Michelle Young
Town of Pictou, Nova Scotia
Michelle Young, member of the Board of Directors of Hike Canada en Marche representing Nova Scotia
since 2019.
Michelle grew up and later settled in the Town of Pictou, Nova Scotia and currently works for the
municipality as Manager of Recreation Services for the Town. Over the past fifteen years with the
municipality, she has held several positions; more recently in the last nine years in recreation. Michelle
studied at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax completing a degree in Tourism and Hospitality
Management with a major in Tourism Development. Fresh out of university she spent most of her 20’s
employed in the cruise industry working and travelling extensively on ships. Following her time in the
cruise industry she worked for New Castle Hotels and Resorts for several years in the accounting department.
In her current position in municipal recreation, she is responsible for trail development projects working
with local trail organizations and managing municipal trail infrastructure. Having a love for the outdoors
and growing experiences where citizens and visitors can connect to nature in meaningful and active
ways, she finds creative ways to share her passion for hiking and enjoying Nova Scotia’s great outdoor
spaces. Michelle is also an active board member for Hike Nova Scotia since 2018. Hike NS encourages
and promotes hiking, walking and snowshoeing throughout Nova Scotia through leadership training,
advocacy and policy development that keep wilderness areas protected, and organized hikes and events.
In her spare time, you can find her exploring trails, searching for a new waterfall or biking with her
family. With a busy family of six kids and a dog (Waffles), there is never a dull moment, outdoor rec has
always been an important way to spend weekends and explore the beauty of Nova Scotia. Working in
municipal recreation has allowed Michelle to combine her love of community development, passion for
the outdoors, and working with volunteers to grow the health of the community she lives in. Her
favorite time of the year for hiking is fall………when the color is brilliant, the light is golden and the
temperature is just right!