By Hélène Gobeil, Communications and Campaigns Director
Close to 150 members attended this year’s two-part Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The first, mostly informative, part of the AGM was held on January 14. President Brenda Arakaza presented her report, which highlighted the first year of our strategic plan and the need to improve our communications with members to ensure greater collaboration and mutual understanding. Interim executive director Luke Stocking summarized the year’s activities by presenting the 2023-2024 Annual Report. These reports were followed by a question period and the presentation of candidates for national council positions.
The second part of the meeting was held on Saturday, January 25. Members received the financial statements, which had been previously approved by the national council. Only one proposal about the provincial and territorial representativeness of the national council was debated and rejected by a majority vote.
Change of guard at the national council
Heartfelt thanks were offered to outgoing national council members the Most Rev. Peter Hundt, archbishop of St. John’s, and Boris Polanski, member for the province of Quebec.
Marjolaine Mondon was elected as the Quebec representative on the national council. She has been a Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada member for over 12 years and has held various positions on the executive committee of our Montreal diocesan council.
The Most Rev. Bart van Roijen, bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador, was appointed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as their episcopal member to represent the Atlantic region on the national council.
Three national council members began their second mandate: Tashia Toupin, member for the Western region; The Most Rev. Jon Hansen, bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, episcopal member for the West; and Brenda Arakaza, francophone youth representative.
Following the AGM, the new national council held its first meeting to appoint its executive committee, which is now comprises:
- Gabrielle Dupuis, president
- Tashia Toupin, vice-president
- Danny Gillis, treasurer
- Frank Fohr, secretary
- The Most Rev. Jon Hansen, member
- Brenda Arakaza, outgoing president
Who is the new President of the National Council?
Gabrielle Dupuis is a Franco-Manitoban living in Ottawa since 2015. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human relations and spirituality from St. Paul University, where she works for the Providence Institute of Transformative Leadership. She also has a master’s degree in education from the University of Ottawa.
A member of Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada since 2013, Dupuis began her involvement with our movement serving as president and francophone youth representative on the Development and Peace committee at St. Boniface University. She subsequently held several positions as a delegate, youth ambassador and president of our anglophone Ottawa-Cornwall diocesan council. She has been a member of the national council since 2023.
Dupuis said, “I am honored to follow in Brenda Arakaza’s footsteps as the next president of the national council. I look forward to continuing to promote a synodal approach to leadership, good governance and responsible decision-making based on our values in the service of our members and partners.”
