About

With 27+ years in finance, Rick Gallant, Regional Director at Assumption Life, is an experienced investment professional. His international career includes roles like Regional Sales Manager and Private Client Stockbroker. Returning to Canada in 2010, he excelled in IIROC, MFDA, and Insurance channels, serving diverse clients. Beyond his career, Rick is dedicated to community service, having led the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce as President, showcasing his commitment to local business development and community engagement. As Chamber of Commerce President, Rick blends his vast experience with a passion for community growth to advance local businesses and bolster the community’s economic fabric.

Jack Kyte is a graduate of Acadia University and the University of Western Ontario and spent 35 years in senior management in Nova Scotia’s pulp and paper industry. He is the former Executive Director of the Pictou Regional Development Agency and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Efficiency Nova Scotia. He has served on the Atlantic Regional Board of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Pictou County Environmental Protection Project and the Aberdeen Health Foundation. Jack has been Executive Director of the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce since 2013.

Lydia Sayeau, Chair of the Membership and Engagement Committee for the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce, is a skilled entrepreneur with a diverse background in Photography and Graphic Design. She has held roles in marketing, non-profits, and tech firms in Toronto and Halifax. Lydia is Co-founder and CEO of BRAEVR Media and New Brooklyn Media Inc., where she efficiently manages day-to-day operations. Her leadership shapes strategic direction, emphasizing personal connections, and fostering a reputation for quality and innovation. Lydia’s commitment to the community and passion for business branding has inspired others and driven her professional growth while upholding values of excellence and authenticity.

Bonnie O’Toole serves as a member of the Membership and Engagement Committee. She is an educator in the Business Administration Program at NSCC Pictou Campus. Prior to her academic role, she held a senior managerial position at Bell Aliant for fourteen years until 2010. Following this, she embarked on a thirteen-year entrepreneurial journey, specializing in providing government-funded business skills training to industry and business association members across Nova Scotia. Bonnie holds an MBA from the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University.