Department of Economic & Community Development
Session: Best Practices for a New Approach to Tourism Growth
Brittany Parker, Director of Hospitality
Benjamin Bridge
Session: One Small Step – The Impact of Regenerative Tourism
Juanita Peters, Executive Director
Africville Museum
Session: Community Prosperity Through Cultural Partnerships
Natacha Pouzin, Sales Executive
Smith Travel Research Eastern Canada
Session: Checking In – A Look at Future Accommodations
Thomas Rizzuto, Cybersecurity Specialist
ON-LINE Computer Services
Session: Risky Business – Future Proofing Your Tourism Operation
Lesley Robb, B.Des., M.A., Founder & Principal Consultant
Swell Impact
Session: One Small Step – The Impact of Regenerative Tourism
Glenn Squires, CEO
Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc.
Session: Chicken or Egg – Extending Nova Scotia’s Tourism Season to Drive Growth
Rebecca Tran, Founder
The Station Food Hub Company
Session: Plowing Our Way to Prosperity – Agricultural Heritage Driving Tourism Growth
Dr. Rick Williams, President
Praxis Research and Consulting Inc.
Session: Best Practices for a New Approach to Tourism Growth
Leslie Wilson, President and General Manager
Ski & Bike Wentworth
Session: Chicken or Egg – Extending Nova Scotia’s Tourism Season to Drive Growth
Mark Wilson, Owner, President and CEO
Bay Ferries Limited (BFL)
Session: Ensuring Access – Nova Scotia’s Global Competitiveness
