October 1, 2021 • OTTAWA, ONTARIO
It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that the Board of Directors announces Osmel B. Guerra Maynes departure as Executive Director of Capital Pride. Osmel has played a critical role in the development and success of the organization, and while we will miss him and his inspiring leadership, we wish him the best of luck in his new endeavour as the Director of Community Engagement, Social Programs, and Inclusion at HQ Toronto, a centre of excellence in gay men’s health, providing tailored mental health services, sexual health services, and community/social programming.
We want to thank him for his dedicated service, which involved many significant accomplishments. Some of his most notable achievements include the execution of Capital Pride’s Strategic Plan 2021-2023, successfully increasing and diversifying the organization’s revenue, launching incredible virtual programming throughout the pandemic, and amplifying BIPOC and marginalized community members.
During this transition period, it is our priority to find the best individual to lead, while still maintaining a stable and effective organization. As such, the Board of Directors is committed to engaging in a recruitment process to find Capital Pride’s next Executive Director. Until a new Executive Director can be recruited, Toby Whitfield has graciously agreed to return to the helm of the organization on a temporary basis. Toby is very familiar with Capital Pride, having served as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and as the Festival Director for the 2019 Summer Pride Festival. We are confident that Toby will be able to ensure a smooth transition and lead the organization into success while we search for a permanent Executive Director.
Again, we cannot thank Osmel enough for the dedication, passion, enthusiasm, and motivation he has given to Capital Pride. Osmel will be greatly missed by the staff, Board members, and partners alike. We look forward to following the success of his career and are hopeful and excited for the next chapter of Capital Pride as we continue to support 2SLGBTQ+ communities within the National Capital Region.
Any questions regarding this transition process can be forwarded to Geneviève Colverson, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, by email at [email protected].
About Capital Pride
Capital Pride creates opportunities to celebrate, advocate, educate and connect people, respecting the full diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada’s national capital region. For further details please visit capitalpride.ca.
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