Kayla Bernard

Halifax, NS

Kayla is a Mi’kmaq woman from the community of Sipekne’katik First Nation, a Rover Scout and Colony Scouter with the 36th Halifax Scout Group. She currently works as a Recreation Therapist in the Community Youth Development field in Halifax Nova Scotia.  

She is a mental health advocate, especially with regards to the prevention of youth suicide. Kayla utilizes art as a platform for connecting youth to their community, building supportive environments, learn mindfulness and other coping skills. Kayla has been recognized by the Nova Scotia Legislation, Senate of Canada, and the World Scouting Association for her work. 

Kayla also supports children, youth, and adults on their paths of reconciliation. By holding both spaces to celebrate and reconnect youth to the Mi’kmaw culture, as well as unpack Canada’s history. With the hopes to make more inclusive spaces and stronger communities. 

Sandi Burns

Sandi’s love of Scouting is derived from her family of Scouters. Three of her grandparents told fascinating stories of the 1929 World Jamboree in Birkenhead which resulted in many adventures around the UK. She and her Scouter husband David have travelled across North America attending jamborees and exploring its natural and urban beauty. These adventures often included their sons and daughter and grandchildren who have all been involved in the program from Beavers through Rovers.

Sandi became a Pack Scouter in 1983 and continues to work with that section. She has served as a Group Commissioner, Wood badge trainer & mentor, support Scouter, Council Commissioner (2016- 2019), and National Recognition Administrator (2011-2015). Other roles were liberally sprinkled in as time and opportunities emerged. These roles have been met with enthusiasm and commitment, along with a smile. Most recently she has been the Interim team lead for the National Recognition Network and a Director on the Ontario Incorporated Body.

Sandi taught Architectural Technology for 29 years full time at Fanshawe College, also serving as the program coordinator. In Nov 2020 she accepted the challenge of part-time virtual classes at Durham College. She is a graduate of the Fanshawe program and worked in a variety of building disciplines including Land Surveying, HVAC and lighting, Landscape Architecture and as a Senior Technologist of a small Architect’s office.

Sandi holds a Bachelor of Education for Adult Learners from Brock University, which she completed through distance education while working full time raising a young family, and volunteering. She looks forward to using her varied skills to help Scouts Canada thrive and grow.

Jean-Francois Champagne

Montreal, QC

Jean-François Champagne joined Scouting in 1988. Over the years he held various positions at all levels of Association de Scouts du Canada (ASC). A strong believer in the youth-led organization, in 2000 he was the youngest District Commissioner to be elected. Under his leadership, youth were granted voting rights in the Scouting governance for the first time.

In 2009, Jean- François began his term as the youngest president of the organization in a difficult time as membership had been free-falling for years without being able to implement the required changes. He has driven, using participatory leadership, the major reforms allowing ASC to return to growth. Jean-François also played an important role in strengthening relationships between Scouting organizations in Canada. This partnership was formalized by the signing of a new memorandum of understanding between Scouts Canada and Les Scouts du Canada under the governance of the Governor General of Canada Charles Johnston in 2012.

From 2014 to 2017, he was nominated as the International Commissioner. During that mandate, ASC has actively participated in more international events than ever before. Jean- François also negotiated and discussed partnerships with other National Scout Organizations (NSO) all over the world.

In 2016, he was designated as the ASC Head of Contingent for the 2019 World Scout Jamboree which was the biggest cooperation project between the 2 Canadian NSOs. This milestone project was a big success and Canada sent the largest contingent ever to a World Jamboree out of Canada.

Jean-François is now president of his ASC local Scout Group. Jean-François currently works as a Human Resources Director, executive and support staff at the University of Québec in Montréal. He has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management, change management and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He lives in Montréal, Québec with his wife Sylvie and two sons.

Robert Craddock

Rocky View County, AB

Robert Craddock began Scouting as a Cub in Edson, Alberta in 1960 and continued through Scouts. He has been a Scouter (with a couple of breaks for other life events) since 1972 throughout Alberta including, Bonnyville, Devon and Calgary. He has been a section Scouter in Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers for most of his Scouting career. Robert has worked as a Service Scouter in Chinook; notably as part of the “Timber Trails” Mountain Horseback camps and through offers of Service at Canadian and World Jamborees. He was a member of the Canadian Path core team through the redesign and implementation of the new program.

Robert holds degrees in Psychology, Social Work and Public Administration. He began his career as a social worker focusing on the area of child abuse and neglect, later shifting to work in training and development. Robert has taught at several universities, for the Canadian Armed Forces, and has worked in the public and private sectors as an organizational effectiveness consultant. He is a retired partner of the Key Consulting Group (“The Leadership Company”), focusing on strategic pathing, implementation of complex change, and in coaching senior leaders in organizations. He remains active by coaching pro bono in not-for-profit organizations.

Robert was also an Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve for 17 years and retired as a substantive Major and the J3 Army Advisor for the Regional Cadet Support Group (Northwest); and Honorary Aide de Camp for the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. He continues to volunteer occasionally as an Army Cadet Instructor; primarily working with older cadets on instructional and leadership skills.

