CANADIAN CENTRE ON SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION
RECRUITING NEW BOARD MEMBERS!
Who We Are
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) was established by a federal act of Parliament in 1988 as a nongovernmental organization. It is the only national organization with a legislated mandate to provide national leadership on substance use and addiction in Canada and to advance solutions to address alcohol- and other drug-related harms. CCSA has established a reputation as a credible and trusted source of objective evidence-informed information for almost 35 years.
CCSA provides guidance to decision makers by harnessing the power of research, collecting and organizing knowledge, and bringing together diverse perspectives to galvanize individual and collective efforts across the country. The Centre is uniquely positioned to address the harms of substance use in Canada by developing partnerships with not-for-profit organizations, health professional groups, government agencies, public health, law enforcement and industry.
CCSA Board Structure
A volunteer Board of Directors governs the Centre.
The CCSA Board of Directors is composed of 13 members. The Chairperson and up to four other directors are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Other directors, known as members-at-large, are selected and appointed by the CCSA Board itself. They are recruited from numerous sectors and represent a broad cross-section of geographical areas, interests, experience and expertise.
The CCSA Board of Directors is seeking applications to fill two member-at-large vacancies.
CCSA is committed to providing an environment where diversity and inclusion are valued and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.
Term Length and Time Commitment
Board members typically serve a three-year term. They can be re-appointed for up to two additional terms. The Board meets for two-day meetings three to four times per year in Ottawa, virtually or in another city in Canada. Each board member is expected to serve on at least one committee, with committees usually meeting in advance of each board meeting.
Recruitment Focus
In general, the Board seeks to have its overall membership representative of:
- The regions of Canada
- Sectors having a role in substance use, addiction or both (e.g., business, not-for-profit, government)
- Relevant fields of work (e.g., health, mental health, education, criminal justice, public safety)
- Diverse expertise related to board governance (e.g., finance, human resources, government relations, law, risk management)
To achieve this representativeness, certain requirements may be highlighted in any given recruitment process, depending on the Board’s needs at the time of the recruitment. Currently, the CCSA Board is recruiting applicants with one or more of the following skillset areas:
- Clinical or research experience in substance use, addiction, mental health or any combination
- Experience in criminal justice or public safety
- Experience in government or public relations
- Financial management expertise
Please note that to satisfy the Board of Directors geographic coverage requirements, preference will be given to candidates from the following provinces and territories:
- Atlantic Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island)
- The North (Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut)
- The Prairies (Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta)
The CCSA Board of Directors is committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. We aim to ensure the Board is comprised of directors who reflect the cultural, ethnic, linguistic, gender and racial characteristics of Canada. In our activities and deliberations, we also recognize the critical importance of having the perspective of those with lived or living experience with substance use, addiction, mental health or any combination of these. We encourage applications from those who would enrich our Board membership in these ways.
Applicants will be considered based on their relevant knowledge and experience, and their ability to contribute to discussions and provide insight on CCSA’s current and future business interests. These are interest impacting CCSA’s strategic direction to continually improve our influence across the country as we look to reduce the harms of substance use. The Board is also looking for directors who can positively contribute to its reconciliation journey with Indigenous peoples of Canada.
Applications
If you are interested in joining the CCSA Board of Directors, please provide us with your resume and a letter of interest highlighting your skills, work and life experience, and any other attributes related to our needs and priorities noted above. Please ensure you include the reasons you believe you would be an excellent choice for the CCSA Board of Directors. Send your application by June 30, 2022, to:
Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee
c/o Irene Brady
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
500 — 75 Albert Street
Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7
Fax: 613-235-8101
Email: ibrady@ccsa.ca
Please mark CONFIDENTIAL on the outside of the envelope, on the fax cover sheet or in the subject line of the email. The information you provide is for the sole use of the CCSA Board’s Nominations and Governance Committee and is considered confidential.
The Nominations and Governance Committee will review all applications received and select and interview prospective candidates. The Committee recommends the final candidate or list of candidates to the Board of Directors for a decision.
Thank you for your interest in CCSA and for your submission. Please note that only those who will be interviewed will be contacted.