HOW OUR JOURNEY STARTED
The story began back in 2010, when 2 Englishmen and an Irishman sat around a table in a Tim Horton’s and spoke about their dream of bringing their love and passion for the game of football (as they call it back in England) over here to Nova Scotia. They spoke about starting a Club which was accessible, affordable, and provided high-calibre quality soccer to kids of all ages and backgrounds. Coming from England where Soccer Clubs are found on every corner and soccer is not only a sport but a way of life, they wanted to devise a program which would allow kids to experience everything that they had. A beautiful game, a memorable experience and friendships that would last a lifetime.
And so the journey began…
Storm Soccer Club was officially formed as a non-profit organisation (not long after that initial Tim Horton’s chat!) and quickly grew in reputation. As of today, Storm has members from Dartmouth, Halifax, Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, Porters Lake, and Waverly. Storm’s Soccer program has been designed to promote a fun and energetic style of play, enabling the youth from our community to reach their full potential in the sport, whilst building true camaraderie.
Storm are completely volunteer led, and use the Grassroots Development Program, which was implemented by Soccer Canada, so that they can continue provide accessible and consistent training and support to all those who play and volunteer for them. Storm ensure that as they continue to grow the Club, they also continue to improve the experience and the programs they offer and are proud to say that most of their players have been with them since the beginning and are still playing for them now!
Meet the Board
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PRESIDENT - CHRIS STOOPS
Joining our Board in November 2019, Chris's experience coaching our younger players will be a huge asset to his new role of VP Minis. A dedicated dad to two Storm boys and an enthusiastic Mini coach since 2017, Chris is also a long time recreational soccer player and he is trained in coaching, ethics and safety. Chris hopes he can foster his same love of the game at an early stage with the Storm Mini program. His goal is to make every training session and game inclusive, fun packed, full of movement and an opportunity to learn key soccer skills. When he is not wrangling the U10's and U11's, he is biking, hiking with his dog or enjoying movie nights with his family.
VICE - PRESIDENT - TRAVIS NEWPORT
Travis Newport is a community-focused leader, parent, and youth sports advocate.
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Originally from Prince Edward Island, Travis grew up in a community where sport, teamwork, and volunteerism played an important role in bringing people together.
Those early experiences shaped his belief that youth sports organizations play a vital role in building confident young people and strong communities.
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For the last 20 years, Travis has made Dartmouth home with his husband, Jeff, and their young son, Jackson, and is actively involved in their local community. Through his son’s participation in youth soccer, he has seen firsthand how the Storm soccer family supports young athletes by fostering friendships, confidence, responsibility, and overall personal development both on and off the field.
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Professionally, Travis works with Halifax Regional Municipality, where he serves as both a Talent Acquisition Advisor within Human Resources and a Community Engagement Coordinator. In these roles, he focuses on building strong relationships with residents and stakeholders, supporting community initiatives, and recruiting and developing talent across municipal teams.
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Travis is committed to collaboration with the Board, coaches, volunteers, and families to ensure Storm Soccer Club continues to grow as a positive, inclusive, and development-focused soccer community. He is passionate about strengthening communication, supporting volunteers, and helping create an environment where every player has the opportunity to thrive both on and off the field.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - EMMA PARKINGTON
Emma joined Storm Soccer as a Coach in early 2022 , accepted the role of President soon after and eventually moved into the role as Executive Director. Hailing from Manchester, England, following sports isn’t just a hobby, it’s a passion and Emma has definitely brought that passion to Storm. You can take the girl out of northern England but not the north out of the girl! For 15 years, Emma has worked as a Solutions Architect. Starting her career in healthcare and working tirelessly to improve processes, structures, and systems to create consistency and efficiency, she has undertaken roles as the Head of Communications and Marketing, Head of Human Resources and has worked in Business Development and Operations. Since moving from healthcare in 2019, Emma is now the Operations and Team Manager for the Halifax Wanderers and spends all her time around the players and the sport. Her focus is on ensuring everything runs smoothly off-field so that the players can successfully perform on the field… And working with Storm Soccer to ensure the players are always put first.
OLIVER BORK - TREASURER
Oliver (Ollie) Bork brings extensive knowledge and experience in both soccer and finance. Soccer has always been his passion, and he is excited to continue fostering that passion through his two sons and the rest of the Storm community.
