Board 2007-2008

“The Katimavik program gives young Canadians a unique opportunity to get to know the different regions of Canada, their populations and cultures. Youth contribute to the social and community development of communities and learn what volunteering and Canadian values are. My experience in federal public service and my knowledge of Canadian universities allow me to believe that I can contribute to the program and its growth.”
– Robert Giroux, February 2005 

Robert J. Giroux was president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada from 1995 until March 2004. Before joining AUCC in 1995, he was secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada and comptroller general of Canada. He also held the positions of president of the Public Service Commission of Canada, deputy minister of Public Works Canada, and deputy minister of National Revenue, Customs and Excise. Robert is a member of the Order of Canada, and a recipient of the Trudeau Medal from the Faculty of Administration of the University of Ottawa. He has received honorary doctorates from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario; the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario; the Université de Montréal in Montréal, Quebec;  McGill University in Montréal, Quebec; Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario; the University of Ottawa, in Ottawa, Ontario; and the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia. Robert currently serves on the board of directors of the Canadian Education Centre Network, Katimavik, the Canada School of the Public Service, the World University Service of Canada and the Canadian Council on Learning. He is also a member of the Canada Foundation on Innovation, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation and the Montreal International Centre for Governance. He has a bachelor’s degree in commerce and a master’s in science from the University of Ottawa.

Born in Rockland, Ontario, Huguette Labelle holds a doctorate in philosophy and education rom the University of Ottawa. She has received honorary degrees from Brock University, the University of Saskatchewan, Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, York University, Mount Saint Vincent University, the University of Windsor, University of Manitoba, Saint Paul University, St Francis Xavier University, Moncton University and l’Université de Montréal. She is a Companion of the Order of Canada. She is a recipient of the Vanier Medal of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada, the McGill University Management Achievement Award and l’Ordre de la Pléiade.

She is currently chancellor of the University of Ottawa; a member of the Council of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature; a member of the board of directors of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, CRC Sogema, Katimavik, the Canada School of Public Service, and Transparency International; a member of the Board of Trustees of the Africa Virtual University; and a member of the advisory council of the Export Development Corporation, the World Bank Institute, the Canadian Bureau for International Education, the COADY International Institute and  New York University/Wagner. She is chair of the board of directors of the Centre for the Financial Services Ombudsnetwork and of the E7 Scholarship Selection Committee.  She is co-chair of the National Advisory Committee of World Urban Forum III. She also provides advisory services to national and international institutions.

Huguette was president of the Canadian International Development Agency from 1993 to 1999, deputy head of the Millenium Bureau of Canada in 1998, deputy minister of Transport Canada from 1990 to 1993, chairman of the Public Service Commission of Canada 1985 to 1990, associate secretary to the Cabinet and deputy clerk of the Privy Council in 1985, and under secretary of state in the Department of the Secretary of State from 1980 to 1985. From 1973 to 1980, she held senior executive positions in Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and in Health and Welfare Canada. Before joining the Canadian government, she held management positions in health science education and in nursing education. Between 1974 and 1976, she served as a consultant to the government  of Haiti and Cuba on health care planning and on health sciences education.

Huguette has served as president or chairman of the Canadian Red Cross Society; the board of trustees of the Ottawa General Hospital; the board of the Ottawa Health Sciences Centre Inc. and the Transportation Association of Canada; the board of Algonquin College, the Ottawa-Carleton United Way, the Management Consulting Institute and the Canadian Nurses Association; vice-chair of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development and the World Health Organization’s Working Group on Health and Development Policies; vice-president of the Canadian Safety Council; co-chair of the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Health Manpower Management Systems; member of the Board of Governors of the International Development Research Centre, the Export Development Corporation, the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, Carleton University, McGill University, the State of the World Forum, the International Aviation Management  Training Institute, the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation, the Public Policy Forum, the Collegium of Work and Learning, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Collaboration Santé Internationale and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada. She was also a member  of the Organizing Committee of the World Youth Employment Summit, a commissioner of the World Commission on Globalization, a member of the advisory panel to the premier of Ontario on the review of the design and funding of postsecondary education in Ontario and chaired the Asian Development Bank ADF IX negotiations.

A native of Montreal, Jacques has made his living as a journalist, author and editor. He was a contributor to the Montreal daily newspaper Le Devoir (1951-1953), and created the publishing companies Éditions de l’Homme (1958) and Éditions du Jour (1961).

He is also a prolific writer of testimonials, editorials, investigative pieces and travel stories.

In 1963, with his friend Pierre Elliott Trudeau, he founded the League of Human Rights (now the Civil Liberties Union), and was its president until 1972. Many struggles to defend basic rights originated with the League, even before the charters of rights were adopted in Canada and Quebec.

