Our people are our greatest resource
We have an unwavering commitment to maintain and actively foster an industry-leading level of insurance and risk management education and training, and we are working hard to plan for the future to ensure the esteemed members of “The Old Guard” are succeeded by an energetic and engaged group of young insurance and surety professionals.
We are proud of our team and we invite you to get to know them.
Direct telephone number: (902) 454-7198 + extension
Victoria does not fit the traditional mold of a commercial insurance broker, let alone one who specializes in the construction and development industry.
Victoria began her career at Stanhope Simpson in 2003 while completing her undergraduate degree from Saint Mary’s University of which she earned summa cum laude distinction. Victoria has been full-time at Stanhope Simpson since 2007 during which she has completed the part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Saint Mary’s University, Canadian Risk Management (CRM) program via the University of Toronto, and most recently, the Fellowship CIP program. In 2008, Victoria completed the Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) program of which she completed all ten courses in record pace and earned the following awards upon graduation; Top Broker Graduate (Canada), 1st Runner-up Overall CIP Graduate (Canada) and Best Results in CIP (Nova Scotia).
Luckily for Victoria, she shares her father, Victor’s, innate passion for the construction industry – which means that she enjoys every minute of her challenging and dynamic role at the firm. As President, Victoria is integral to the management of the brokerage. Although she relishes her leadership role, her true passion lies in the construction and development industry of which most of her clients belong. Victoria is proud of the portfolio of esteemed clients that she manages and is always looking forward to the next opportunity to prove her specialized expertise in this industry to a new customer.
Victoria serves on the Board of Directors for the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) as well as the Great Big Dig for the IWK Steering Committee. Most recently, she completed the esteemed QuantumShift national executive leadership program for CEO’s at Ivey Business School. She has been featured in Insurance Business Magazine (2018) and was the lead cover story of Insurance People Magazine (July 2018). Victoria is honoured to be a National Leadership Award recipient from the Insurance Institute of Canada (2018) and she still finds time to guest lecture at Dalhousie University on the topic family business.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 239
Donald manages a broad range of complex commercial insurance accounts encompassing the seafood, hospitality, realty, construction industries, and beyond. As Executive Vice President, he also manages one of the firm’s commercial teams and is the Director of Stanhope Simpson’s personal lines department. Donald prides himself on providing a superior customer experience and building great relationships along the way.
Donald recently joined the Board of Directors for the Insurance Brokers Association of Nova Scotia (IBANS), where he is excited and honoured to serve his fellow IBANS members.
Outside of the office, he loves spending time with his family, particularly gathered around the barbeque. During the winter months, he can be found throwing stones at the curling rink. In fact, he was a proud member of Team Nova Scotia at the 2012 & 2014 Briers. In the summer, Donald enjoys getting out on the course and playing a few rounds of golf. He is a big sports fan – especially of football, golf, and tennis.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 246
Steven is the brokerage’s primary internal technical consultant, due to his expertise in specialty coverages such as Professional Liability, Directors & Officers Liability and Environmental Liability. As Vice President, he is also responsible for leading all aspects related to claims resolution for the organization and oversees the junior producers, providing ongoing guidance to support the sales team as required.
Steven is involved with the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) and has taught the Construction Insurance course previously offered through CANS. Steven is an active member of the Family Business Association – Atlantic (FBA), and is proud to have joined FBA’s Board of Directors where he can help serve the needs and interests of Atlantic Canadian family enterprises.
Outside of the office, Steven spends most of his free time with his family and doing his best to complete a “seemingly never-ending” list of home renovation projects.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 229 Mobile: (902) 237-5426
Mark attended Saint Mary’s University where he earned his Bachelor of Commerce (2004). Committed to the highest educational and professional standards, he has engaged in several relevant course work to gain designations including his Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) and most recently his Fellowship Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) in Spring 2015. He enjoys communicating with clients and maintaining strong client relationships is his top priority.
Mark has a love for all things sports and never passes on an opportunity to hit a golf ball, which is a little less frequent after becoming a father to his three adorable children.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 257
In 1989, Gary joined Stanhope Insurance and started his career as a Commercial Insurance Broker. Today, Gary enjoys a hard-earned reputation for being a leader in commercial insurance in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. He is fully bilingual; an asset that has proven to be integral to his success at the firm. Gary’s area of expertise is the construction, development and realty industries.
