Vanessa Hartley

Vanessa Hartley

Vanessa Hartley is an 8th-generation Black Loyalist descendant, born and raised in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. From a young age, Vanessa’s exposure to anti-black practices in education fostered her voice for advocacy and leadership.

Vanessa found enjoyment in Community Engagement and a love for Black history when she started as Program Coordinator and Visitor Experience Supervisor at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. After completing her education, Vanessa returned to her community supporting Adults with different abilities. Aspiring for more growth, Vanessa started with the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education (TCRCE) as a Community Outreach Coordinator, this would lead her to The PREP Academy as Community Engagement Lead; The PREP Academy is a community-based non-profit preparing and inspiring African Nova Scotian student for College and University. Giving back to the larger African Nova Scotian community has been an essential part of Vanessa’s career and volunteer work.

In 2021 Vanessa was awarded Provincial Volunteer of the Year representing the Municipality of Shelburne. She chaired the South End Environmental Injustice Society from 2019-2022, an award-winning Society fighting environmental racism in historic African Nova Scotian communities. She also volunteered for the Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) as the Rural COVID Community Coordinator a part of the ABSW/HACC Covid response team and was the Community Regional Researcher with the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute. 

Vanessa was the Youth Delegate for the 2022 National Black Canadian Summit. Vanessa speaks nationally about environmental racism and injustice through education and awareness. Her goal is to continue to have challenging and progressive conversations that can change the narrative around environmental racism in Nova Scotia and beyond.