In 1977, he created Katimavik. How would he describe Katimavik’s beginnings?

“Once upon a time there was a simple little idea, a tiny spark that set off a lovely blaze because the wood was good and the wind a willing accomplice,” wrote Jacques Hébert in Have Them Build a Tower Together, the story of the program’s first year. This simple idea was difficult to achieve, as at that time, there was a great deal of suspicion towards young people living communally. Since then, the program’s history has had its ups and downs. But the ideal remains the same: to offer young Canadians a meeting place where they can flourish.

In 1983, he was named to the Canadian Senate and was a Senator until his retirement in 1998. He has been honoured in many other ways for his remarkable contribution to Canadian society, including a nomination in 2002 for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Jean-Guy D. Bigeau has served in a variety of senior management positions and directed teams of professionals in the fields of education and community development at both regional and national levels. His expertise includes managing large budgets, implementing strategic planning initiatives and running major fundraising campaigns, in addition to contributing to the development of community programs.

Jean-Guy was appointed executive director of Katimavik-OPCAN, a national youth service organization financed by the Department of Canadian Heritage, in 1999. Katimavik is Canada’s leading national volunteer service program for youth. It provides young Canadians with the opportunity to participate in a program that fosters their personal and professional development through a combination of volunteer service in the community, leadership-oriented training and group living.

During his tenure, Jean-Guy has organized several major activities aimed at improving management of the program and ensuring its long-term sustainability. His initiatives have included the development and implementation of a strategic planning process, an organizational evaluation framework focusing on a results-based management approach, a comprehensive program review, a plan to diversity funding sources, the development of a Katimavik Alumni Association, and an integrated development and marketing plan. He is currently developing a variety of other initiatives through strategic alliances both at a national and international level.

From 1994 to 1999, Jean-Guy served as executive director of the Canadian Crossroads International (CCI). Financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), this international organization recruits Canadian volunteers to serve and foster international cooperation in more than 30 developing countries.

From 1992 to 1994, he was the chief executive officer of the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS), a national academic association funded through the Department of Canadian Heritage. The ACS works primarily with universities across Canada and the world developing exchange programs, publications and research projects aimed at promoting Canadian studies at home and abroad.

From 1986 to 1992, he was appointed chief executive officer for Le Carrefour, a regional learning centre in northern Ontario. He was responsible for implementing a series of new and innovative community programming initiatives. He also initiated a comprehensive strategic planning process with the board of directors that included a funding and program diversification strategy.

Bigeau began his professional career in management in 1978, when he first joined the Katimavik-OPCAN team as provincial coordinator, actively involved in the implementation of a new youth service program. From 1979 to 1986, he was a member of the senior management team in the Prairies, Northwest Territories and Nunavut regional office. He was an active player in the program’s expansion, which at that time was serving more than 4,500 young Canadians every year and had an operating budget of nearly $50 million.

Jean-Guy’s plans are to continue to be actively involved in raising awareness and appreciation of the diversity of this great country, while working to encourage the building of lasting connections between all members of our society. He considers Katimavik a powerful vehicle for calling the attention of young people to Canada’s richness and cultural diversity.

Anne-Marie is a Senior Manager with the Advisory Services practice of KPMG s.r.l./s.e.n.c.r.l. in Montreal. Her key focus area is developing and delivering improvements to the Finance function of companies of varying sizes and industries, making them a true business partner within their organization.

Anne-Marie was born in Ottawa, Ontario, and grew up in Gatineau, Québec. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Université du Québec à Hull, and is a member of the Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec since 1998. She also holds a Master of Business Administration, with a specialty in Finance, from HEC Montréal.

Since 2006, Anne-Marie has been a member of both the board of directors and the audit committee of the Héma-Québec Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to provide financial support for the design and development of innovative projects to keep Héma-Québec on the cutting edge of new knowledge and services related to blood donation, stem cells and human tissues.

Before joining KPMG, Anne-Marie worked for another international consulting firm specializing in the improvement large corporations’ financial performance. She has also worked in audit for an international audit firm for clients of varying sizes and industries.

Dr. Brent Slobodin is the assistant deputy minister of advanced education in the Yukon Government. With 19 years of experience in northern public administration, he has a strong commitment to adult education, literacy, apprenticeship and training initiatives. Dr. Slobodin believes strongly in collaborative approaches to adult education with First Nations and is always willing to try innovative approaches that will contribute to healthy communities and a strong northern labour market. He has worked in education, devolution and policy for Yukon Government and has experience working directly for First Nations in the field of education.

