Advocate , Youth Program Leader, Public Speaker, Lifelong Learner

Paige Cox is a Cape Breton–based advocate, educator, and youth leader committed to advancing children and youth well-being, equity, and inclusion at the local, national, and global levels. She recently completed her Master of Education at Cape Breton University, where her studies focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and building a more sustainable and equitable future. This milestone represents Paige’s fourth post-secondary credential, alongside two bachelor’s degrees from Cape Breton University and a diploma from Holland College.

Paige is the founder of Dove Program Cape Breton, a female empowerment initiative created to support young girls in developing confidence, leadership skills, and the tools needed to thrive in today’s society. Through this work, she has built meaningful community partnerships and created safe, supportive spaces where young people can grow and lead.

In recognition of her extensive volunteerism and leadership with community youth—particularly in the Northside area of Cape Breton—Paige received the 2023 Cape Breton Vital Excellence Award, presented in January 2024.

Paige actively serves on several boards and advisory bodies. She represents the Cape Breton region on the Nova Scotia Child and Youth Care Worker Association, serves on the Young Canadians Roundtable on Health, and is a board member of NEADS (National Educational Association of Disabled Students), where she acts as the Director and provincial advocate for Nova Scotia, championing systemic change and improved supports for students with disabilities.

Most recently, Paige participated in the United Nations Canada Building Young Professionals Program, traveling to Waterloo, Ontario, to collaborate with young leaders from across Canada through policy, leadership, and advocacy-based workshops.

At the heart of her work, Paige is passionate about amplifying youth voices and helping build systems where all young people—especially those with disabilities—are empowered to succeed.

An experienced public speaker and youth advocate, Paige has presented her programming and advocacy work at conferences across Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ottawa, and Vancouver, with her most recent international presentation taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. She has also been selected for prominent representational roles, including representing her electoral district on Parliament Hill, attending the World Hunger Forum in Rome to address global food insecurity, and participating in the United Nations Assembly in New York to engage in discussions on global inequality.

A defining moment in Paige’s advocacy journey was being selected as the sole student speaker at TEDx Cape Breton University, where she shared her story of perseverance and her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.