Outside of the office, Gary enjoys spending time with his family and visiting his cottage in Larry’s River as often as he can.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 227
Shawn is active as an ambassador with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, as well the Construction Association of Nova Scotia. His family life can certainly be described as “hectic”, as a dad to a son and two young daughters. He can usually be found attending any number of basketball games, dance classes or swim lessons, sometimes all in the same day. A big sports buff (and long-suffering Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Bears fan), Shawn tries to fit as many runs in during the week as possible.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 222
On the personal side, Scott is an avid sports fan with a special affinity for the Chicago Bears. He enjoys traveling, spending time with his family and friends, and rarely turns down the opportunity to swing a golf club or hockey stick. He is also an avid member of the Halifax Progress Club and sits on the board of the King’s Meadow Home for mentally challenged adults.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 243
Pauline works closely with Victoria managing her commercial accounts – many of which are in the construction and contracting industry. She prides herself on her client-first approach. Outside of the office, Pauline enjoys kettlebells, cycling, knitting, sewing and reading.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 224
Arin’s versatility and vast expertise are evident in her work with both clients and other industry professionals. Developing meaningful and positive working relationships is important to her as she strives to always deliver best in class service. Her approach to client service goes beyond the traditional ‘nine to five’ work hours because she understands that one size does not fit all. She prides herself on being dependable, easily reachable and being able to helping clients to understand their risks and assist them with making informed decisions.
Arin holds her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation from the Insurance Institute of Canada, as well as her Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 244
As an account manager, Paula takes care of a diverse portfolio of commercial insurance accounts. Developing long-term relationships with her clients comes naturally to Paula due to her consistently professional, courteous and efficient service. Her years in the industry have culminated in a wealth of insurance knowledge and she is often sought out by her colleagues to consult on complex commercial insurance accounts.
In 2017, Paula accepted the challenge to manage the firm’s surety administration team, in coordination with Shawna Naismith. In this role, she works closely with our clients’ lead broker at Stanhope Simpson to coordinate, place and administer surety bonding programs that are tailored to meet their unique needs.
Paula enjoys cooking, walking and spending time with friends and family.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 223
Tim’s experience working with a variety of accounts across multiple industries have proven invaluable to his insurance career. His relaxed yet informed approach to business has allowed Tim to foster positive and productive relationship with both his clients and colleagues alike. He holds his Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation.
In his free time, Tim is an avid mountain biker and musician, who is also beginning to develop a bit of a golf habit.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 250
In 2017, Shawna welcomed the opportunity to manage the surety administration team, in coordination with Paula Shubley. In this role, Shawna works closely with our commercial brokers to coordinate, place and administer surety facilities for our clients. She prides herself on delivering exceptional customer service.
Shawna is a true pleasure to work with. She’s always smiling and has one of the best senses of humor at the firm. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 242
Ashley was the recipient of the IIC Atlantic Vice Chair Award in 2017, for achieving the highest result for Atlantic Canada in the Business of Insurance course along with the IBANS Commitment to Learning Award in 2019.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 236
Wendy joined Stanhope Simpson in 2004 as a member of the personal lines team, during which she managed the department for a short time, before joining the commercial team in 2008. Today, Wendy is Shawn Freeze’s Commercial Account Manager. She has extensive experience servicing construction and contracting accounts and prides herself on her exceptional attention to detail.
Inside of the office, Wendy is known for her infectiously upbeat personality. Victoria would add, “Wendy is an absolute pleasure to work with. She adds a lot to our organizational culture at Stanhope Simpson – her cheerful attitude and wicked sense of humour make our office that much brighter.”
Outside of the office, Wendy enjoys gardening, home renovation projects and working out at the gym.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 248
Jannine earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University (2001) and achieved her Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) designation, as well as her Canadian Risk Managers designation (CRM) in 2010.
Jannine’s unique blend of underwriting knowledge combined with her strong broker background makes her a key addition to the Stanhope Simpson team. She takes great pride in her ability to problem solve and has developed strong relationships within the industry, which allows her to provide top quality service to her clients.
Outside of the office Jannine spends most of her free time with her husband & two young daughters. A zealous huge music fan, Jannine enjoys taking in live concerts whenever the opportunities arise. To unwind, she enjoys walking and yoga.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 228
Having developed a particular intrigue for the Construction and Development sectors, Lindsay understands the time sensitive and evolving nature of the industry. She sat on the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) Emerging Leaders Committee for five years, two of which she had the honour to serve as Chair and enjoyed cultivating meaningful relationships with respected peers. She values developing relationships with clients and colleagues alike as a foundation on which to build trust, strategies, and solutions for commercial risk. Lindsay prioritizes a client-first focus and open communication to ensure clients get the servicing and advice they want and need to be successful.
Outside of the office, Lindsay is a lifelong Blue Jays fan and a proud Yogi having achieved her Yoga Alliance Teaching certification. She loves to spend time with family on the field, at the rink, and at the beach.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 267
Jaylee enjoys spending time with her family and watching the Toronto Blue Jays.
Office: (506) 333-4578
Greg holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Dalhousie University (2008). He completed his Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation in 2018, a program in which he excelled, earning the Best Performance First Year CIP Student Award.
Outside of the office, Greg enjoys spending time with his wife and twin daughters. He is an avid camper and is also very skilled with computers.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 230
Dana holds his Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation from the Insurance Institute of Canada.
