The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction Welcomes New Board Chair Vaughan Dowie

OTTAWA, July 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Vaughan Dowie as the Chair of its Board of Directors. This is a Governor in Council appointment for a minimum three-year period. Mr. Dowie is the CEO of Pine River Institute, an Ontario residential treatment centre and outdoor leadership experience for youth. He has had more than three decades of experience as a senior manager in public sector and community organizations. Mr. Dowie also served as an assistant deputy minister in three different ministries for the Government of British Columbia. Prior to joining the Pine River Institute, he was the Executive Head of Public Affairs at McGill University in Montreal.

Mr. Dowie also served as president of la Commission de protection des droits de la jeunesse, Montreal, and as executive director of Batshaw Youth and Family Centres in Quebec. He is also the board president of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario. Nationally, he has served as board chair of the Child Welfare League of Canada.

“Mr. Dowie’s proven leadership in both the government and community sectors are invaluable as he takes the helm of the Board of CCSA,” said Rita Notarandrea, CCSA’s Chief Executive Officer. “He has been on the frontlines of government decision making, and in the forefront of the treatment and protection of Canadian youth. Mr. Dowie takes on the role as Chair at a time when the Centre’s valuable independent research and knowledge is crucial to Canadian policy and decision makers.”

Mr. Dowie is a Montreal native who attended Sir George William University and McGill.

About CCSA

CCSA was established in 1988 by an Act of Parliament with all-party support to provide national leadership in reducing the harms of alcohol and other drugs.

CCSA’s Board of Directors is comprised of 13 members. The Chair and four members are appointed by the Governor in Council of Canada. The remaining members-at-large are recruited by the Board from a number of sectors, including the business community, health professional groups and professional and voluntary organizations. Board members serve a three-year term, which can be extended for up to two additional terms.