Meet Your Team

We are here to work with all newcomers and new residents to the rural regions of Western, Central, and Eastern PEI. Whether you’re moving to PEI from another country or another province, whether temporarily or permanently, we are here to help.

Maxine Rennie

Executive Director

CBDC – Western PEI
455 Main Street
Alberton, PE, C0B 1B0
(P) 902 853 3636
(E) Maxine.Rennie@cbdc.ca

Maxine is the Executive Director for the CBDC – West Prince Ventures Ltd. and the Program Lead for the Community Navigator Program. Maxine was born and raised in Western PEI and she has an impressive 32 years of experience in Community development with the CBDC WPVL! Maxine obtained her MBA at UPEI and when she’s not helping develop rural communities she keeps plenty busy at her family’s Potato and Beef Farm. Her love for Western PEI shines through and her contribution can be felt throughout.

Scott Smith

Western PEI Community Navigator

455 Main Street
Alberton, PE, C0B 1B0
(P) 902 853 3636
(E) Scott.Smith@cbdc.ca

Scott Smith is the Western PEI Community Navigator, hailing from the rural community of Freeland, PEI. A 2009 graduate of the BBA Cooperative Education program at UPEI, he loves to travel, meet new people, and explore the richness & diversity of new cultures. Scott understands firsthand the excitement & challenges of being new to a place, after learning Spanish and having lived & worked in the Dominican Republic for 4.5 years. He is passionate about welcoming others and supporting newcomers & new residents to rural PEI as they settle into living and working in the Western region. Prior to his navigator role, he embraced the spirit of welcoming others as the Innkeeper and General Manager of the West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum for three years, while also expanding his business skills with various positions at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) in the off-season. His fondness of Island life is easily transferred to newcomers who will come to love the Island for all that it has to offer. Together we can grow stronger, more diverse communities for all. Scott suggests exploring all the beautiful beaches and shorelines that PEI has to offer.

Crystal Dumas

Western PEI Community Navigator

455 Main Street
Alberton, PE, C0B 1B0
(P) 902 853 3636
(E) Crystal.Dumas@cbdc.ca

Crystal Dumas is one of the Western PEI Community Navigators, originally from Manitoba, Crystal understand not only the excitement but the challenges that moving to a new place can present.

Prior to relocating to PEI Crystal worked for the Manitoba Provincial government for over 19 years in Community Development, specifically with Indigenous and Northern Communities.

Crystal has a deep love for PEI and visited Western PEI for almost 15 years before making it home. She still marvels at all the Island has to offer from beaches to trail walking to the beautiful landscape, PEI is a year round beauty. 

Marla MacDonald

Eastern PEI Community Navigator

Kensington Town Hall (upstairs)
55 Victoria Street East
Kensington, PE
(P) 902-598-7560
(E) Marla.MacDonald@cbdc.ca

Marla is the Central PEI Community Navigator. Previously, Marla taught various English as a Second Language programs, and for the last two years, she was coordinator of a workplace language program. She has many years of experience supporting newcomers through the challenges and the excitement of settling into new communities. She understands the importance of addressing language and cultural barriers when supporting community integration, and she is passionate about the resilience and talents newcomers bring to PEI.  Marla is thrilled to be back home on PEI after 12 years of living in several other Canadian cities. She is also completing her Master’s of Counselling Psychology, and looks forward to spotlighting the voices of newcomers, community members, and employers to help make rural PEI a strong welcoming place.  We are so excited to have Marla as part of the team!

Lindee Gallant

Eastern PEI Community Navigator

Montague Business Centre, LaunchPad PEI
544 Main Street
Suite 102
Montague, PE
(P) 902 969 5989
(E) Lindee.Gallant@cbdc.ca

Lindee Gallant is the Eastern Community Navigator; She was born and raised in the Montague region. Lindee is a lover of the outdoors and marvels at the beauty of PEI and with a lifetime of experiences living in the region she has some amazing recommendations of where to go to fall in love with PEI. Lindee has a background in bioscience and the tourism industry. She truly loves hearing the life stories of all the newcomers to Eastern PEI. She looks forward to meeting with you at The Montague Business Centre at 544 Main Street, Montague.

Rachel Buell

Eastern PEI Community Navigator

Montague Business Centre, LaunchPad PEI
544 Main Street
Suite 102
Montague, PE
(P) 902 969 5989
(E) Rachel.Buell@cbdc.ca

Rachel Buell has joined the team as the second Eastern PEI Community Navigator in the Montague office at 544 Main Street! Rachel was born and raised in Eastern PEI and truly loves Island life. Rachel loves to travel, explore new places and experience new cultures, spending the last 6 years living in British Columbia. Rachel has experience in community engagement with an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a Human Services Certificate and genuinely loves connecting with others. Rachel is eager to get to know the new residents of Eastern PEI, and excited for the connections she will make.