The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction Welcomes Dr. Louis Francescutti, Neil Arao, Cheryl Fraser and Dr. Drik Huyer to its Board of Directors
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The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) proudly welcomes Dr. Louis Francescutti, Neil Arao, Cheryl Fraser and Dr. Dirk Huyer to its Board of Directors. Dr. Francescutti has been appointed as Chair of CCSA’s Board of Directors.
“I am delighted and excited to welcome Louis, Neil, Dirk and Cheryl to our Board at this important time,” said Dr. Alexander Caudarella, Chief Executive Officer at CCSA. “Their experience, passion and insights will have a positive impact on guiding CCSA’s growth and future direction.”
Dr. Louis Francescutti is an emergency physician and health system leader with more than three decades of frontline clinical experience. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Dr. Francescutti is a professor in the School of Public Health and an adjunct professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta. He has built a career at the intersection of acute care, public health and health services innovation, bringing a practical, patient-centred lens to complex system challenges. He serves as the Honorary Colonel for 1 Health Services Group for the Canadian Forces Health Services based in Edmonton.
Neil Arao is the Chief Executive Officer of Options Community Services, a multi-service non-profit organization in Surrey, British Columbia. He is a registered social worker with more than two decades of experience, particularly in mental health and substance use. He is committed to advancing social justice and evidence-informed approaches that support the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
Cheryl Fraser has over 35 years of experience working at an executive level with private and publicly traded companies, government, not-for-profit and volunteer organizations. She has held senior executive roles in the federal public service with the Canada Revenue Agency, Correctional Service of Canada, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. In 2012, she was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal. She currently is a Warden for Christ Church Dartmouth, Nova Scotia And is actively involved in their social justice programs.
Dr. Dirk Huyer is the Chief Coroner for the Province of Ontario. He has served a coroner in Ontario since 1992 with involvement in over 5,000 death investigations. Prior to his appointment to Chief Coroner in March 2014, he served as Regional Supervising Coroner for five years.
Thirteen individuals comprise CCSA’s volunteer Board of Directors. The Governor in Council of Canada appoints the Chair and four Board members. The Board recruits the remaining member-at-large positions. Dr. Francescutti and Neil Arao are Governor in Council appointments by the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health. Dr. Huyer and Cheryl Fraser will serve as members-at-large.
CCSA Board members bring diverse experience and expertise to the organization, representing several sectors, including the business community, health professional groups, and professional and voluntary organizations. Board members typically serve a three-year term, which can be extended for up to two additional terms.
