The Scouts Canada Leadership Team is an energized group of youth, volunteers and staff who are driven individuals with a strong passion for Scouts Canada’s Mission. Engaging with key internal stakeholders and supporting the direction of our strategic plan, the Leadership Team advises the National Key 3 through performance monitoring, priority-setting and decision-making.
Get to know our inspiring Leadership Team!
Executive Commissioner and CEO
Ottawa, ON
Andrew Price was appointed Executive Commissioner and CEO of Scouts Canada in April of 2014. 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 served as a Deputy Area Commissioner in Ontario, a Deputy Council Commissioner in BC, and an Area Commissioner in Alberta prior to joining the National Leadership Team as the Deputy National Commissioner for Volunteer Services in 2010. In November of 2012, Andrew was named Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Governors, a position he held until assuming his current role.
Andrew is passionate about growing Scouting and ensuring more young Canadians benefit from great, safe Scouting adventures. Prior to joining the Scouts Canada staff, Andrew spent ten years working at Imperial Oil where he held varying roles in Marketing, Refining, and Corporate departments.
Andrew is married to Brenda, a passionate Scouter, and they enjoy many outdoor adventures together.
National Youth Commissioner
Ottawa, ON
Annabelle Loder’s first memories of Scouting are of dropping in to see her dad at Cub meetings when she was 3. At the age of 5, she officially joined Scouts Canada as a Beaver with 2nd Eastern Passage, in NS. Due to being in a military family, Annabelle has grown up through the program in various places, even joining Sea Scouts whilst living in Australia. She has volunteered as a Scouter with Beavers, Cubs and Scouts since the age of 14. In 2014 Annabelle became a Youth Spokesperson and further developed her love of Scouting by taking on the role of Group Youth Commissioner for 4th Orleans, ON. In 2016, she took on the role of Council Youth Commissioner for Voyageur.
Most recently she has accepted the role of National Youth Commissioner in November 2018. Annabelle graduated from the University of Ottawa with a B.A. in Communications and currently works for the Federal Government.
National Commissioner
Ottawa, ON
Tim Welch has been involved with Scouting since the age of 7 in Cubs with the 114th Ottawa Pack. Tim had a number of positive life-changing experiences in Scouting and grew up knowing his children would one day be involved in the program. Joining the 3rd Ottawa in 1999 as a Beaver Scouter, he proceeded to work in Pack and Troop sections and eventually accepted the Group Commissioner role, becoming active at the Area and Council levels. In 2015, Doug Reid asked Tim to take on the role of Council Commissioner for Voyageur, a posting he completed in August of 2018, and accepted the National Commissioner role in November 2018.
Tim and his wife Connie have two boys, Ian and Eric, both of whom went through the Scouting program and enjoyed many adventures. Tim is a career sales and business professional, loves the outdoors and continues to enjoy outdoor adventures whenever and wherever he can, and loves to laugh and help bring out the best in others.
Heather is currently a Rover Scout and who started her Scouting journey as a second year Scout in Windsor, ON. Since then, she has been able to go on some incredible adventures, like a three week exchange in Ireland as a Venturer Scout, and the 17th World Moot in Iceland as a Rover where she ate fermented shark. She has also volunteered as a Beaver Scouter, a Cub Scouter, a Youth Spokesperson, and as a Council Youth Commissioner—to name a few.
Heather is currently enrolled in Capilano University's Outdoor Recreation Management program and works at a ski resort in North Vancouver, BC. She is also attempting to learn how to skateboard, but so far it isn't working out too well!
She looks forward to what's to come.
Scouting has played a critical role in Justin’s life since the age of six, when he first became a Beaver Scout at the 1st Coldbrook Colony in Nova Scotia. Justin continued onto Cub Scouts at 4th Kentville before joining the 2nd Berwick Group, where he continued through to Scouts and Venturer Scouts. In October of 2013, Justin became an Area Youth Commissioner where he served before becoming a Deputy Council Youth Commissioner, and then Nova Scotia Council Youth Commissioner in 2016.
Currently, Justin is attaining his Bachelors of Commerce at the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. Aside from classes and the Scouts Canada Leadership Team, Justin is also a Group Support Scouter in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as well as the Chair of the Atlantic Jamboree (2021).
Kaitlyn has been a member of Scouts Canada for 11 years, starting as a 3rd year Scout, and continues as a Rover Scout.
With a DEC in Community Recreation and Leadership Training from Dawson College and a Bachelor degree in Community Development from Acadia University, Kaitlyn currently works as a Recreation Coordinator for the Northern Village of Kuujjuaq—the largest northern remote community in Quebec.
Kaitlyn recently adopted a puppy, Pepper, who tackles the North with her as a loyal sidekick.
