Our Team
Our association is a small group of Lyme Survivors and family members, all with one main goal: help those seeking diagnosis and receiving one to have better access to information and support than we had.
Paige Black
After 3 years of mystery symptoms, Paige was shocked to be diagnosed with Lyme. She had been experiencing a myriad of inflammation based injuries, leaky gut, visual floaters, joint and muscle pain and food sensitivity. Her symptoms were increasing in severity and her doctors were beginning to explore the possibility of MS. Thankfully one NP thought to retest for Lyme since Paige had been tested so early in her initial symptoms. When first round of doxycycline made all symptoms worsen, the medical system told her it couldn’t actually be Lyme and diagnosed her with Fibromyalgia and told her to get accustomed to pain management. This didn’t feel right to Paige, and she continued to find ways to treat the Lyme.
After a naturopathic treatment caused such extreme reactions her family were forced to rush her to the ER, Paige feels grateful to have recovered thanks to her support network. After a second round of antibiotics Paige’s health has greatly improved over the past year, but now she is determined to ensure other Lyme patients know their options, understand herxing and know how to mitigate it.
Her most important advice to folks on their Lyme journey? Talk to your family and friends about what you are experiencing instead of downplaying it.
Paige has her Masters in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership and is an Operations Manager at a national Nonprofit. With 15 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofits, Paige focuses on how to operate nonprofits sustainably in a way that doesn’t result in staff burnout, so the helpers are better supported to create community impact.
She looks forward to returning to Basketball refereeing in her spare time, a passion she has greatly missed while recovering from Lyme disease.
President
Donna Lugar
Donna struggled for many years with a number of symptoms affecting multiple systems before she had her “aha” moment in 2010. It was when she was diagnosed with TMJ and a bite plate did not resolve the issue that she started investigating what she could be dealing with. A symptom list on the CanLyme website had over 40 symptoms noted that she had been dealing with.
This led her to a doctor that was practising at the time in Port Hawkesbury and a clinical diagnosis of tick-borne diseases. Treatment resulted in a significant reduction of symptoms but the doctor closed his practice before they had all fully resolved.
Since her “aha” moment she has been a strong advocate for all things tick related. She represented Nova Scotians in Ottawa via her N.S. Lyme Support Group; helped organize Lyme Conferences; runs a monthly Lyme Support Group; formed a N.S. Lyme Advocacy group that presented to all three main provincial parties; and was a founding member of the Nova Scotia Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Association.
She wants to see at least one dedicated Tick-Borne Diseases clinic in the province and also wants to ensure that all health care providers are better educated about all tick-borne diseases.
Vice President & Founding MemberTreasurer & SecretaryScott Savage
Scott is an outdoor enthusiast who first learned about ticks and Lyme disease after moving to Nova Scotia, in 1999, but didn’t pay too much attention to the issue. Having grown up in Northern Ontario, where ticks and Lyme were rarely discussed, the issue was not on his radar at the time. He left Nova Scotia for work which allowed him to live in several provinces before returning in 2019. Lyme disease was still not on his radar.
In 2022, he began experiencing a range of unexplained health issues. Like many others, he attributed these symptoms to aging and was unaware that they aligned with common Lyme disease symptoms identified by CanLyme website. He never experienced the classic bullseye rash or persistent flu‑like symptoms, and his condition went undiagnosed for several years, despite ongoing contact with health‑care providers.
In the winter of 2025, Scott’s physiotherapist raised the possibility of Lyme disease after persistent swelling failed to respond to medication. Following further assessment, Scott was tested and received a positive Lyme diagnosis the following week. After completing two rounds of doxycycline, his health has begun to improve.
Motivated by his experience, Scott joined the Lyme & Tick‑Borne Diseases Nova Scotia Association, where he continues to build his knowledge of Lyme and other tick‑borne illnesses and their impact across the province. He is particularly passionate about raising awareness, as these conditions remain under‑recognized within the healthcare systems.
As a committee member, Scott is dedicated to improving public understanding of Lyme disease and promoting practical safety measures for anyone spending time outdoors. He now performs frequent tick checks and encourages others to take proactive steps to protect themselves and pets while enjoying nature in Nova Scotia.
Director and Founding MemberLisa Learning
Lisa, faced every parent’s worst nightmare: a Lyme disease diagnosis for her children. Suddenly, the backyard felt like a battlefield and the forest felt like a threat.
When she looked for protection, she found a broken market. On one side were harsh, synthetic chemicals she didn't want near her kids; on the other were "natural" essential oil sprays that she felt offered nothing more than an anecdotal sense of security.
This pushed Lisa to lean into her indigenous roots and "MacGyver" resourcefulness. She spent years collaborating with scientists to harness refined formulas. She founded PureGard to ensure that no family ever has to choose between protecting their health and enjoying the great outdoors. Lisa continues to lead the company as CEO.
She helped found the Lyme Nova Scotia Association in 2025 and continues to support the group as an actively involved Director.
DirectorDoug Thompson
Director