Executive Director of Canadian Parks Council Joins Sustainable Forestry Initiative Board of Directors

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada), an initiative of SFI, are pleased to welcome Dawn Carr, Executive Director of the Canadian Parks Council, to SFI’s 18-member Board of Directors. Carr has a successful track record of collaborating with SFI and PLT Canada. Notably, through the Canadian Parks Council and its network of national, provincial and territorial parks, she has supported, and continues to support, hundreds of high-quality work experiences for youth across Canada as part of PLT Canada’s Green Jobs program.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the SFI and PLT Canada Board of Directors. It is a welcome opportunity to contribute to an organization that is clearly committed to sustainability and growing the community of future forest and conservation professionals,” says Carr. “Nurturing a conservation ethic among young professionals is critical for sustaining nature and our collective health and wellbeing. I’m really looking forward to contributing my time and energy to help make a positive difference.”

PLT Canada has placed youth in over 2,500 jobs since 2018 with the help of the Canadian Parks Council and SFI employer networks. These job placements range from Park Rangers, to Environmental Monitors, to Forestry Technicians, and many more. The skills that youth acquire through these placements provide essential building blocks as they pursue careers in the forest and conservation sector.

“Dawn is a respected leader who understands how to build strong, productive relationships at the regional, national and international levels to achieve shared goals,” says Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of SFI. “Dawn’s ties to the conservation and recreation communities at home and abroad will provide invaluable insight as SFI continues to offer practical nature-based solutions, through forest-focused collaborations, to address climate change, species recovery, and environmental education.”

Carr is the first woman to hold the position of Executive Director at the Canadian Parks Council since the organization’s establishment in 1962. She also currently serves as member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s World Commission of Protected Areas, and sits on the Board of Directors for the IUCN’s Canadian National Committee. Prior to joining the Canadian Parks Council, Carr worked for the Government of Alberta’s Department of Parks and Protected Areas. She holds a Masters of Public Administration from Queen’s University.
https://www.sfiprogram.org/executive-director-of-canadian-parks-council-joins-sustainable-forestry-initiative-board-of-directors/