Who We Are
Harbourside exists because the organizations that hold Atlantic communities together deserve the same calibre of leadership support that larger institutions take for granted. Municipalities, nonprofits, public sector agencies, and professional associations are doing work that genuinely matters - and the decisions they make about who leads, how they're compensated, and how they're supported carry real weight for communities across this region.
Harbourside was founded on that belief, bringing more than 30 years of experience alongside these organizations and a deep, deliberate commitment to the sector and the place.
The People Behind the Work
Craig Kennedy
Craig Kennedy has spent more than 30 years leading organizations, working alongside leaders, and helping build the conditions where good work actually happens.
Before moving into executive search, Craig served as an Executive Director in the non-profit sector. That experience of managing complex organizations, navigating competing priorities, and building constructive cultures informs how he listens, how he assesses, and ultimately who he recommends.
He went on to serve as VP and Partner with Gerald Walsh Associates, one of Atlantic Canada's most respected executive search firms, where he led senior searches and organizational reviews for municipalities, non-profits, and public sector agencies across the region.
Harbourside is the natural next step - a firm built on that same depth of experience, with a deliberate focus on the organizations where leadership quality genuinely matters.
Founder
Donna Touchie, MSW, RSW
Associate
Donna Touchie brings 27 years of clinical practice to her work with Harbourside. Her career has taken her across a wide range of settings - including extended work with the Department of National Defence - giving her an unusually grounded understanding of how people behave under pressure and what it genuinely takes to shift organizational patterns.
Donna is also a trained mediator, bringing a steady, skilled presence to situations where competing interests need to be heard and navigated with care. She has served as a part-time faculty member at Dalhousie University, where she developed curriculum and supervised Bachelor of Social Work students.
What We Believe
These are the values that shape how we work - with our clients, with candidates, and with each other.
Caring
Every engagement involves real people navigating real consequences, and we never lose sight of that.
Commitment to Community
We chose this sector and this region because the organizations that hold communities together deserve senior, dedicated support.
Generosity
We give generously, because the relationship always comes first.
Curiosity
We ask before we advise, we listen before we act, and we stay committed to our own learning so that our advice reflects where things are, not where they were.
Integrity
We aim to be a trusted advisor, which means saying the honest thing, even when it's uncomfortable.
Collaborative
The best outcomes come when our expertise meets your knowledge of your own people, your culture, and your community.