Scott Haldane (Chair)

Scott Haldane is President and Chief Executive Officer of YMCA Canada which represents the 53 local YMCAs and YMCA-YWCAs in Canada. Together, these charities involve over 2 million people annually in programs that are designed to strengthen the foundations of community through nurturing the potential of youth, promoting healthy living and fostering social responsibility.

Scott has an extensive 34 year history with the YMCA. His first contact with the YMCA was in 1969, in his hometown of Montreal, as a part-time summer swimming instructor. In the decades following, he has held a variety of senior management positions including Executive Director of the West Island branch of the Montreal YMCA; National Director of Employment Initiatives with YMCA Canada; President and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington; and President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto. He was appointed President and CEO of YMCA Canada on January 1, 2010.

Scott has contributed leadership and vision to each of his YMCA roles. Under his tenure, for example, the YMCA of Greater Toronto was the proud recipient of the prestigious Canadian Urban Institute’s City Soul Award, and the North American YMCA Development Organization’s Eagle Award for Excellence in Philanthropy. Recently, the YMCA of Greater Toronto has been recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and has received the Trailblazer Award for Diversity in Governance from the Maytree Foundation. In 2009, Scott was a finalist in the Toronto Business Excellence Awards in the Leading CEO category.

Under Scott’s leadership, Canada’s YMCA has recently approved a national focus on improving health outcomes for children, teens and young adults. As part of this call to action, the YMCA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Assembly of First Nations in December 2010 which commits both organizations to work together to achieve common goals. The YMCA has had considerable experience on which to build this important relationship. 50% of the YMCAs and YMCA-YWCAs across Canada already have formal partnerships with First Nations organizations and the YMCA, in partnership with the federal government, has provided a wide range of programs for First Nations youth including internship opportunities in all federal ridings.

Scott holds a Master of Management degree from McGill University and a B.A. with Great Distinction also from McGill University. As part of his belief in the benefits of lifelong learning, he completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program in 2003 and the Leading Change and Organizational Renewal Program in 2006. He has recently become a Certified Corporate Director through McMaster University’s The Director’s College.