Meet the Board

Brian Hirtle

It gives me great pleasure to introduce myself and my background to you.

I am very proud to be the chair of the Grand View Manor. As chair I work with the finest staff and board of directors that I have ever had the pleasure to work with.

I have a wife of 46 years, with 3 children and 6 grandchildren. I live on a family farm that has been in my family for over 100 years.

I am proud to have made a career with Michilin Tire for 35 years.  I also did two terms as a Municipal Councillor in Kings County.  I have been active as a volunteer in my community all my life holding positions in the Burlington Community Club, Berwick & District Fire Commission, Berwick Curling Club, local Provincial and Federal political parties, and other various committees.

Brian Harris

Brian Harris is from Morristown, NS and continues to work as a self-employed contractor in his home and surrounding communities. Brian is a grounded, practical person who is invested in bringing a first hand, family perspective to his position on the Board.

Brian Harris continues to work actively in his 45 year carpentry career managing his own business. Brian is actively involved in his home community serving as a Director on the Morristown Community Club. He is a Trustee at the Morristown Baptist Church and also loans his carpentry expertise to maintaining  it.  He is an avid woodsman, dart and cribbage player and grandfather to four. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family at his lakefront property that he developed with his wife, Linda.

John Nichols

John Nichols is a well-known, long-term resident of Berwick and District. Following a successful career spanning four decades in the building supply industry and in land development John has continued giving his time and skills generously when volunteer opportunities arise. A recipient of several industry awards, he is recognized for his promotion of our local area, businesses and organizations.

Mr. Nichols owned and operated Berwick Building Supplies Ltd., for over 40 years until his retirement in 2014. Volunteering is an integral part of John’s life. He managed and coached both minor hockey and baseball for over 10 years and has served on many boards and committees including the Berwick and District Community Association; the Berwick Gala Day Committee; and the Canadian Cancer Society. John also served as a firefighter with the Berwick Volunteer Fire Department and on municipal committees including the Planning and Advisory Committees of the Town of Berwick and the County of Kings. Most recently, he was Chairman of the Building Committee for the Kings Mutual Century Centre (Phase 2). From 2014 to 2019, John played a significant role in the successful completion of this $5-million, multi-faceted expansion. As a graduate of Herdman Collegiate in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, he continued his studies with completion of a course in Architectural Drafting. John resides in south Berwick with his wife Joy.

Heather Lonergan

Heather Lonergan is pleased to join the Board of Directors for Grand View Manor at the start of this fiscal year. She brings over 40 years of experience as a physiotherapist, beginning her career at WKMH before moving into private practice. Heather owned and operated Berwick Physio Clinic for 15 years, providing dedicated care to her community.

Throughout her career, Heather has been an active volunteer, serving on the Complaints Committee for the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists and on the executive of the South Berwick Community Club.

A proud Dalhousie University graduate, Heather has made Berwick her home since completing her studies. She is married to a Berwick boy, and together they enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren, who all live in the province, making it easy to attend family, school, and sports activities.

Outside of her professional and community commitments, Heather enjoys music and participates in two ukulele groups.

Alison Austin

I was born in rural Cape Breton and raised on my family’s dairy farm.  Once I graduated from high school, I went to Dalhousie University where I earned my Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance. After working as a waitress in Halifax for a couple of years to pay the bills, I joined the Royal Bank as a Personal Banking Officer trainee. Once my training was complete, I was transferred to the RBC Branch in New Minas. I have held various positions in several RBC branches through out the Valley area, including Bank Manager and most recently as a Financial Planner for the past sixteen years. In June of 2021, I retired from RBC after a career of thirty-one years.

I am the proud mother of one son and step-mother to my husband’s two children from his first marriage. My husband is a successful business person here in the valley and we have made our home in the Berwick area since 1993.

Andrew Holland

Andrew Holland has proudly served as the Chief Executive Officer and Administrator of Grand View Manor since April of 2024. Prior to assuming his current role, Andrew was Chief Administrative Officer at East Cumberland Lodge in Pugwash NS. A dynamic and innovative leader, Andrew strives to elevate the lived experience of his residents through high quality practice and a continuous aim to improve long term care at all levels of delivery. An active member of the healthcare community, Andrew sits as a member of the Board of Directors for the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association, prior Co-Chair of the Long Term Care Administrators Group (Northern Zone) and current Co-Chair of the Western Zone Group of the same name, and previously held the role of Zonal Representative for Long Term Care Nova Scotia (Health Association Nova Scotia). In addition to this, Andrew has been a course instructor for the Leadership In Continuing Care Administration program at Dalhousie University since 2021 along with being an active mentor for students of the Master of Health Administration program and guest lecturer in the School of Health Administration.

Prior to assuming his leadership roles in long term care, Andrew successfully competed a Master of Health Administration degree from Dalhousie University along with a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Decisions in Health Administration and a Certificate in Interprofessional Healthcare Education from Dalhousie. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario, a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders, and is currently in the process of concluding a Fellowship with the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Andrew enjoys living on our beautiful East Coast with his wife, their son, and mini schnauzer Paisley. When he’s not in the office, Andrew can be found spending time with family and friends, losing more balls than he cares to recount on the golf course, and planning his next foodie adventure.