As many of you know, after 8 years of dedicated service to the Canadian Association of Learned Journals and our members, Ken Clavette, Executive Director, made the decision to retire as of November 19, 2021. Ken has been instrumental in maintaining CALJ operations in working directly with members to welcome new and returning members, maintaining membership accounts, and collecting member feedback. Ken has provided corporate continuity throughout the terms of 4 presidents and supported CALJ through continuous change. Bringing dedication and feistiness from a union background, Ken has maintained his strong commitment to Canadian journals throughout his tenure in the role of Executive Director. Ken supports all activities of the Board of Directors, including programming, communications, and special projects, and he maintains CALJ records and documents. We will miss Ken’s collegiality and infectious positivity and wish him well in his retirement. 

While we will miss Ken, we are pleased to welcome Carolyn Fast in the role of  Executive Director effective November 1, 2021. Carolyn has worked in the non-profit sectors in British Columbia and Ontario for more than 35 years, including work in co-operative housing, food banking, community economic development, domestic violence, housing readiness education and most recently as Executive Director of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. Carolyn has a strong commitment to providing needed services to the vulnerable, as well as helping to facilitate larger change in our society through her work.  She brings expertise in management and administration, as well as strategic and organizational development.

Carolyn completed a Master of Arts degree in Community Development through the School of Public Administration, University of Victoria in 2017. Carolyn’s area of research for her master’s project was co-location of non-profits into “non-profit centres,” a burgeoning movement designed to achieve more efficient and effective service and innovation among non-profit partners. 

Carolyn is excited to begin work at the Canadian Association of Learned Journals, providing support to so many who are doing essential research and communication work, advancing issues of value to so many aspects of society.  She looks forward to meeting members virtually during the challenges of COVID and perhaps in-person in the future. 

Best regards,

Antonia Pop

President, Canadian Association of Learned Journals