The CPAWS-OV Advisory Board plays a very important role and we appreciate the amazing people who volunteer their time and expertise to contribute to our important work. Since CPAWS-OV is not an incorporated entity, but rather an affiliate of CPAWS National, our board is an Advisory Board which nonetheless provides strategic direction to our organization while the day-to-day campaign work is done by our team of employees.
As we plan our next Annual General Meeting (AGM) for fall 2025, we welcome individuals with a broad range of personal and professional experience to apply for one of three current vacancies. There are no requirements for a certain educational background, nor do you need to have previous experience as a board member. The most important qualities are passion for the work, an interest in non-profit leadership, and the ability and willingness to work with our dedicated team of volunteers and employees on conservation opportunities issues in the Ottawa River Watershed region of Quebec and Ontario. CPAWS-OV is invested in providing learning opportunities to less experienced individuals who express a strong interest and are willing to learn ‘on the job’.
We invite you to submit an expression of interest by September 15th, 2025, by sending an email to ov-outreach@cpaws.org. In your expression of interest, please include a CV and brief cover letter outlining the reason for your interest for the CPAWS-OV Advisory Board and the skills you bring to the role. The Nominations Committee will review all applications received and conduct interviews and ultimately propose a slate of candidates for a 3 year term staring in fall 2025.
What is expected of a board member?
The board meets approximately 6 times per year, on average, every other month —with a short summer break in July & August. On average, board members spend approximately 5 hours per month on meeting attendance, meeting preparations, CPAWS-OV events and committee work. The Advisory Board meets at the CPAWS-OV office, currently located in the Hull Sector of the City of Gatineau. A virtual connection option is always available for those unable to attend in-person.
Board members:
Provide financial oversight of the organization
Make informed decisions about policies and procedures that require a vote
Ensure legal and ethical integrity, and maintain accountability
Help increase the profile of the organization
Recruit and orient new board members
Monitor and supervise the Executive Director (ED) and regularly assess their performance
Participate in and attend local events as appropriate
Participate in program and campaign committees as desired, current committees include a Fundraising Committee, a Gatineau Park campaign committee and a National Capital Greenbelt campaign committee
Observe local conservation issues and forward them to the ED as appropriate
What’s in it for you?
There are many personal rewards to be gained from serving on the CPAWS Ottawa Valley Advisory Board:
Sharing with a team the accomplishment of doing something important for the land and waters of the Ottawa Valley and the future generations that rely on them.
An opportunity for you to work with an organization which is guided by principles that you are passionate about and help that organization accomplish its mission, goals and objectives.
Developing new skills and networks.
Using existing skills in new ways to address interesting and challenging issues.
Learning more about CPAWS-OV, its mission and operations and the many areas the organization works to safeguard.
We look forward to hearing from you!