Born and raised in Medicine Hat, AB, he received degrees from the University of Alberta and Queen’s University, from which he received a Doctorate of Canadian History in 1986. After several years of teaching at Queen’s University, he moved to the Yukon in 1988. In addition to his public government experience, Dr. Slobodin has been a prominent voice in Yukon heritage, having served for almost 15 years as president of the Yukon Historical and Museums Association and from 1993-99, as the Yukon member on the board of the Heritage Canada Foundation. He backed up his commitment to Yukon heritage and post-secondary education by teaching courses in Northern and Yukon History at Yukon College for 13 years.

Never one to shy away from supporting and working with youth, he has invariably been a baseball coach and president of Baseball Yukon/Whitehorse. For close to 4 years, he was the assistant vice-president of the Volunteers Division of the Canada Winter Games, which was held for the first time north of 60 in February-March 2007. He counts as one of his greatest achievements being part of a volunteers division that recruited 4,100 volunteers in a territory comprising 32,000 people.

Bruce has initiated and led many projects and organizations throughout his career, including a successful home energy audit program, a youth action network, a municipal land-use-planning coalition, and a rural development communications project. He has lived and worked in Namibia, South Africa, Malawi, Cameroon, Indonesia and the South Pacific.

He is the former president of the Newfoundland-Labrador Human Rights Association, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Adult Education Association. He currently sits on the Public Advisory Panel of the Canadian Electricity Association’s Environmental Commitment and Responsibility program.

Bruce has a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Dalhousie University and a master’s degree in adult education from St. Francis Xavier. He is also a LEAD Fellow (Leadership for Environment and Development). Recently, he worked with LEAD and local agencies in Togo, West Africa, to develop a participatory communications initiative using video, radio, drama, art and the Internet to involve all sectors of society in the struggle against HIV/AIDS.

The education and empowerment of youth are priorities that have dominated Justin Trudeau’s professional and personal life. Shortly after completing a bachelor of arts degree in English literature at McGill University, Justin moved to Vancouver to earn a bachelor’s of education degree from the University of British Columbia. For the next four years, Justin devoted himself to teaching children of all ages, in public and private schools, in a range of subjects which included English, French and math.

Today, Justin works to increase the engagement of Canada’s youth towards their country, their communities and their environment. 

In addition to Katimavik, Justin is also involved with the Canadian Avalanche Foundation, promoting intelligent risk-taking and safety awareness; Harvest Montreal, the Montreal area’s largest food bank; and wilderness groups such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. 

Justin presently resides in Montreal, but his work with a large number of diverse organizations and levels of government keeps him travelling extensively to help ensure that Canada is prepared to meet the challenges and responsibilities its future holds.

Katherine was born and raised in the Toronto area and has had an exciting business career spanning 25 years.

She is an experienced senior operating executive with expertise in supply chain management, logistics, enterprise risk management and general management in global industrial companies. In her most recent role as senior vice-president of global services (information systems, logistics & supply chain, procurement, enterprise risk management and facilities) at Falconbridge Ltd., Katherine was responsible for service delivery and for improving business results by reducing costs and working capital and by increasing asset productivity. Katherine’s prior roles have included profit and loss responsibility for a $200M business, leading internal consulting and change projects, Canadian sales management, marketing management, operations planning, and corporate legal counsel.

Katherine has also taught at the university level, worked as a judicial law clerk and been a public policy adviser with the Ontario Government. She is active as a corporate director and advisory board member, having served in start-ups, subsidiaries, publicly traded companies and associations.

Throughout her career Katherine has been devoted to her family and maintained her passion for Canada, our North, and the environment. She has a strong belief in the need to mentor, coach and develop our young people to help keep Canada strong and vibrant. She has mentored formally and informally in the workplace, with the Schulich School of Business and with the Women’s Executive Network, where she is a member of the Toronto advisory board.

Katherine’s formal education includes a Masters of Business Administration from York University, a Bachelor of Law from the University of Windsor, and a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from the University of Toronto. She is also a graduate of the University of Toronto Rotman, Director Education Program. She has been named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Katherine is delighted to serve on the Katimavik board of directors.

Patricia “Trish” Wuttunee grew up on the West Island of Montreal, the youngest child of four.  Through these years, she worked as a lifeguard, swim instructor and swim team coach, specializing in the eight-and-under category of future swim champions.

In 1990, after studying at Concordia and working for two years as a realtor, Wuttunee moved to Vancouver.  She founded MACI Conventions in 1993, which produces some of Vancouver’s most prestigious events every year.