When he’s not working, Dana enjoys travelling and spending time with his family.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 262
When she’s not working, Briagh enjoys travelling and spending time with her dog, Luna.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 261
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 234
Victor founded Stanhope Insurance Ltd. in 1979 in the basement of his home in Rockingham, Halifax with a handful of construction clients and his wife, Donna, as his administrative assistant. It wasn’t long before Stanhope Insurance – armed with two additional brokers, Paul Folk and Gary Pellerin – became known as the top construction brokerage in Nova Scotia.
Victor has since led the firm to achieve steady growth in the highly competitive commercial insurance market. Although he started his career specifically focused on the construction industry himself, he has grown the brokerage (now known as Stanhope Simpson) to be what it is today – a leading insurance provider in Atlantic Canada for all varieties of commercial insurance.
In both the insurance and construction industries, Victor is known as a true leader and entrepreneur. He is client-focused, is known as a tough negotiator, and he believes that his staff are the organization’s greatest asset. This is a reputation that he worked hard to build, and one in which his daughters, Victoria and Heather, and son in laws, Steven and Scott, are all working hard to carry forward.
Office: (902) 454- 7198, extension 225
Don and Victor decided to proceed with a business plan to operate Simpson-Hurst and Stanhope Insurance under one company, Stanhope Simpson Insurance, in 1998. Don has an extensive background in all varieties of insurance including commercial, marine, aviation and other specialty and complex insurance products and solutions. He also boasts highly specialized and expert knowledge of the seafood industry.
Outside of the office, Don is a huge curling fan and enjoys most sports including tennis, Nascar and football. He enjoys travelling, spending time with his family and sailing radio-controlled yachts.
Office: (902) 454- 7198, extension 237
Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo. He was proud to serve the Insurance Brokers Association of Nova Scotia (IBANS) as a member of the board of directors from 2013 – 2017 and to be part of the formation and executive of the Young Broker’s Network (YBN).
Outside of the office, Scott loves spending time in the outdoors hiking, cycling and running. He also enjoys reading, cooking and scouring Atlantic Canada for antique treasures.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 251
Denise is a valued and long-standing member of the Nova Scotia Insurance Women’s Association. Outside of the office, Denise loves spending time with her grandkids.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 231
Jennifer joined the Stanhope Simpson team in 2018 and has been a broker in the industry for over 10 years. She prides herself on her ability to connect personally with every client, understanding their needs and requirements, and helping them make decisions that fit their individual lifestyles. Customer service is a priority for Jennifer. She prides herself on providing her clients a genuine and positive experience, in an industry which can often be overwhelming and intimidating.
Jennifer earned her Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation in 2013.
Outside of the office, Jennifer can be found spending time with her son – hunting, fishing and soaking up the sun at her cottage on Big Tancook Island.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 238
Heather prides herself on her outgoing personality and excellent customer service skills – attributes that make her “a natural” at her job. She is currently working towards her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family – in particular, hanging out with her daughter.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 232
Presently, Melissa is a Personal Insurance Broker at Stanhope Simpson. She is responsible for servicing a broad variety of personal insurance accounts that range from straight-forward tenant’s policies to multifaceted personal insurance programs. She prides herself on her knack for explaining complex insurance coverages to her clients in a way that they can easily comprehend.
Outside of the office, Melissa enjoys live music, watching football on Sundays, and spending time with her family and friends.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 221
Trudy earned her CIP designation in 1998. She has also taught several insurance courses for the Insurance Institute of Nova Scotia and has been involved with the Nova Scotia Insurance Women’s Association.
In her spare time, Trudy enjoys home improvements, knitting and sewing.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 254
Outside of work, Christine enjoys playing hockey.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 268
After spending several years in public practice, Heather transitioned from the audit arena to private enterprise at Pacrim Hospitality Services, where she served as Senior Manager of Accounting and Finance. She later joined Bell Aliant in 2010, where she gained valuable experience in external financial reporting and compliance.
Heather has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saint Mary’s University where she graduated at the top of her class, earning the Gold Medal in the Faculty of Commerce in 2004. She also holds her Chartered Professional Accountant designation having passed the UFE in 2005. In her spare time, she is an avid runner and also plays golf as a member of Ashburn Golf Club. She loves to travel, anything culinary and spending time with her family and friends.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 241
As Controller at Stanhope Simpson, Gerald is chiefly responsible for the management of all major accounting functions of the company. This includes managing the general ledger, accounts receivables and payables, budgeting, and various other accounting-related responsibilities. More recently, Gerald has taken on the additional role of Information Technology Coordinator where he oversees the day to day development and maintenance of IT systems within the office and serves as the main point of contact with software suppliers and external IT providers.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 235
In her free time, she enjoys cooking for self-care, especially Asian and Italian cuisine. She is often found camping near the ocean in the RV with her husband Tim and daughter Cassidy.
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 263
Office: (902) 454-7198, extension 240