Women And Gender-Diverse People Are Free, Strong And Have The Courage To Make Positive Choices

Our Story

EFryNB was founded in 1987 by Marian Perkins as a volunteer agency. Marian had raised her four children as a single parent, after the early passing of her husband. She decided to enroll in University to become an addictions counsellor. After graduating, Marian worked at an addiction treatment facility as a counselor and saw many men and women struggle after being released from prison. Seeing this struggle in so many people, Marian decided to find a way to support women involved in the criminal justice system. After much research, Marian collaborated with the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies to start a chapter in Saint John, New Brunswick.

As a newly minted EFry society, Marian offered weekly one-on-one counselling, advocacy, and support services to women incarcerated in Saint John on Thursday mornings. Marian’s program grew, and so she began a quest for volunteers. She connected with Marianna Stack, a retired teacher. Marianna came with many fresh ideas starting with a monthly Bingo game for women in custody. This program was so popular they decided to offer a monthly arts and crafts day. Another new volunteer, Wanda Sheppard Cosman brought the idea of the Mother-Child-Read-Aloud program to the organization. Innovative programs germinated, grew and expanded from there!

In 2012, the Province of New Brunswick announced the decision to move incarcerated women from Saint John to the New Brunswick Women’s Correctional Centre in Miramichi. Marian Perkins fought this decision fiercely but was not successful.

Continuing to be actively involved in EFryNB as a member of the Board of Directors, Marian Perkins unexpectedly passed away in 2020. She offered hope and light to women in vulnerable places for over 33 years. We are committed to honoring her legacy.

Our People

EFry Board

Alexia Bovaird, originally from Toronto, moved to Saint John in 1998. Alexia studied e-business at NBCC-Saint John and has worked in Business for over 20 years. Alexia currently works at Gentle Path Counselling Services Ltd both as a mental health advocate and as the designated Executive Assistant for the Inter-Country Adoption Program for the Province of New Brunswick. Alexia, while living in Toronto, volunteered with Covenant House (Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk) as well as in the Emergency Ward at North York Branson Hospital. Alexia is looking forward to using her skills and knowledge to help and serve EFryNB and the women that they lift up.

Kristen O’Hanley is the Prevention Coordinator at Fresh Start Services for Women. She is a long-time friend and volunteer of EFry by providing court support and hosted past mental health court meet and greets at the courthouse. In 2012, she began working in local group homes for at-risk youth. She received a BA from St. Thomas University with a double major in Criminology and Psychology. Kristen began Volunteer work in 2006 as a Katimavik participant and has a passion in advocating for social justice for vulnerable people. She was most recently recognized as a leader in the local implementation of HIFIS (homeless individuals and families information system).

Sarah Campbell is a mother of three who was born and raised in Saint John, NB. She studied Biology and Applied Health Services Research at the University of New Brunswick and has a special interest in geographical analysis of health data. She is currently the Research Manager of NB Social Pediatrics and is dedicated to developing, implementing, and evaluating community-based interventions that address the social determinants of health. This includes the Parent-Child Assistance Program, which supports women who experience alcohol- and substance-use during pregnancy. Sarah is also proud to be serving on the Board of Elizabeth Fry Society – Saint John Chapter.

Isabelle Caissie, always being passionate with politics & activism, graduated from l’Université de Moncton with a bachelor’s in Political Science and a minor in Criminology. Currently pursuing her J.D at Umoncton, she is interested in criminal law as well as human rights law. She volunteers with Pro Bono Students Canada and with the New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission. Having women’s issues and criminal justice reform be areas of great interests, she has been volunteering with the Elizabeth Fry Society of New Brunswick Nouveau-Brunswick since the spring of 2019, primarily working out of the Moncton Provincial Court.

Jasmine Kranat grew up in London, England and moved to New Brunswick in 2009. In 2011, Jasmine attended Saint Thomas University, earning her B.A. in Human Rights and Criminology. Jasmine attended Law school at the University of Leicester in 2016. During Law School, Jasmine was a member of Lawyers without Boarders and had an internship at a Criminal Law Firm. Jasmine is an associate at Carleton Law Group and was called to the Bar in November 2020. Jasmine has a practice in Family Law and Wills and Estates and Property. In Jasmine’s spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and exploring New Brunswick.

