Expression of Interest/Nomination Process – Overview
Each year, Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) distributes a call for Expressions of Interest to identify individuals who wish to serve on the DWDC Board of Directors. In line with our mission, vision and values, DWDC acknowledges that people across Canada reflect a range of identities and lived experiences. In order to provide advocacy, education, and supports that are meaningful and appropriate, it is important to bring diverse voices to the table.
Annually, the Governance Committee reviews the skills and competencies of the current and retiring Directors to help identify the qualifications and expertise that will benefit the Board and the organization in the years ahead. Details of the specific areas of expertise identified for this year can be found in Appendix C. All nominations received will be reviewed by the Governance Committee, who will develop a slate of proposed candidates, to be presented to the members at the next annual meeting.
Process and Timelines 2026
Expressions of Interest received by the published deadline will be reviewed by the Governance Committee. In addition to a review of the applications received, phone or teleconference interviews will be conducted with the applicants by a member of the
Governance Committee.
The Governance Committee will determine how many/if any candidates will be recommended to the Board of Directors for inclusion on the slate of Directors proposed for election at the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Elections will take place on May 21, 2026, via the DWDC AGM.
About Dying With Dignity Canada
Dying With Dignity Canada is the largest and oldest right to die with dignity organization in Canada. Founded in 1980, DWDC was incorporated in 1982 and received its current charitable status in 2018. The national charity is mainly funded through individual donations with more than 100,000 supporters across Canada.
All programs and services offered by DWDC are free of charge and designed to empower the public, patients, their families, and health care practitioners with tools to navigate and ensure end-of-life rights. At present, DWDC has 15 employees who are responsible for carrying out the organization’s mission. This work is focused on education, support programs, marketing and communications, development activities, volunteer engagement, advocacy, and administration.
Volunteer Network: Board of Directors, Councils, Chapters and Supporters
Dying With Dignity Canada relies on a strong network of Chapters, councils, volunteers, and other supporters to achieve its mission throughout the country, which has created a growing national footprint. Volunteer engagement helps expand efforts in advocacy, support and education as reaching all demographics is key to the success of our work. Volunteers are the heart of DWDC. Without them, it would be impossible for us to achieve our goals. We rely on our passionate supporters to engage with their communities, defend patient rights, and ensure people across Canada are informed about their legal end-of-life options. Volunteers share in our mission by organizing events, facilitating educational workshops, advising national operations, and recruiting new supporters within their communities.
Board of Directors
The Board is comprised of between 9-15 individuals from across Canada. They are a volunteer, member-elected Board of Directors responsible for the organization’s strategic direction. The current Board consists of 13 members.
Chapters and Volunteer Network
Chapters form local and provincial support networks that help break down barriers for people across Canada navigating assisted dying. Currently, there are 12 Chapters located across Canada. Roles of DWDC Chapter volunteers include:
- Serving as Independent Witnesses (MAID legislation requires people who request medical assistance in dying (MAID) to get their application form signed by an Independent Witness).
- Supporting people in their community who are exploring a request for MAID and, in some cases, the loved ones of those navigating MAID.
- Communicating and providing information through social media and regional interviews, as needed.
- Hosting and speaking at events throughout the year, including webinars, workshops, and other public events on Advance Care Planning and information sessions about MAID. These events are held online and in-person.
- Contributing their stories to DWDC blog posts that provide comfort and hope to individuals and families.
- Supporting the advocacy work of DWDC and leading or supporting provincial advocacy efforts, where possible.
Strategic Priorities
The demand for DWDC’s leadership in the assisted dying space has increased alongside its capacity for deeper investments in strategic areas of work. DWDC’s leadership has identified four strategic priorities for 2023 - 2025:
- Nurture a more inclusive and diverse end-of-life rights movement: DWDC will seek out, listen to, and integrate more perspectives in the work that we do.
- Address barriers to accessing a good death: DWDC will lead national advocacy efforts to eliminate obstacles to end-of-life choice, including access to advance requests and an end to institutional religious obstructions.
- Deliver high quality, relevant programs and services: DWDC will provide information, education, and support to individuals, families, and clinicians across Canada.
- Ensure sustainability, resiliency, and mission success: DWDC will invest in the growth and development of the organization and its people.
Board members are committed individuals willing to assume a leadership role in the governance of this national organization. Board members are responsible for:
- Providing leadership on issues related to the mission and vision of DWDC
- Setting strategic priorities
- Formulating governance policies
- Providing financial stewardship
- Oversight and monitoring of organizational performance
Accountability
According to common law and the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (the “Act”), the Board of Directors must act in the best interests of DWDC. The Directors are collectively accountable for all actions of the corporation: all Directors must be fully involved in all decisions and must support all decisions, even if they disagree.
Authority
The Act, Articles of Incorporation, and By-Laws authorize the Board to oversee the management of the activities and affairs of the corporation. All Directors are entitled to receive notice of meetings of members and the Board, to attend the meetings, to make motions and speak at the meetings, and to vote on matters before the organization (unless disqualified due to conflict of interest or the Chair who votes, only where there is an equality of votes).
Responsibilities
The Board typically focuses on strategy, major policies, risk management, and performance management. Operational or day-to-day decisions are delegated to the CEO.
