Vote Dustin O'Leary
DUSTIN O'LEARY
I was born and raised in Halifax Regional Municipality and have been lucky to live and work here all my life.
I grew up in Dartmouth, completing high school there and afterward attended Dalhousie University. Successfully completing my undergraduate degree and a masters was an accomplishment, but the best part of my entire Dalhousie experience was meeting my (future) wife, Tina. After we were married, we wanted to find our forever home, in a community where we could raise a family. We both felt an immediate connection to the Tantallon area. It offered some of the benefits of urban living, while still allowing space for children to play and grow. There was also a strong sense of community, making it perfect for young families. We were home.
In 2011, Tina and I welcomed our first son, Evan. Followed three years later by our second son, Cameron. We are a tight family - we love to laugh, we love to celebrate with one another, and we love to love. Our family has experienced a lot together and it has made us stronger. I am incredibly proud of my family, as they are of me. As District 13 Councillor, I know Tina, Evan and Cameron are ready to support me in any way they can, as they have always done.
EDUCATION
I graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2002. While working for a software company after I earned my Bachelor of Commerce, I completed an accelerated Master of Business Administration at Dalhousie University in one year from 2004 to 2005. Dalhousie University was also where I met my wife of over 16 years, Tina.
COMMUNITY
Rick Chapman (Tantallon resident) and I at the 2022 Remembrance Day Ceremony in Uplands Park.
Dropping off food and supplies to the St. Margaret's Bay Food Bank after a party celebrating First Responders from the Tantallon Wildfires.
In November 2022, I was honoured and humbled to receive the Queens Platinum Jubilee Medal for service to the Province of Nova Scotia.
"I love where I live, but I believe things can always be better - you just have to be willing to put in the work."
BUSINESS
Upon earning my Masters, I accepted a position with the Marketing Department of EastLink Communications. After two years, I left to take over as the Marketing Director of Destination Southwest Nova Scotia which marketed the South Shore and other areas as a worldwide tourist destination. Having the opportunity to explore more of Nova Scotia's South Shore gave me a real love for this area of our province.
In 2007, Tina and I were married and a few months later, I accepted a position with the Communications Team at Halifax Regional Municipality. I have always been a keen political follower and believe in the help and support that the government at all levels can provide to assistassisting our most vulnerable and makemaking the places we live the most enjoyable and prosperous they can be.
I spent eight years working within HRM and in that time I had the opportunity to learn much about how to operate within the municipal structure to get things done. I was the lead communicator for departments like Recreation, Solid Waste, Regional Planning and Halifax Transit. For two years, I managed the Communications Department before leaving the municipality in 2015.
Upon leaving HRM, I joined the Communications Team at Dalhousie University. While I enjoyed my time working for my alma mater and Atlantic Canada's largest post-secondary institution, I missed my role in serving the public and decided to get much more involved at a community level.
In 2018, I left my position at Dalhousie University to lead all communications, marketing, public relations, community relations and First Nation engagement for St Barbara Mining. My personal growth in this role has allowed me to better deal with professional and personal adversity as mining can be a contentious issue. The role has also bolstered my understanding of government as a whole and see how government's successes and failures effect the lives of constituents.
