Lisa Doucette
Founder & Principal Advisor, Lantern & Canary Advisory
I have always believed that meaningful change begins by seeing possibility where others may not yet see it.
Growing up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, in a coal mining family, I learned early the power of community, resilience, and looking out for one another. Generations of families, including my own, understood what it meant to navigate uncertainty - carrying a lantern to illuminate the path ahead and trusting the canary to sense what could not yet be seen.
That symbolism became the foundation for Lantern & Canary Advisory.
The lantern represents clarity, guidance, and the courage to move forward. The canary represents insight, awareness, and the ability to recognize opportunities and challenges before they emerge. Together, they reflect the heart of my work: helping organizations find their way, uncover possibility, and create meaningful impact.
My connection to place has shaped every part of who I am. Raised between the rugged coastline and close-knit communities of Cape Breton, I developed a deep appreciation for the relationship between people, land, and sea - and for the extraordinary things that happen when communities come together around a shared purpose.
For more than two decades, I have worked at the intersection of strategy, philanthropy, partnerships, and social impact. My career has taken me across Canada and around the world, working with organizations focused on education, health, conservation, agriculture, food security, and community development.
I have led multi-million-dollar fundraising initiatives, built transformational partnerships, advised leaders and boards, and helped organizations turn ambitious visions into strategies that inspire action. My experience includes leadership roles in higher education advancement, environmental conservation, international development, healthcare philanthropy, and the charitable sector - always with a focus on building relationships that create lasting change.
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, with a major in Animal Science, and have completed graduate studies toward a Master of Business Administration. This unique combination of science, strategy, and human connection allows me to approach challenges differently -balancing data and insight with storytelling, relationships, and purpose.
Through Lantern & Canary Advisory, I partner with leaders, boards, and organizations during moments of growth, transition, and possibility. Whether developing strategy, strengthening partnerships, preparing for transformational campaigns, or bringing a bold idea to life, my role is to help illuminate the path forward.
Because often, the greatest opportunities are already there - they simply need someone to help bring them into the light.
I am a settler Canadian, committed to reconciliation.
How I Found My Way Here: A Story Rooted in Purpose
I never set out to become a consultant. I set out to make a difference.
Growing up in a coal mining family in Cape Breton, I learned early that communities are built by people who show up for one another. Surrounded by the strength of mining communities, the rhythm of the ocean, and a deep connection to the land, I came to understand that meaningful change has always been rooted in relationships.
Those lessons have guided my entire career.
For more than two decades, I have worked alongside organizations dedicated to creating a better future — across healthcare, education, conservation, agriculture, food security, international development, and community impact. I have led transformational fundraising initiatives, built partnerships, supported leaders and boards, and helped turn ambitious ideas into action.
But somewhere along the way, I noticed something.
The organizations doing some of the most important work often weren’t lacking passion or purpose — they had plenty of both. What they needed was clarity. A strategy. A way to bring people together around a shared vision.
I realized the work I loved most was bigger than fundraising.
It was sitting beside leaders as they navigated change. It was uncovering the story beneath the work. It was connecting people, ideas, and opportunities. It was helping organizations see the possibilities that were already there.
My background in agriculture and business strengthened my belief in systems — that everything is connected. Strong organizations, like strong ecosystems, thrive when relationships are nurtured, foundations are healthy, and growth is intentional.
That belief became the foundation for Lantern & Canary Advisory.
The name honours where I come from and how I approach this work. For generations, miners carried lanterns to illuminate the path ahead and relied on canaries to recognize what could not yet be seen. To me, they represent the qualities every organization needs in moments of growth and transformation: clarity, awareness, courage, and trust.
Today, I partner with purpose-driven leaders, boards, and organizations to navigate complexity, uncover opportunity, and build strategies that create lasting impact.
Because the greatest possibilities are often already beneath the surface.
Sometimes, we just need a little light to find them.
Get in Touch
If you would like to explore options for your organization, please reach out to book a free 30 minute consultation.