Legal and Moral Duties
The fiduciary duties of Directors for both non-profit and for-profit corporations are derived from common law, and are the standards that stakeholders, donors, funders, and clients will hold Directors to, as well as the courts.2 These duties are essentially carried out by Directors when they fulfill the basic and other duties outlined below.
- Duty of Care – provides that Directors must make decisions having regard to all relevant considerations, and ensure they are within the range of reasonable choices. This standard of care for Directors is that they must act with the same skill and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances (Directors are not liable for mere errors of judgment).
- Duty of Loyalty – provides that a Director must act honestly and in good faith in the best interests of the corporation, and not in their own interests or those of any particular stakeholder or group of stakeholders. This duty requires Directors to avoid and disclose conflicts of interest at all times, and not to take advantage of their position in any way. Finally, it extends to a duty that Directors keep confidential all discussions of the Board.
- Duty of Obedience – provides that Directors must ensure that the organization is adhering to all applicable laws and regulations and doesn’t engage in illegal or unauthorized activities. The duty of obedience also means that Directors must ensure that DWDC carries out its mission in accordance with the purpose3 stated in the incorporating documents.
Basic Duties
- Ensure that DWDC’s mission4 is clearly stated and enthusiastically supported along with its purpose.
- Recruit and retain an effective CEO and support the Board Chair-CEO partnership.
- Provide personal and organizational support for the CEO, periodically assessing CEO performance, and acknowledging strong service through appropriate compensation (with the support and diligence of the Human Resources Committee).
- Through the strategic planning process, work with staff to translate the DWDC mission into objectives and goals that direct the focus of energy and resources.
- Monitor and strengthen programs and services to ensure they align with DWDC’s mission and strategic plan.
- Ensure the staff have adequate financial resources and that they do not spend beyond our means.
- Facilitate opportunities for staff to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors.
- Protect DWDC assets and provide appropriate financial oversight (with the support and diligence of the Finance and Audit Committee).
- Build and sustain a competent Board (with the support and diligence of the Governance Committee).
- Oversee the assessment, prioritization, and mitigation of risks to be managed by staff; regularly review management reports on the implementation of the risk strategy and framework.
- Ensure legal and ethical integrity through adherence to the Code of Conduct, legal standards, and ethical norms, and by collectively exhibiting diligence, commitment, and vigilance.
- Enhance DWDC’s public standing by being ambassadors and advocates, and together with management, communicating the organization’s story and aspirations while contributing to a healthy and accurate public image.
Other Duties
- Review documents provided as part of the new Director orientation process, including the bylaws.
- Attend and participate at meetings and be available for unscheduled meetings and phone calls.
- Prepare for meetings by reading minutes, reports, and other materials provided in advance.
- Ask questions at meetings not answered in the materials already distributed, in order to properly assess current and proposed projects to ensure they serve the DWDC mission and set the organization up for success.
- Encourage the participation of other members at meetings and listen to and respect their opinions.
- Work with fellow Directors to build consensus and manage conflict constructively.
- Share any external changes that may affect DWDC’s ability to deliver on its mission.
- Remain energetic in learning about and helping the organization; Board meetings should not be a chore but help Directors connect with their peers and maintain enthusiasm for their important responsibilities.
- Serve on at least one committee, working group, or task force and be willing to take on special assignments.
- Work with staff in a non-Board capacity when invited by management to share expertise in areas such as communications, fundraising, advocacy, investments, etc.
- Ensure that DWDC is among the top three organizations that they contribute to annually.
- Participate in the assessment of Board meetings; annual self-assessments of the Board, the Board-CEO relations, and feedback to the Chair of the Board; and peer feedback exercises.
- Request and review the results of an annual staff satisfaction survey.
Expression of Interest 2026 Application Information
DWDC is seeking to fill positions for individuals to be part of its Board of Directors in 2026.
To ensure balance and diversity within the Board of Directors, we are looking for specific areas of expertise and encourage Expressions of Interest from individuals who have marketing (Agency or similar experience), public relations (media relations, reputation management, crisis communication, digital literacy or cybersecurity expertise, and board/governance expertise and/or:
- Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Atlantic Canada
- Are Members of equity-seeking communities (including racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions)
Please note that if you have other skills to bring to the Board, your application will still be considered and kept on file for future Board recruitment.
What are the Board’s responsibilities?
Board members are committed individuals willing to assume a leadership role in the governance of this national organization. Board members are responsible for:
- Providing leadership on issues related to the mission, vision, and values of DWDC
- Setting strategic priorities
- Formulating governance policies
- Providing financial stewardship
- Oversight and monitoring organizational performance
What is required for the Expression of Interest Process?
- A copy of your CV or resume
- A completed Board Competency and Skills matrix
- A personal statement indicating why you would like to be considered for a position on the DWDC Board
- Two references
All submissions will be held in strict confidence and a confirmation of receipt will be issued within 48 hours. All Expressions of Interest received will be reviewed by the Governance Committee with a view to making a recommendation to the Board of Directors. Selected candidates may be presented to the Members at the 2026 AGM.
Interested in applying?
Please complete the application form (including your CV/resume, personal statement, and references) and Competency and Skills matrix via Survey Monkey (LINK BELOW) by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 20, 2026. For further information please contact Gayle McClelland, DWDC Board Administrator at gayle.mcclelland@dyingwithdignity.ca