Panelists

Cheryl MacDonald BA'10 Panelist Moderator

CEO of Sport New Brunswick

Former Director of the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health. She holds a PhD in Social & Cultural Analysis from Concordia University in Montreal and is completing a second Master’s degree in Sport & Recreation Studies at the University of New Brunswick. MacDonald’s academic research in sport business focuses on media portrayals of the development of women’s professional ice hockey in North America. Outside of work, MacDonald has served on the steering committees for three U Sports national championships in men’s hockey and basketball.

Brittany Burke

Co-founder, CEO, and Manager of JUST Cycle

JUST Cycle is an indoor spin studio renowned for its rhythm-based spin classes that focus on strengthening both the mind and body. Under her leadership, JUST Cycle is expanding its offerings to include mat-based Pilates, enriching the fitness options available to its diverse community. With 13 years of experience in the fitness industry, Brittany's journey began at Wilfred Laurier University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English. Her dedication and expertise have earned her recognition, winning bronze for The Coast Magazine's Best Fitness Instructor in Halifax for the past two years. Before founding JUST Cycle, Brittany managed and taught at SPINCO Ottawa, where she significantly boosted the studio's performance, propelling it from the fifth to the second highest-grossing location in Canada in under two years. During the pandemic, while living in Ottawa, Brittany focused on the body’s longevity and mobility, which inspired her to return to her hometown of Halifax, leading to the creation of JUST Cycle.

Keisha Turner BA'12

Co-founder of Starberry Drink Co.
Co-founder of Akwekon Enterprises Inc.,
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As an athlete, entrepreneur, innovator, and philanthropist, she has a unique lived experience that emboldens her to disrupt status-quo thinking by asking thoughtful and challenging questions, delivering meaningful solutions, and inspiring others to level up their perception of the world.

A first-generation graduate of Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (2012), Keisha is the co-founder of Starberry Drink Co. and the co-founder of Akwekon Enterprises Inc., an innovation and consulting firm that builds equitable pathways for organizations, businesses, and their leadership.

Keisha brings a differentiated set of strengths and two-eyed perspectives to problem-solving, including strategic planning, equity and action, program development and innovation, corporate wellness coaching, assessment, and fostering collaborative and diverse energy between communities.

Keisha’s passion for sport, fitness, health, and mindfulness continues to lead her down a path toward overall good living at every stage of her life. She is thrilled to be able to bring her lived and professional experience and contribute to the ongoing work of the SMU Entrepreneurship Centre.

Justine Colley-Leger BComm’14

Director of Athletics at Halifax Grammar School

Justine Colley-Leger's impact on Nova Scotia basketball is undeniable. While earning her Bachelor of Commerce at Saint Mary’s University, she achieved numerous accolades and broke several records on the court, including scoring the most points in Canadian University Women’s Basketball history with over 2,300 points in five years.  Her dynamic playing style, marked by remarkable agility, court vision, and scoring ability, made her a force to be reckoned with on the court. She represented Canada on the national stage, competing in FIBA tournaments and is the youngest person inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame. Off the court, Justine is the Director of Athletics at Halifax Grammar School. She actively engages in mentoring student-athletes, sharing her passion for basketball and inspiring the next generation. 