Robert loves travel, hiking, shooting sports, sea kayaking and playing music. Robert’s most recent adventures include hiking the Camino de Santiago twice on both the French Route, across northern Spain and on the Portuguese Coastal Route. He’s looking forward to getting back into a Cub Pack as a Scouter in 2022.

Christine Dupuis

Memramcook, NB

Christine Dupuis has been a volunteer with l’Association des Scouts du Canada since 2008 and has been a member of the Conseil National of l’Association des Scouts du Canada since 2015. She has also been a leader for the Éclaireur (11-14 years old) for over 11 years and is a Certified Trainer with l’Association des Scouts du Canada.

Christine is an archivist at the Centre d’études acadiennes Anselme-Chiasson of the Université de Moncton and is responsible for the private and institutional archives. She is also a practicing National Archive Appraisal Board (NAAB) appraiser and serves on the NAAB Board as director for the Atlantic region.  She is also a founding member of the research Group on Archives and Women in Acadia (GRAFA) at the Université de Moncton.

Christine also collaborates on several large-scale projects including two funded by the Human Sciences Research Council (SSHRC): Military Service, Citizenship, and Public Culture in Atlantic Canada directed by the Institut d'études acadiennes of the Université de Moncton and the Gregg Center for Study of War and Society; and a partnership project Three Centuries of Francophone Migrations in North America led by the Université Saint-Boniface.

Rodney Nelson

Ottawa, ON

Rodney began Scouting in Ottawa as an eager Beaver and continued on to Cubs in the 1970s. When his family moved to the United States, he and his family continued in Scouting. In the States, Rodney received his Eagle Scout award and enjoyed many national jamborees. Returning to Canada, he joined the 28th Venturers and continued to volunteer as a leader in other scouting groups. Today, Rodney is happy to be a part of the 17th Ottawa Scout Troop as both a scouter and the group registrar.  

Professionally, Rodney is a professor of International Business at Sprott School of Business at Carleton University. He teaches ethics, board governance and cross-cultural communications. He also volunteers teaching Not-For-Profit Governance for Volunteer Ottawa. Rodney sits as a board trustee for the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum. In the past, he was chair of FirstPlan Pension and Benefits, chair for AFOA Canada, co-chair of the Canada Dance Festival, and the chair of the Public Enterprise Governance Centre.  

 Ethics, corporate governance and social responsibility are also areas of interest. Rodney was appointed as an ethics officer for Public Works and Government Services Canada. He served as an associate with the CanPREP board at the University of Toronto's Joint Centre for Bio-Ethics. Rodney is also recognized as an expert in pandemic preparedness and was the business continuity research lead at the Conference Board of Canada and the chair of the Pandemic Preparedness Working Group. He was invited to join the Deputy Minister of Health's Private Sector Working Group on Pandemics. Rodney also represented Canada to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation on global pandemic planning collaborations. Rodney has also worked with many First Nations. Metis and Inuit communities and organizations. He was past chair of the Council on Corporate Aboriginal Relations.  

Rodney holds a PhD (Carleton/ Trent), a Master’s degree in anthropology and two Bachelor degrees in psychology and anthropology (medical/cultural). He is a Certified Chartered Director (C.Dir) from McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business and the Director’s College, a certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA), and a Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer (PAED).  

Erica Saccary

Bill Schulte

Sooke, BC

Bill’s love for the outdoors goes back to his time as a Scout in Fraser Lake, BC. While his original Scouting time was short, Bill returned to Scouting in 2004 as a Beaver Scout Leader in Sooke, BC. Since then, Bill has been a Scouter for Cubs, Scouts and Venturers; Group and Area Commissioner, Cascadia Council Commissioner (2012 to 2015) as well as a Certified Trainer. The last few years Bill has been involved with the Pacific Jamboree Teams, Camp Committees, and the Canadian Fellowship of Baden-Powel Guilds.

Bill retired from the Royal Canadian Navy in 2008 after 31 years as an Electronic Technician and Combat System Engineer. Bill currently manages the Formation Command Analytics department in Maritime Pacific Command.

Carlie Tiller

St. Thomas, ON

Carlie first joined Scouting in 2011 as an S.I.T with a Beaver Colony in St. Thomas, Ontario. Intrigued by the adventures and experiences that the Beavers were having, Carlie joined the 7th St. Thomas Venturer Company, a Group where she continues to be a participant and Section Scouter.  Carlie has worked in various roles at the Area level in Elgin Area, and most recently completed a term as the Council Youth Commissioner in Tri-Shores Council. Her favourite memory in Scouting to-date is travelling with her Rover Crew and meeting Scouts from all over the world. 

In her personal life she volunteers with Character Curtain Calls, a children's theatre company out of St. Thomas—working with youth in the community, Grades 2-9, to advance education in the field of dramatic arts. 

Carlie looks forward to the next chapter of her Scouting career as a member of the Board.