About Us:

Annette Cross ~ President and BC HIS Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist
is the owner of Provincial Hearing Services. She started her career in the industry in 1993 as a secretary. She found helping people so rewarding that she now has her Board Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences. In 1997, she had the opportunity to purchase the business from the previous owner, Don Allen. Annette feels very fortunate to have been given such a wonderful opportunity, and has worked hard to build the business. Annette brings with her 24 yrs of customer service experience, and realizes the importance of listening to her patients so she can provide second to none service. Annette has been involved with the Provincial and Atlantic associations, as well as a board member for the National association and CHIPS, which enables Annette to stay on top of the latest changes in the industry.

Because of her success, Annette has been able to give back to the community and to the hard of hearing. Annette has dedicated her time to volunteer on hearing missions around the world in which she helps children discover the world of hearing. It has greatly enriched her life. She now has four locations across the province, Bridgewater, Truro, Kentville and Halifax, with 11 employees who are committed to providing the same customer service that is so important to Annette.

Annette lives in Hebbville with her husband, Randall Pernette. She has three grown sons, Darrell, Brandon and Cole, and her three grandchildren, who she adores. She loves traveling, painting, driving her Harley, or just relaxing by the lake. But mostly she enjoys entertaining and spending time with her family and friends.

Annette loves the satisfaction she gets from helping people to enjoy a greater quality of life.

Brenda Colp ~ BC HIS Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist
has been with Provincial Hearing Services Bridgewater office since 2001. Brenda has over 20 experience in customer service but Annette knew that her cousin had the passion needed for a career in hearing healthcare industry, so Annette invited Brenda to join the business. Both Brenda and Annette had experienced how difficult it was to communicate with their hearing impaired grandparents. Brenda’s passion, dedication, and ability to go above and beyond has been a welcome asset to the business. Brenda is the Vice President of the Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Atlantic Canada as well as a member of Nova Scotia Hearing Aid Society and the Canadian Hearing Instrument Society.

Brenda was born and raised on the South Shore. She presently lives in Bridgewater with her husband. She has a grown son, a step son, as well as three grandchildren. She loves cooking, riding with her husband on the motorcycle, playing the fiddle, gardening and spending time with family and friends.

Brenda is dedicated to her career of providing personalized hearing health care.

Cole Crouse ~ BA HIS Hearing Instrument Specialist and Clinical Manager
has been employed at Provincial Hearing Services since 2004. He is very familiar with the business, being the son of Annette. In 2004 he decided that he would like to work in the same industry and help people hear better. So he has obtained his Hearing Instrument Specialist qualifications, and has been fully licensed now for over 4 years. Cole is the Clinical Manager for all four locations and has been a part of the Provincial Hearing Aid team in all offices as well.

Cole has finished his BA at Dalhousie University and is continuing his studies in the business. His passion for helping enrich people lives through better hearing has enriched his life as well. Cole started The Dalhousie Hard of Hearing society and is the Vice President of the Nova Scotia Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society. He is also a member of the National, and Atlantic hearing societies. His long term goal is to promote equal opportunity for hearing impaired individuals and work with his mother to grow the business and to eventually take over when she retires.

In his spare time, Cole enjoys playing guitar, playing soccer, and spending time with family & friends.

Holly King ~ HIS Hearing Instrument specialist
started training to be a Hearing Instrument Specialist at our Truro location in February 2006. She began her studies as a Hearing Instrument Specialist at Grant MacEwan college in 2003. She received her Hearing Instrument Specialist certification in November 2006. Holly has a lifetime of experience dealing with hearing loss as she and her family have a mild to moderate hearing loss since birth. Her extensive background in customer service as well as her enthusiasm are welcome assets to our team.

Holly, her husband and two boys have settled back in the Truro area. Holly is glad to be back in the Maritimes practicing her profession close to home. She is looking forward to educating people of all ages about the importance of hearing aids and the difference they can make in your life.

