Vanier Institute of the Family welcomes Kassandra Churcher as new Executive Director

Experienced nonprofit leader to guide the Institute into its next chapter

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 22, 2026 /CNW/ — The Vanier Institute of the Family is excited to announce the appointment of Kassandra Churcher as its new Executive Director, effective November 2, 2026. Churcher brings over 20 years of national and international nonprofit leadership, having previously served as executive director of Amnesty International Canada and as Vice President of La Société Elizabeth Fry du Québec.

“We are delighted to welcome Kassandra,” said Susan Scotti, Chair of the Vanier Institute’s Board of Directors. “Her record of transformational leadership, combined with her research expertise and experience building partnerships across sectors and communities will help steward the Institute into its next chapter. Families are fundamental to Canada’s growth and prosperity. At a time when families are navigating increasingly complex challenges, the Institute’s role in understanding their diverse realities and well-being has never been more important.”

Churcher has authored policy and research reports addressing issues including women’s rights, Canada’s correctional system and Indigenous partnerships. At the Vanier Institute, she will build on the organization’s longstanding role as a trusted, evidence-informed resource on families.

“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary people and communities, including Indigenous partners and women facing systemic barriers. These experiences have taught me the importance of listening first,” said Churcher. “I’m excited to bring this approach to the Vanier Institute and build on its longstanding commitment to understanding families and ensuring their lived experiences continue to inform and enrich our work.”

Churcher’s appointment marks an important new chapter for the Institute, with opportunities to deepen engagement with researchers, communities and partners, and bring greater attention to the role families play in a healthy and inclusive society.

About the Vanier Institute of the Family

The Vanier Institute of the Family is a national, independent think tank committed to enhancing family wellbeing by making information about families accessible and actionable. Positioned at the centre of networks of researchers, educators, policymakers, and organizations with an interest in families, we share evidence and strengthen the understanding of families in Canada, in all their diversities, to support evidence-based decisions that promote family wellbeing.

About Kassandra Churcher

Kassandra Churcher is an accomplished nonprofit executive, researcher and human rights advocate with more than two decades of national and international leadership experience. Most recently, as Executive Director of Amnesty International Canada (English section), Kassandra led significant organizational transformation, advancing equity while strengthening organizational effectiveness. Her leadership included the development of progressive workplace policies recognizing the changing realities of employees and their families, including flexible working arrangements, pregnancy-loss leave, expanded definitions of dependants and gender-affirming leave.

Previously, as National Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS), Kassandra contributed to national policy development and systemic human rights advocacy, co-authoring, editing and submitting briefs to federal bodies on women’s rights and experiences within Canada’s criminal justice system. This work included contributions to Women and the Canadian Legal System: Examining Situations of Hyper-Responsibility, developed by CAEFS and the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

Her longstanding relationships with Indigenous communities have profoundly shaped her approach to leadership. Earlier in her career, she held senior educational leadership roles with the Kativik School Board in Nunavik, working alongside communities across Northern Quebec. She also provided expert witness testimony to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, contributing perspectives on the systemic discrimination and criminalization experienced by Indigenous women. The Inquiry’s findings are documented in Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report.

Kassandra holds an MBA in Management and Change, a Master’s degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Ethics, and has pursued doctoral studies at McGill University. She is also a Chartered Professional in Human Resources Leader (CHRL). Churcher describes active listening and cultivating authentic, lasting relationships as central to her leadership approach.

SOURCE Vanier Institute of the Family