Dawn Ferris is the Executive Director of the Cumberland County Transition House Association (CCTHA) in Amherst Nova Scotia. The CCTHA consists of a women’s shelter, Autumn House, and a men’s intervention program, New Directions. Dawn is also the President of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS). CAEFS is the national organization consisting of local Elizabeth Fry Societies across Canada that work with and for criminalized women and gender-diverse people in Canada. Dawn is a passionate feminist, socialist, activist, abolitionist, and a self-proclaimed comedian. Dawn has spent the better part of the last 30 years working on social justice issues, human rights issues, attempting to smash the patriarchy and advocating for equality for all.

Wanda Sheppard Cosman is a lifetime resident of the Saint John area. She became involved with Elizabeth Fry back in 2000 when she began the Mother Child Read Aloud program for incarcerated women and their children. Since 2002, Wanda presented the anti-shoplifting program to thousands of grade 5 children in the greater Saint John community, retiring from the program to become society president in 2017. Wanda is married with two grown daughters and lives in the Kingston Peninsula.

EFry Staff

As Executive Director, Judy is excited to bring her experiences to EFry by drawing on her professional and volunteer leadership roles in national and provincial non-profits. With her Masters in Adult Education, she appreciates a work environment that integrates a feminist, holistic and participatory approach that is inclusive, creative, and kind. She is a dreamer of collaborative projects that invite the whole person to learning, an advocate for Human Rights and social justice issues, especially for vulnerable, yet strong, women who yearn to have a voice for personal and community change. She loves having the opportunity to play outdoors with friends, family, and dogs.

Melissa is the Special Administrative Support of Elizabeth Fry New Brunswick with a side focus on helping individuals through the Record Suspension application process. She became a member of the team in October 2019. She sees herself as a provider of stability and functionality in her often fun, but frantic days around the Elizabeth Fry office. In her downtime, she can be found at home being a hermit with her video games and fur babies.

Elizabeth is the Court Liaison Program Coordinator at EFry New Brunswick. Elizabeth has a background in Social Work and has worked in several capacities in the criminal justice system. She works collaboratively as an ally for women, gender-diverse people and their families as they navigate the court system. It has been told that Elizabeth can sometimes be found riding on sandy beaches in her spare time.

Christine is the Wellness Coordinator for Mental Health and Addictions for EFryNB. She has expertise in mental health and addictions developed through previous roles, life experience and formal education. She has a background in Criminology, as well as Sociology and Psychology. Having focused her personal development on mentoring and promoting self-development, Christine prides herself on providing support that is person focused, strength based, empowerment sourced and meeting people where they are. In her downtime she enjoys painting, music and exploring new places.

EFry Student Ambassadors

Imagine yourself joining an interdisciplinary team that offers opportunities for you to develop your student placement position in collaboration with EFryNB. You will gain practical experience in a creative, innovative environment that prepares you for your next step in entering the workforce. We provide mentorship and support, open doors to develop community relationships, and the opportunity to enhance an organization whose primary role is to support individuals who may be vulnerable or criminalized. We encourage students of all disciplines to contact us to discuss our Student Ambassador opportunities.
We have worked with Students from Nursing Faculties, Law Schools, MBA programs, and Social Services programs. We all have wisdom; we invite you to consider sharing yours with us.

EFry Celebrates

EFryNB loves awards, especially when we get them!

2018 – The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick’s Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Award in the category of Early Childhood Literacy.
2018 – YWCA Woman of Distinction award to EFrySJ Executive Director, Judy Murphy.
2015 – Fundy Wellness Network’s Wellness Champions.
2013 – Volunteer Spirit Award to Marian Perkins from the Saint John Volunteer Centre.
2010 – New Brunswick Human Rights Award.
2008 – Marianna Stack received the Order of New Brunswick Award for her selfless volunteerism.

“I am discovering a lot more because I am making changes on things that I wouldn’t have before. A burden has been lifted.”

“What was important to me was everyone formed a unit, and everybody cared about the other person. This is what made the group strong – we were invincible – we could conquer Mount Everest!”