Scouts Canada, the country’s leading youth organization, offers challenging programs for boys, girls and youth age 5-26 in thousands of individual groups in most cities and towns across Canada.
Management Team
Board of Governors
His Excellency The Right Honourable David Johnston
Patron Scout
Governor General of Canada
Steve Kent
Chair of the Board & Chief Commissioner
Mount Pearl, NL
Steve has served as Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Governors since November 2008. He has been involved in Scouting since joining as a Cub Scout in 1986. He lives in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, with his wife, Janet, and sons, Benjamin and Ciaran. He holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Memorial University and a Masters degree in Management from McGill University. He is currently serving his second term as a Member of the House of Assembly in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. He is also the co-owner of FOCUS Driver Training Incorporated, which operates the Young Drivers of Canada centres in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a youth member, Steve was the founding chair of Scouts Canada’s National Youth Committee in 1995.
Jessica Page
Vice Chair of the Board – Strategic
Toronto, ON
Jessica Page joined the Scouting Movement at the age of 11 after tagging along with a friend to a meeting of the 1st Garry Oak Sea Scout troop and begging the leaders to let her in to the already ‘full’ group. After a year of backcountry backpacking, skiing, and sailing, she was hooked. Thirteen years later, Scouting is still providing her with opportunities for adventure and personal development. Jessica was born and raised in Victoria, BC. Jessica chose to pursue post-secondary studies at the University of Victoria, where she completed a Bachelor of Science with Distinction, majoring in biology with a dual focus on marine invertebrates and molecular genetics. In order to merge her love for science and her desire to help others in a tangible way on a daily basis, Jessica decided to pursue a career in medicine. She accepted a position in the University of Toronto Doctor of Medicine program and has lived in Toronto since August 2008. Prior to being elected as Vice-Chair – Strategic, Jessica served as Deputy Executive Commissioner – Youth.
Jon Himmens
Vice Chair of the Board – Finance
Calgary, AB
Jon is the Technical Services Leader for IBM's Global Resiliency Services for Western Canada. Jon began his career in 1986, with a small accounting firm in Birmingham, England, where he gained his accounting qualifications, Jon went on to work for Royal Bank of Scotland Group where he was responsible for Internal Audit and Corporate Governance within the Financial Services Division. From 1996 to 2003, Jon was responsible for Governance, Disaster Recovery, and Insurance for the London Stock Exchange, during which time he gained his technical insurance qualifications. In 2003 Jon moved to Canada and subsequently completed his Executive MBA at the University of Calgary. Jon has been associated with Scouting since being a Cub. Moving through the organization, Jon eventually served as a Scout Leader for 13 years. Jon lives in Calgary and is married with two children.
Glenn Armstrong
Past Chair of the Board & Chair of the Nominating Committee
Winnipeg, MB
Glenn started his involvement in Scouting as a youth member of the Cub, Scout, Venturer and Rover programs in Brandon, MB. As an adult, Glenn has worked with sections from Beavers to Venturers in Edmonton, AB, Ottawa, ON, and Winnipeg, MB. He has also served at the group committee, district, service area, provincial and national levels in a variety of program and administrative positions including Provincial President of Manitoba Council and Deputy Executive Commissioner for Western Canada. He was appointed as the Chief Commissioner by Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, from November of 2005 to November 2008.
Glenn is an Executive with the Public Service of Canada. He is the Regional Director of Measurement Canada, an Agency of the Department of Industry, which encompasses the four Western provinces and the three Northern Territories. Glenn has been married for 35 years, has two grown children (one married) and no grandchildren. Glenn and his wife, Colleen, live in Winnipeg.
Michael McKay
Executive Commissioner & Chief Executive Officer
Ottawa, ON
Michael McKay first joined Scouting as a Cub Scout in Sackville, New Brunswick, in the early 1970s and has been involved in Scouting at various points over the last 40 years. His professional career started with the Canadian Forces at the Royal Military College where he studied engineering and went on to become an Aeronautical Engineer.
In 1992, Michael was selected as one of four of Canada's astronauts from 5,300 candidates, along with Julie Payette, Dave Williams and Chris Hadfield. He had to withdraw for medical reasons but remained active in the program until 1997, participating in several missions and working with the projects that were delivering the Space Vision System and the robotic arms for the International Space Station.
After leaving the military in 2001, Michael worked in the private sector, and has held the CEO role in two organizations. In 2005, he became the CEO of PixeLINK, a company that manufactured digital cameras for industrial applications. In 2009, he became the CEO of the Ottawa Flying Club/Flight College, a non-profit organization that provides professional flight training to commercial pilots. All told, he has 26 years of management and leadership experience.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Engineering Physics degree and a Master of Electrical Engineering degree from the Royal Military College and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Ottawa.
Michael is married with two daughters and lives in Ottawa. He continues to be involved in Scouting and is currently a volunteer leader with the 17th Southminster Scout Troop. His sport passions include cycling and gliding, which he enjoys at the Gatineau Gliding Club.
Board Members
Amy Barrett-Smith
Guelph, ON
Amy Barrett-Smith lives in Guelph, Ontario with her husband and two daughters. She is a Sales Manager at the Delta Guelph. Amy was a member of Scouting from 1993 until 2001 and has returned to join the Board of Governors.
Andrew Bienhaus
Binbrook, ON
Andrew Bienhaus lives in Binbrook, Ontario. He has been involved in Scouting since 1975 and is actively involved with the 1st Binbrook Group and as a member of the Board of Governors. Professionally, he works for Hive Research & Technology Ltd. as a Computer Hardware Engineer, IT consultant, and trainer. He is married and has two sons.