Trish is president of the Western Association of Exhibition Management and sponsors a student mentoring program with the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Recently, she has begun to accept speaking engagements, such as a half-day workshop titled “Stand UP to Stand OUT –  Promoting Your Business Through Trade Shows.”

Renaud Sylvain was born in Blainville, Québec. Even at a young age, his deep interest in social involvement was readily apparent and culminated in his being awarded a Leadership bursary for his college studies, in recognition of his participation in numerous social and cultural projects.

During the 2004-2005 school year, he decided to take a year off. Renaud began his first real journey, an almost four-month long stint in a Costa Rican community, which enabled him to live a rewarding community involvement experience and help develop a more altruistic world. Still high on that invigorating project and hungry for more, he accepts Katimavik’s invitation and delves into this great Canadian journey. Between January 24 and August 24, 2005, he visited the communities of Thessalon (ON), Saint-Cyprien (QC) and Deer Lake (NL).

Active, committed, interested, motivated and open to others and their differences, Renaud lead a multitude of projects. He also participated in another humanitarian internship project in Cuba, in January 2006, as well as in the Prix littéraire des collégiens contest, where he won the privilege to publish a literary review in the newspaper Le Devoir.

During the 2006-2007 school year, he helped spread the word about Katimavik to youth in the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions. He also worked as a special events coordinator for the Ciy of Blainville’s leisure and community development service in summer 2006. Between January and May 2007, he assisted the Québec regional office in promoting the program throughout the metropolitan area. Since May 2007, Renaud has been working on various leisure activities programs for the City of Blainville, most of which are specifically aimed at teenagers. His greatest wish is to give them access to personal growth opportunities that are just as rewarding as the ones he experienced during the past few years.

Currently enrolled in the group leadership and cultural research undergraduate degree at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Renaud hopes to make both the young and old more aware of the importance of active citizenship. However, his real ambition is to use his work to inspire other to dream, as he most fervently does, of a community life where human relations and the maximization of everyone’s talents will fuel all our collective initiatives.

His involvement with the board of directors represents an extraordinary opportunity to develop this type of “better living” together. It’s a way to bring the aspirations and desires of all participants, past, present and future, to the very heart of the Katimavik family, in order to give all young Canadians a chance to live an experience just as rewarding and life-changing as his own. In essence, it’s really a chance to show the positive, long-term impact Katimavik can have on Canadian youth, and how the program not only benefits regional economic progress, but also brings citizens from different communities closer together and inspires youth to change the world in their own way. Getting involved with the board of directors is a way to remain an active citizen working to make this country a better place, where everyone can leave their mark on society.

Rosanne is proud of her Saskatchewan prairie roots and loves this “Land of the Living Skies” for its natural beauty and its sense of community – people helping people.
Her key personal and professional interests are social justice, holistic and culturally affirming education, as well as child and youth development and empowerment.

She is currently a senior executive in education with the Saskatchewan government and has led a number of provincial strategies such as integrated school-linked services, community education including community elementary and high schools, early childhood development, and early learning and child care. She was a major contributor to the award-winning Saskatchewan Action Plan for Children, a key multi-department plan between government and communities to improve the lives of the province’s children and youth – particularly the most vulnerable. She is recognized as a champion of youth engagement.

Rosanne also has extensive cross-cultural experience in youth education and development through her teaching at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and the University of Regina.

Over the years, Rosanne has been an active volunteer in her community involving women’s shelters, literacy education for immigrant women, supports to sexual assault victims, and fundraising and education for HIV/AIDS in Africa through the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

She is passionate about “getting it right” for children and youth and about collaboration with First Nations and Metis peoples.

Before joining CTV, Seamus worked in in the federal political scene as assistant to Jean Charest in Ottawa and to Newfoundland Justice Minister Edward Roberts. He was also policy advisor and speechwriter to Brian Tobin when he was premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2000, Seamus joined talktv's current affairs program, “the chatroom.” He began his duties at Canada AM in 2002.

He serves on the boards of Katimavik; the Rooms, which houses the Provincial Art Gallery Museum; the Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador; and the Company Theatre of Toronto.

Sharon is a dynamic and passionate leader with over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector.

She is currently the director of development at the REALTORS Care Foundation (RCF), which is supported by the 44,630 REALTORS® and their 43 real estate boards, who volunteer and fundraise on behalf of the RCF. 100% of the funds are invested and the interest earned is granted out to shelter-related charities.

Sharon recently completed her Master of Philanthropy & Development from Saint Mary’s University, in Minnesota. She wrote her thesis on fundraising in diverse communities, using the Chinese community as an example.

Sharon became a certified fund raising executive (CFRE) in 2004 and was re-certified in 2007. She has a certificate in Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations from York University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.

She is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).