Sarah Hardy, BSc(Hons), ND

Sarah combines her passion for naturopathic philosopy, hydrotherapy, and education with the core naturapathic therapeutics to facilitate lasting change in each patient's journey towards health. Sarah earned her ND designation at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, where, upon graduation she was honoured with the Presidents Letter of Recognition in Physical Medicine for her leadership in Hydrotherapy. She also holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. In addition to practicing at Vitality Natural Health Centre, she committed to immersing herself in community service and education of others about health related issues. At CSNN, Sarah facilitates courses in cell biology, allergies and nutrition in mental health.

          Dr. Colin Huska, BSc, ND

Dr. Huska attained his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine designation through the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, after which time he completed an additional two year residency at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic (RSNC) in Toronto, Ontario. As a clinic resident he performed many roles, including clinical supervisor at the RSNC, course coordinator and teaching assistant for numerous courses (physical diagnosis, clinical medicine, emergency medicine, venipuncture, acupuncture, bodywork). In addition to his work at the RSNC, he also was a clinical supervisor at Sherbourne Health Centre (a clinic specializing in the treatment of individuals with HIV/AIDS), Anishnawbe Health and Parkdale Community Health Centre. Prior to his time at CCNM, he completed a Bachelor of Science degree (Major - General Biology) at Thompson River University in Kamloops, BC. He is currently building his busy naturopathic practice, Sage Elements Naturopathic Clinic, in downtown Halifax. Dr. Huska lectures on a variety of topics including: pediatric nutrition, sports nutrition, vaccination and preventative medicine.

          Heather Scott, R.H.N.

Heather Scott, RHN, lives and works on a biodynamic farm in Wallace, Nova Scotia. After more than a decade as a nutritional consultant/educator, and recently offering life coaching and personal development workshops, Heather has shape-shifted once again and now more often dons a farmer's cap. With her partner, Silvana, Heather runs a passive solar greenhouse from late autumn to late spring, growing a variety of dark, leafy greens and herbs, and tends vegetable gardens, kiwis, grapevines and dozens of fruit trees in the more temperate months. For the first time since 2001, honeybees are being kept on the farm and hopes are high for increased fruit production as well as the bonus of buckets of delicious honey.

Heather has been an instructor of Eco-Nutrition at CSNN since 2000. Many students, past and present, have enjoyed outings to Heather's farm and have appreciated first-hand that soil is, indeed, a living organism.

          Kim Slauenwhite, R.H.N.

Kim Slauenwhite is an esthetician, aromatherapist and graduate of the CSNN nutrition program. She has been working as a practitioner and educator in the health and spa industry since 1991, and has traveled extensively throughout North America as a lecturer and technical trainer. Currently, Kim has a private practice focusing on nutritional counseling, public and corporate lectures, free lance writing and educational development. Kim can be reached for one-on-one consults and group lectures at iwc@eastlink.ca.

Alaryce Shea, R.H.N.

Alaryce combines her passion for health education, nutrition and healthy living into her role as a Holistic Nutritional Consultant. She is a certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor and graduated from CSNN Toronto in 2005. Alaryce holds a bachelor of education degree from her home province of Saskatchewan and has worked for over 12 years in the education field. She has worked at Smith's holistic pharmacy in Toronto and most recently as Nutritional Health Coach at Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers in Colorado. Working along experts in the holistic field, she hopes to continue to apply her knowledge towards advancing the holistic health movement. She has travelled the globe, specifically living and teaching in South Korea, has learned and experienced many cultural diets. Her passions include children's nutrition, pre and postnatal nutrition and mental wellness. She is interested in exploring organic agriculture further and hopes to find the time to write a children/pregnancy nutrition book, when she's not so busy running around after her 2 year old toddler. Currently employed at Signature Supplements in Dartmouth, she is involved in compounding custom supplements for natural health professionals across Canada.

Linda Dempsey, R.H.N.

Linda Dempsey earned a BSc in Physical Therapy in 1980. As a physical therapist, she worked for 7 years both a Camp Hill Hospital and the IWK Children’s Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. With the arrival of her children, her energy and commitment was redirected to raising four children, which included educating them at home.

A passion for learning and education led her to nutritional health and subsequently she graduated from CSNN, Halifax in 2005. Her enthusiasm and experience in the area of anatomy and physiology opened the door for instructing at CSNN. She loves the challenge of taking a difficult subject such as anatomy and physiology and helping students grow in their understanding of how our body is marvelously knitted together o to the job it needs to do.

She is looking forward to a new challenge in now teaching Pediatric Nutrition and drawing upon her experience of raising and feeding four children with their individual health challenges, and from working with and educating other parents with ensuring optimum nutritional health for their children.

Penny Ormsbee, R.H.N.

Penny graduated from The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in 2004 with a Certificate of Merit. She has a full-time consulting practice at Therapeutic Approach Health Centre in Halifax, where she offers one-on-one nutritional counseling, as well as food and environmental sensitivity testing using the BioMeridian Screening System. Penny has a special interest in hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, food and environmental sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, and digestive health.

Penny holds wellness lectures throughout the HRM, educating her audience on a variety of topics while promoting an integrative approach to wellness. She is a columnist for The Source magazine, and has written for several other publications, including: Vista Magazine, Canadian Living, The Coast, The Halifax Daily News, and The Healing Canopy online magazine.

Penny has a never ending thirst for knowledge and is currently enrolled in a Therapeutic Herbalism course. Focus is on the therapeutic possibilities of herbal medicine, emphasizing the phytopharmacology and dispensing of herbal remedies.

Penny teaches The Fundamentals of Business, The Fundamentals of Nutrition and a variety of practicums at the Halifax branch. She is passionate about her work and is sincerely committed to empowering others to consciously and holistically manage their health.


Tara Patriquin, RHN, RMT

Tara is a talented helper and healer based in Halifax. She developed a respect for the body at a young age through her participation in sports, and turned that respect into a multi-layered career.

She graduated with a degree in Psychology (Mount Allison University – 1999). With an intent to pursue Drama Therapy, she returned to university and graduated with an honours degree in Theatre Studies (Dalhousie University – 2002). Her journey again changed while working at a local fitness center. Bit by the bug, she became a Certified Personal Trainer (Can Fit Pro – 2003) as well as a Holistic Nutritional Consultant (CSNN – 2005).

Striving to further develop her knowledge, she completed the massage therapy program at ICT Northumberland College (2008) and is now a Registered Massage Therapist with Natural Means Massage Therapy Clinic in Halifax where she combines all modalities to assist her clients in reaching and maintaining health.

Her own health regimen includes running, swimming, yoga, a holistic-vegetarian diet, proper sleep, meditation, regular massage treatments, auricular acupuncture, chiropractic care and above all else, love.