Executive Director Scouting Experience
Mark has been involved at a leadership level with Scouts Canada for more than 10 years, having previously been a Cub and Scout in the UK. Mark has worked at almost all levels of Scouting from section leadership with Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers as well as Council roles as Area Commissioner, Deputy Council Commissioner and Council Commissioner for Chinook. Mark was awarded the Medal of the Silver Acorn and a Canada 150 Medal in 2017 for his broad contributions to Scouting.
Prior to joining the Scouts Canada team in 2018, Mark had an extensive career spanning more than 20 years in the Canadian and international energy business with executive leadership positions in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America.
Mark is an outdoors and travel enthusiast, avid skier, and photographer. Mark lives in Ottawa, is married to Natalie and has two sons, Olly and David. Together, they have enjoyed countless hours hiking, adventuring and climbing with more than 500 days spent sleeping in tents between them including two 30-day camping trips to Alaska & the Yukon and a tour of 12 US National parks.
Ryan has worn many uniforms, beginning with Scouting as a Beaver, Cub, Scout, and Venturer; a Sea Cadet; a very short time in the Armed Forces; a first responder, volunteer paramedic; a priest, and now as a Scouter by night—a suit-wearing strategy consultant by day.
When Ryan recently opened a box of old memories and found a log from his first rock climbing trip as a Scout, he concluded that Scouts Canada should really have a climbing badge. Over 25 years after that first trip, Ryan is still climbing, and Scouts now has Vertical Skills in the program, so dreams do come true!
In both his consulting work and in developing skills with his Cub Scouts, Ryan enjoys opportunities to take complex and confusing systems and ideas, and simplify and communicate them in fun and accessible ways. He once taught vertical skills using Playmobil!
“Baloo!” – who knew this would one day become his identity? From youth, to parents, to fellow Scouters – Pradeepta is known only as the big, funny bear. It is heart-warming (and quite hilarious) for him to see the tiny Beavers or Cubs screaming “Baloo” across the grocery aisle, all excited to see him - asking him if he is there buying honey!
Pradeepta loves adventure and feels that the world truly is his oyster, having travelled to 35 countries so far: 6 in North America (excluding Canada & USA), 4 in South America, 11 in Europe and 14 in Asia. His top 3 escapades are: (i) renewing vows and celebrating his 15th anniversary at Rome’s largest church – Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, (ii) watching a pair of humpback whales swim alongside his boat in Akureyri (Iceland), and (iii) dune buggy driving in the deserts of Dubai.
Pradeepta’s most memorable Scouting memory is from a winter camp a couple of years ago; they had a very shy and introverted Cub Scout staying away from his parents for the first time. Naturally the parents were extremely nervous at pick-up time. The youth (his cheeks bright red from playing out in the snow, snow suit soaking wet) ran to his parents and excitedly commented, “I had so much fun all weekend!”
The smile made it all worthwhile…
As a member of Scouting since the age of five, Kaylee has continued through every Section of the Scouts Canada program. With experience volunteering as a Beaver Scouter, contributing to the Canadian Jamboree 2013 planning committee, and leading through several Youth Commissioner roles including National Youth Commissioner, Kaylee is a seasoned member of the Scouting community. After taking a couple years off and marrying her favourite camping and hiking partner, David, the pair adopted their amazing daughter, Emily.
Kaylee now works in Police Administration with a background in Education. She lives in Sherwood Park, Alberta with their dog, 3 cats and ball python. When not outdoor adventuring with her family, Kaylee is also a Ukrainian Dancer and Board member of the Veselka Ukrainian Dance Association of Edmonton.
Executive Director — Business Services
Valarie assumed the role of Executive Director — Business Services in 2019 providing strategic insight and leadership to the Finance, Operations, Technology and Human Resources Teams in the execution of strategic and operational priorities while ensuring our volunteers and staff are supported. She joined Scouts Canada in 2010 following an extensive career in senior leadership in a variety of industries developing expertise in change management and coaching. As Executive Director — Human Resources and Volunteer Services and a member of the National Leadership Team, she oversaw the strategies for Volunteer Support and Talent Management.
Chris has been involved at a senior leadership level with Scouts Canada for almost five years, having previously served as Council Executive Director with Voyageur, Quebec and White Pine Council. Chris is passionate about helping more kids become well-rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world, and finding fulfilling roles for volunteers to help Scouts Canada achieve our Mission. Chris is also a current Director of the Ontario Incorporated Bodies Board of Directors overseeing Ontario’s Scouts Canada properties.
Prior to joining Scouts Canada in 2015, Chris had a wide-ranging career spanning almost 20 years in the Canadian non-profit sector in youth serving organizations including Katimavik, Kids Help Phone and the University of Ottawa. Chris, his wife Megan, girls Julianne, Gabrielle and dog Willy love their Chelsea living in the Gatineau Park of Quebec and take advantage of the trails, lakes, mountains and rivers in their backyard to ski, paddle, peddle, run and hike regularly.