David Connelly
Yellowknife, NWT
David Connelly CStJ, CD, MBA, B.Comm., is a strategic consultant to organizations and Aboriginal groups implementing economic development opportunities. Having assisted over 30 successful strategic alliances; his approach considers broader economic development issues including: training, health, governance, and infrastructure. He has helped pioneer ground breaking partnerships and benefits agreements. David lives in Yellowknife, NT.
John A. Estrella
Markham, ON
Dr. John A. Estrella, CMC, PMP, is the President of Agilitek Corporation, a management consulting firm that specializes in helping senior management deliver large and complex IT projects. As a youth, John earned the Scouts Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), served as a youth council representative and attended the 8th BSP National Jamboree as a council contingent patrol leader. He also earned the Eagle Scout Award with Bronze Palm from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). His involvement with Scouts Canada started when his son joined the Beavers section. Since then, he has held several positions including section leader (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers), Group Commissioner and Deputy Area Commissioner. On the personal side, he is a husband, father, Scout leader, martial artist, marathon runner, triathlete, scuba diver and avid outdoor person. He lives in Markham, ON.
Peter Ford
Moncton, NB
Peter Ford is a Pharmacist in Moncton, New Brunswick where, along with his partner, they own and operate Ford’s Apothecary. He has seven children ages 1 to 25. He was a Cub Scout leader with his children from 1994 until 2003 and is now a member of the Board of Governors.
Leona Harari
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC
Leona Harari is from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC. She works for BDO Canada as the Senior Manager – Tax Services. She has been involved with Scouts Canada since 1996 and most recently served as Treasurer with Quebec Council.
Kimberly Hartlin
Halifax, NS
Kim Hartlin lives in Halifax, NS, where she works as a staff accountant with Deloitte and Touche. She completed her BBA in 2009 and her Chartered Accountant designation in 2010.
Craig D. Kielburger
Toronto, ON
Craig Kielburger is the co-founder of Free The Children, an international development and youth empowerment organization. Started in 1995 after Craig read an article about child labour in the newspaper, Free The Children has since built over 500 schools in the development world providing a daily education to over 50,000 children. Craig has made a lifelong commitment to the Scouting movement, even serving as the organization’s Centennial Ambassador. He credits his experiences as a Cub, Beaver and Scout as some of the most formative in his life, frequently referencing his love for the movement in his writing and speeches.
Sean Naldrett
Winnipeg, MB
Sean Naldrett is employed as a Staff Negotiator for Canada Safeway Limited with labour relations responsibilities for the province of Alberta. Sean holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (1998) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of Manitoba. In addition, Sean earned his Certified Human Resources Professional Designation in 2008.
Sean was involved with Scouting as a Beaver, Cub, Scout, Venturer, Rover and section leader. He earned his Chief Scout and Queens Venturer Awards. He attended CJ ’93 and CJ ’97 as well as the World Jamboree in Holland in 1995. He was involved in the early stages of Scouting’s youth involvement initiative, including membership on the National Youth Committee. He has recently returned to Scouting as a member of the National Board of Governors.
Sean lives in Winnipeg with his wife Christine and his daughter McKenzie.
Michael O'Connor
Oakville, ON
Decisive, results oriented senior marketing executive with a proven track record of implementing customer– focused and profit enhancing strategies; A business builder having led the creation of new marketing teams in the telecom, printing, media and energy services sectors; Extensive experience transitioning organizations from a product to a customer centric focus; Demonstrated leadership in aligning sales and marketing efforts; Operational leadership in the areas of branding, marketing communications, research, product/solution development, customer experience management, on-line, mobile and social marketing; International experience in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Michael is involved with the 1st Glenn Abbey Scouting Group in Oakville, ON.
Christian Perreault
Montreal, QC
Christian is the President of Microcom Computer Inc. He is a former Deputy National Commissioner and National Commissioner with l’Association des Scouts du Canada and is currently the National Vice President of l’Association. Christian lives in Montreal with his wife and two young children.
Neal Rice
Nepean, ON
Neal is currently a third year Commerce student at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, concentrating in Managing People and Organizations. He is also a member of the Sprott Business Students Society, and has participated in multiple events at school. In his professional life, Neal works for Scotiabank as a Customer Service and Support Representative, the former being a position he has held for two years. His work ethic and willingness to learn is recognized by his peers and supervisors, and he most recently received a distinguished achievement assessment. He has been involved in Scouting since he was a child and was elected to the Board of Governors in November 2010. He currently resides in Nepean, ON.
Brian Taylor
Edmonton, AB
Brian Taylor lives in Edmonton with his wife, Christine, and son, Jackson. He works with the Federal Civil Service as an Appraisal Analysis and Senior Lease Negotiator. He has been involved in Scouting since he was a Cub, and served as a member of the National Youth Committee. He is currently a member of the Board of Governors and is assisting with property issues.
Maurice Tuff
Mount Pearl, NL
Maurice Tuff is from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador. He is the President and CTO of Root Four Imagination. He was involved in Scouting as a youth, but has been away for several years. He returned to join the Board of Governors in November 2010.
Elizabeth Smith-Windsor
Saskatoon, SK
Elizabeth Smith-Windsor is currently enrolled in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. She has been involved in Scouting for many years and in 2010, became a Junior Baden-Powell Fellow with the World Scout Foundation.
Jafferali (Jaff) Valiani
Burnaby, BC
Jaff was born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1946. His parents moved to Tanganyika (now Tanzania), East Africa, 1950, and he grew up in Tanzania. An Accountant by trade, Jaff worked for Beatty Floors in Vancouver until his retirement. He joined Scouting in Canada in 1994 and has been a member ever since. Jaff resides in Burnaby, BC with his wife.