Michelle Brushett ~ HIS
has been working in our Kentville office since 2007. She has currently completed her Hearing Instrument Specialist Diploma. She is a graduate from NHRHS as well as studies at Memorial University . Michelle thoroughly enjoys her job of enriching peoples lives with personalized hearing healthcare as well as getting to know them and their families, this has been a very rewarding aspect of her job. Michelle has over 15 yrs of customer service experience and her dedication , honesty, and genuine love of the business is a welcome addition to the Provincial team.

Originally from Burin, Newfoundland, Michelle now resides in Kentville with her hubby Daren Crouse and her dog Molly. She has two children, Krystelle, who is currently getting ready to release her first CD, and Kristian, who returned to her home town in Newfoundland after graduating from NGRHS.

Fern Barkhouse ~ Clinic Administrator
has been with Provincial Hearing Services since 1998. Starting out as secretary/bookkeeper, Fern is now the Financial Controller for all locations. Her dedication and concern for the patient is what makes Fern a valued employee and an integral part of the team.

Prior to working here, she held several positions in the clerical field, the first and longest (13 years) was with Eastern Bakeries Berwick, where she was office manager for 10 years. She graduated from a stenography course at Kingstec in 1991, finishing first place in all the business courses that year.

Fern lives with her mother and cats in the small community of East Dalhousie. She enjoys crafts, gardening and the beautiful outdoors.

Kathy Archibald ~ Client Care Representative
joined Provincial Hearing Services in September, 2004. An Administrative Assistant graduate, Kathy brings twenty five years of office administration and customer service experience with her. Kathy professionalism and organizational skills makes her a wonderful addition to the Provincial Hearing Aid team.

Kathy grew up in the fortress town of Louisbourg, Cape Breton, moved to the Annapolis Valley in 1984 and then to Truro in 1996 where she currently resides. In her spare time she enjoys reading, doing crypto quotes and crossword puzzles, walking and spending time at the cottage.

Helen Pickrem ~ Client Care Representative
has been working at the Provincial Hearing Services Bridgewater office as a receptionist since 2005. She brings 25 years experience in customer service. Previously along with her husband, she owned their own business, giving her a different prospective on the business world. Helen originally started her career working for a medical supply company and is happy to return to a similar field.

Helen was born and raised in Halifax County. She now resides with her husband and 3 dogs in Oakhill. She enjoys gardening, and being a passenger on her husband's motorcycle. Vroom, Vroom!

Melissa Munroe ~ Client Care Representative
has worked as a Receptionist in the Kentville office since August 2006. With over 5 years of previous experience in administration and customer service, her friendly, warm personality makes her a welcome part of the team

Melissa grew up in the Valley, and currently resides in Kenville. She graduated from The Academy of Learning in Halifax in 2003 with a diploma for Microcomputer Business Applications. She enjoys reading and spending time with her cats.

Theresa Chase ~ Customer Care Representative
has been with Provincial Hearing Services since the opening of our newest office in Halifax Sept 2009
Her dedication to customer service as well as her 15 yrs experience in customer service makes Theresa the perfect fit for our our team.

Theresa was born in Bridgewater and now resides in Dartmouth with her partner Mark, daughter, step-daughter and son. She is dedicated to her family and enjoys entertaining, gardening, as well as camping.

Wendy Dixon ~ HIS Hearing Instrument Specialist
has worked as a Hearing Specialist for the past four yrs and is the latest addition to Provincial Hearing Aids team. Originally from Yarmouth, with a career in banking, she moved to Thailand where she taught kick boxing and English toThai students as well as home schooling her own two children. Upon moving back home to Fall River, she found her true passion, helping people reconnect to their family and friends through better hearing.

She loves working with people and is known for her positive attitude and dedicated customer service. Wendy likes to stay active by walking, running , gardening, cooking and riding her Harley.

Tammy Rowter ~ Business Manager
has been with Provincial Hearing Services since Sept 2009.With the business growing, Annette felt that in order to maintain Provincial's high level of customer service that a business manager was needed, so she invited Tammy, another cousin to join the Provincial family. Her enthusiasm, organizational skills and understanding of the profession, ensures our dedication to help our patients through the entire hearing experience.

Tammy resides in Pleasantville with her husband and son. Her hobbies included reading, softball, camping and being a terrific hockey Mom to her son Jordan.