Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Venue: Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, 25 Caroline Street North, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Time: 7pm - 9pm

Many established organizations struggle with adapting to a fast paced, ever changing world.  As a national organization that is beginning to plan for its 100th Anniversary, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is attempting to understand how it will continue to be a relevant, important youth-serving organization when it kicks off its next 100 years.

In applying the principles of systems thinking, Big Brothers Big Sisters has created new approaches to old issues and is examining how a nationally federated organization can evolve into one that is more nimble and responsive to the needs of its members.  More fundamentally, it is looking at how innovative approaches to mentoring can be created within a system that has been functioning for many years.  This presentation will focus on the journey to evolve and change, the signposts along the way and the questions that are being asked.

Bruce MacDonald
President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

Who would have thought that operating carnival games and rides would lead to a career in the voluntary sector?  Certainly not Bruce.  After an upbringing in Hamilton, Ontario, that consisted of bumper cars, the round up and the bomber game, Bruce decided to embark on a career in sport management.

Bruce headed to Northern Ontario’s Laurentian University to earn a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration.  He even took time off for five weeks to work at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid.  After leaving the friendly confines of Sudbury, he took his first full-time job, working at the Hamilton-Burlington YMCA. 

With primary responsibilities of developing recreational opportunities for disabled persons (the first calling from the voluntary sector) at the newly renovated downtown Y, Bruce soon left to become the Branch Director of the Stoney Creek YMCA.

From the Y it was off to become the Provincial Coordinator of the Ontario Senior Games, a multi-sport program for adults 55 plus.  Reporting to a board of older adult volunteers (still calling..) Bruce got his first real taste of corporate sponsorship work.  When the office relocated from Kitchener to Toronto, Bruce soon tired of the commute and decided to seek employment elsewhere.

Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs of Canada was his next stop, becoming the association’s first-ever Marketing Manager in 1989.  For the next five years he worked with a dedicated team of volunteers (there it is again) and staff to try and modernize one of Canada’s oldest service clubs.

The journey to the voluntary sector was complete when, in 1995, Bruce joined the staff of Big Brothers and Sisters of Canada as Director of Marketing and Special Events.  Three job titles and two organization names later, Bruce eventually moved into the senior staff position, becoming President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada in March 2004. 

Of course, education and work are only part of the story.  The real story is written with wife Heather and their three girls, Maggie and the twins, Erin and Kathleen. 

In between job and family Bruce earned a second degree, a Masters in Management in the Voluntary Sector from McGill University and participated in the Governor General’s Canadian Study Conference.

Oh ya.  He still likes hanging out at carnivals and organizing sports.

Please join us in welcoming five of Canada’s leaders in the field of social innovation. Each lecture will also feature a local panel and will be an opportunity to learn new ideas and systemic approaches to some of our most pressing social problems.