OTTAWA, August 1, 2007 - Volunteer Canada has named Ruth MacKenzie as the organization’s new president, effective August 1, 2007. Ruth succeeds Marlene Deboisbriand, who joined the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.

Ruth first joined Volunteer Canada in 2001 and has been a member of the senior management team since 2003. As Director of Operations, she played a critical role in the implementation of the Canada Volunteer Initiative and provided instrumental leadership in establishing and sustaining relationships with a variety of partners and stakeholders, including Volunteer Canada’s Network of National Volunteer-Involving Organizations and volunteer centres across Canada.

“Ruth is passionate about volunteering. She is a strategic thinker and a trusted leader,” says Barney Ellis-Perry, Chair of Volunteer Canada’s Board of Directors. “We are honoured to have her as our president and the Board is committed to supporting her in this new role.”

Ruth has been working in the voluntary sector for over 15 years. Prior to joining Volunteer Canada, she worked at the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division and, later the Nova Scotia Division, in the area of volunteer development. With a life-long commitment to voluntary action, Ruth has been involved in countless volunteer opportunities from front-line, client-focused roles, to community-based activist work and at the leadership level through a variety of boards, committees and advisory groups.

Volunteer Canada has experienced many changes in the last year – from the elimination of federal support of the Canada Volunteerism Initiative to the subsequent reduction in staff running Volunteer Canada’s daily operations. Following Marlene Deboisbriand’s departure in April, Ruth MacKenzie assumed the role of interim president and led the organization through the transitional period. It is under Ruth’s continued leadership, now as president, that Volunteer Canada looks forward to a renewed focus in promoting volunteerism across the country and fostering a vibrant volunteer core.

About Volunteer Canada

Volunteer Canada is the national voice for volunteerism in Canada. Since 1977, the organization has been committed to increasing and supporting volunteerism and civic participation through ongoing programs, special projects and national initiatives, by developing resources and by engaging in research and training across the country. Working with volunteer centres, community and national organizations and businesses, Volunteer Canada actively leads national dialogues on how volunteerism is related to citizen engagement and civil society and provides leadership on issues and trends in the Canadian volunteer movement. To learn more about Volunteer Canada, please visit volunteer.ca.

To volunteer with Canada’s national voice for volunteerism, Volunteer Canada, call us at 613-231-4371 or 1-800-670-0401.

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Media Contact:

Elizabeth Gray-Smith

Manager of Communications

Volunteer Canada

613-231-4371, ext. 226

egraysmith@volunteer.ca