Alyssa Blais

About

Hello! My name is Alyssa Blais, and I am a lifelong learner, and emerging health services researcher. I hold a master’s degree in Adult Education and Community Development, and am currently pursuing a degree in Applied Health Services Research. I want to understand how social inequities impact our health and communicate these insights to the broader community.

I’m an ambivert who thrives on deep conversations but finds peace in my garden and joy in solo pursuits. I run (reluctantly), hike, and try to eat mostly plant-based food as a form of quiet resistance against industrial agriculture.

My mind holds constant tension, as I crave the sensory richness of city life—global food, culture, music – and yet I feel most grounded in the stillness and simplicity of rural living. 

Podcasts – what can I say – I listen to so many (especially by Kara Swisher), while walking my beautiful and gentle retriever.

RESEARCH

My research interests focus on the intersections of women’s health, ageism, health equity and health literacy. I am curious to understand how social inequities and patriarchal structures shape bodily autonomy and well-being, especially in the lived experiences of older women. I also explore how societal narratives influence our views on aging, health, and gender.

CV​

  • Master of Applied Health Services Research, (MAHSR – Thesis) – Saint Mary’s University (in progress, expected 2027)
  • Master of Adult Education (M.Ad.Ed.) in Women’s Leadership and Community Development – St. Francis Xavier University
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Women’s Leadership – Coady Institute and Canadian Women’s Foundation
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Institutional Administration – Concordia University
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology – Concordia University
  • Certificate in Creatively Fit Coaching and Open Studio Project Facilitator Training
  • Certificates in Mental Health First Aid, Working Mind, and Peer Support

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP/VOLUNTEER

Co-Chair of Annapolis Community Health Board

Member of CASAE | ACÉÉA

AWARDS

Audrey Fenwick Award (2025): In honour of lifelong learning, this award recognized my graduate research in women’s lived experience of menopause and academic excellence.

PUBLICATIONS

Blais, A. (2024). Women, Menopause, and Menopause Learning: A Critical Feminist Analysis. https://stfx.scholaris.ca/items/5d5276f2-19bb-4412-88a6-de538630fa02 

Hypersexualization: Countering Exploitative Child Girl Images in the Media

CONFERENCE PROCEEDING

Blais, A. (2025, June). Women, menopause, and learning: A critical feminist analysis of lived experiences. In Proceedings of the 2025 CASAE Conference. Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE).

CURRENT WORK

I work as the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for the County of Annapolis, where I lead projects such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy and support the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) committee. My current focus is on developing a community action plan to reduce poverty and piloting a rural youth entrepreneurship program.

I also serve as a part-time Project Coordinator for a five-year, multi-university initiative led by St. Francis Xavier University on Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change. In this role, I manage financial reporting and ensure compliance with the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) funding agreement.

REFLECTIONS