In soccer, Ollie brings a diverse and well-rounded approach to the beautiful game. He has played at the highest senior men’s levels in three different provinces, as well as at two different universities and academies. Ollie also brings ten years worth of coaching knowledge and experience which spans from youth to senior ages in both club and academy pathways.
In finance, Oliver brings eight years of experience and knowledge from various accounting roles, and is currently pursuing his CPA designation. His practicality and attention to detail will prove to be an asset when budgeting and forecasting Storm’s operations for the coming seasons.
STEPHANIE DEVEAU
Stephanie has been a member of the Storm community since 2022. As a devoted mother of two boys, she has consistently been involved in their activities over the years, including school trips and outings, and their sports.
Stephanie is a reliable and active part of our team community. She served as team manager for her son's team last year and has continued in this role this year. Always willing to help out, Stephanie has recently brought her enthusiasm and team spirit to the communications and social media team. Her bilingualism in French and English will be a significant asset in keeping everyone connected and informed.
If you have any photos or videos you would like to share you can email them at communications@stormsoccerclub.com or tag us on our social media pages, we will gladly share them.
KIMBER BORK
Kimber has a passion for community involvement and brings valuable experience in volunteer leadership, with a focus on creating inclusive and engaged communities. She has a background in Early Childhood Education, Social Work and is a Certified Volunteer Administrator. Her oldest son is a longtime soccer player and a new member of the Storm community, and her youngest is eager to join in the coming years. Kimber is excited to support the club as a board member and looks forward to helping create a positive, welcoming experience for all players and families.
ELAINE HORNE DUARTE
Elaine is a parent of two young players in the club and is excited to join the board to help support a strong, inclusive soccer community for all families. She grew up playing soccer and other sports in Nova Scotia and knows how valuable local sports programs are in building confident, active, and connected kids.
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With over 15 years of coaching experience—including youth sports and a varsity basketball program—Elaine brings a solid understanding of the importance of creating positive environments for all players. She looks forward to working with fellow board members, volunteers, coaches, and families to continue growing a welcoming and fun soccer culture.
BLAKE GALLAGHER
Blake's experience in sport has been in hockey, but his son's passion for soccer has brought him to Storm. Blake played Division 1 hockey in the NCAA at Cornell University for 4 years and went on to have a brief professional career. Blake has trained former and current professional hockey players when his playing career came to an end. He then transitioned out of hockey as his family grew. Blake lives in Dartmouth with his wife, Melanie (who is a former Dalhousie soccer player with a few senior women's gold medals at Nationals), their two boys Kingston and Montague, and their dog, Queenie.
SHANNON DADDARIO
Shannon (she/her) is a proud soccer parent who joined the board in 2025. New to the world of soccer, she’s still learning the rules—so if you see her at the field, feel free to help her continue to build her understanding of offside! Shannon is passionate about giving back to the community and values the role sports play in kids’ development. Outside of soccer, she’s also involved in co-operatives, paddling and loves staying active. Clear communication and creating a positive, supportive environment for youth are at the heart of her volunteer work.
ANDREW STULAC
Andrew joined the Board of Directors in 2025 after three years of involvement with the club as a parent and volunteer. He is an avid fan of the sport and spends most of his free time at the field. Andrew has two boys in the club, Dominic (u17) and Nikolas (u15), and his wife, Sheri, is a team manager. Outside of soccer, Andrew is a management consultant who works in user research and service design with the public sector. As a Member at Large on the Board, Andrew works on a variety of initiatives, including kits, equipment, tryouts, and anywhere else he may be needed.
VERONICA MONTIEL ZAMBRANO
Veronica brings extensive professional experience in the design and construction oversight of educational and community buildings. Working with a Nova Scotia-based architectural firm, she specializes in leading projects from the initial design phase through to completion, with a particular focus on creating inclusive spaces for Mi’kmaw communities and schools across the province.
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With a son in U9 and a daughter in U12, Veronica has a deep personal connection to the families and the daily life of the club. As a mother of a young female athlete, she is especially passionate about strengthening opportunities for girls in soccer, ensuring they have access to competitive programs that are at the forefront of the region’s development.
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Veronica is committed to contributing her creativity, passion, and personal effort to help cultivate a positive and welcoming environment. Her goal is to ensure that players and parents alike feel a genuine sense of pride in being part of a club that is building a strong, lasting legacy for all its athletes.
