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
National Leadership Team
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. Steve can be contacted at skent@scouts.ca or at 709.764.2301.
Michael McKay
Executive Commissioner & CEO
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.
Dylan Reinhart
National Youth Commissioner / Chair, National Youth Network
Dylan Reinhart is the National Youth Commissioner for Scouts Canada and Chair of the National Youth Network. Dylan was born and raised in Lakefield, Ontario, where he was a Beaver, Cub, Scout, Venturer and is presently a Rover. Dylan served White Pine Council both as an Area Youth Commissioner and a Council Youth Commissioner before taking on the role of National Youth Commissioner. Dylan’s Scouting adventures have included a trip to France as a member of a Remembrance Pilgrimage commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Somme and Beaumont‐Hamel and to England for the 21st World Scout Jamboree in the Centennial Year. Dylan is attending Trent/Queens Universities in their joint Primary Education Program.
J Anderson
Deputy National Commissioner - Marketing and Communications
J is in his 16th year of Scouting. He spent 10 years as a youth in Beavers, Cubs, Scouts (earning his Chief Scout Award) and Venturers. This is his sixth year as a Leader. He is currently a Cub Scout Leader with 2nd Glen Abbey in Oakville. Professionally J has worked at Microsoft Canada for the past 8 years, where he is currently the Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing. Previous roles at Microsoft include the Director of Marketing for Xbox and the Director of Retail Sales.
J lives in Oakville with his wife, son and daughter. In his spare time he enjoys reading, skiing, golf, camping and cottaging, physical fitness, amateur woodworking and home renovation.
Adam Benson
Deputy National Commissioner – Technology
A former Beaver, Cub and Rover in Newfoundland and Labrador, Adam Benson currently resides in Bedford, Nova Scotia. With an extensive background in business, Adam presently is a partner in a strategic IT management consulting firm, working with clients across North America. Adam looks forward to helping Scouts Canada build its marketing and technology strategies.
Charlie Brenchley
Deputy National Commissioner - Communications
Valarie Dillon
Executive Director - Human Resources and Volunteer Services
Valarie Dillon joined Scouts Canada in December 2010 as our Executive Director of Human Resources and Volunteer Services. In this position, she supports both staff and volunteers, and oversees our Volunteer Support Strategy. A seasoned human resources leader with over 20 years of experience, Valarie brings a specialization in talent development, enterprise performance and change management. She works collaboratively with Scout Canada’s staff and volunteer leadership to ensure that we have the talent we need now and in the future. In addition, she is concentrating on ensuring that the organizational design and performance management of employees and volunteers supports the Scouts Canada vision and strategic goals.
Philip Gazaleh
International Commissioner
Laura Jarvis
Deputy National Commissioner - Council Support
Brad McCabe
Executive Director - Development
Brad joined Scouts Canada in October 2010 as our first Executive Director of Development when Scouts Canada took over fundraising responsibilities. He lives in Toronto, ON. Brad and his wife just welcomed their second child.
Ian Mitchell
Executive Director - Child & Youth Safety
Ian was both a Cub and Scout with the 1st Timberlea Group just outside Halifax. He was an Assistant Venturer Advisor for 1st Glen Margaret Venturers, Nova Scotia as well. He received a Teaching Degree from Dalhousie University in 1981. He began Scouting career as Field Executive in Nova Scotia (1985-1990), then continued on to be Executive Director for Northern Region, British Columbia (1990-1995) and then Director of Program – Scouts, Venturers and Rovers, at the National Office (1995-present). He is currently the Acting Executive Director of Program Services. He lives in Ottawa with his wife Elva and they have two sons, Mark and Martin, and a daughter, Jocelyn.
John Petitti
Executive Director - Marketing and Communications
John joined Scouts Canada in November 2010 to oversee our Marketing and Communications efforts. As a skilled marketing communicator with over 15 years of experience, John has a proven track record of managing highly effective communications and media relations outreach programs. John brings an in-depth understanding of Internet, media relations, advertising and marketing industries, along with extensive experience in planning and managing public awareness and community engagement programs at the national, regional and local levels. John lives in Ottawa, ON with his wife. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling and cooking.
Andrew Price
Deputy National Commissioner - Volunteer Services
Andrew donned a blue and brown hat at age 5 and hasn’t looked back since. His educational pursuits have given him the opportunity to expand his Scouting horizons to include New Zealand, Spain, and Scotland. Andrew has been a Deputy Area Commissioner in Ontario, a Deputy Council Commissioner in BC, and was, most recently, a trainer and an Area Commissioner in Alberta. Andrew is passionate about bringing the spirit of Scouting to programs and has always believed that this is best achieved by supporting leaders with quality training, servicing, and timely recognition. Professionally, Andrew has spent the last six years supporting Imperial Oil’s retail business. He currently resides in Calgary with his wife Brenda.
Doug Reid
Deputy National Commissioner - Program Services
Doug is originally from Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, and now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He joined Scouting as a Cub in 1971 with First St. Martin’s, a group he would stay associated with for 26 years. Since 2004 he has been involved with the First Riverlake Group, Fall River; first with Troop and since 2007, Advisor to the First Riverlake Venturer Company. Doug is employed with The Global Group, Canada’s largest office furniture manufacturer. He is married and has 2 children.
Rob Stewart
Executive Director - Program & Field Services
Ottawa, ON
Rob graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1981 with a degree in Recreation Administration and a specialization in Outdoor Education. He was the class valedictorian for the School of Health Professions.
Rob joined the executive staff of Scouts Canada as a Field Executive on February 1, 1982 in Nova Scotia. Following his initial assignment of field servicing to 13 Districts in Southwestern Nova Scotia, Rob was appointed Provincial Director of Program on September 1, 1984. He served in that role until 1988.
Rob moved to the National Office in November of 1988 to become the Executive Director of Adult Volunteer/Sponsor Relations. Rob subsequently took on the new role of Divisional Executive Director – Program on September 1, 2000.
On October 1, 2002, Rob was appointed by the Scouts Canada Board of Governors as the organization’s Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer.
In September 2010, Rob took over as Executive Director – Program Services. In November 2011, he was appointed by the Scouts Canada Board of Governors to the role of Acting Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer.
Rob has served on a number of training teams at all levels; including Wood Badge, Council Management, and National Training Events.
Rob is married to Toni Marcon-Stewart and they have two sons, Nicholas and Jacob.
As a youth, Rob was a Cub and a Scout with the 2nd Stellarton group in his hometown of Stellarton, Nova Scotia.
Bethany Tory
Executive Director - Membership Services
Bethany Tory joined Scouts Canada in May 2011. Bethany came to Scouts Canada with a wealth of experience, most recently from a position as Director of Programs and Operations for the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) in Ottawa, ON. Her varied responsibilities have included contract management and vendor relations, facilities management and development of IT infrastructure. Bethany has a strong commitment to volunteerism as demonstrated through her many years service as a Board Member and in other supporting roles with the Elizabeth Fry Society, an agency devoted to helping women and female youth who are at risk of coming into conflict with the law. She lives in Ottawa with her husband and two young children. Her son recently joined Beaver Scouts in Ottawa and Bethany looks forward to helping with his Scouting Group.
Norm Williams
Deputy National Commissioner - Organizational Development
