Call for Board Member
Nominations
Equity Statement
Eviance is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage nominations from individuals from historically marginalized and racialized communities.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors provides strategic leadership and works in partnership with the Executive Director, who is responsible for operational implementation.
Eviance is currently seeking to enhance the diversity of its Board through the addition of two (2) new Board members. We welcome nominations from individuals across Canada who bring diverse lived experiences, perspectives, and skills that reflect the communities we serve.
Incoming board members will work collaboratively with the existing Board on leadership continuity, fundraising, and ongoing monitoring of Eviance’s strategic plan during their term.
Role and Responsibilities
The primary functions of the Board include strategic planning, financial oversight, and fundraising. Board members are expected to:
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Provide stewardship of the organization and strategic direction in alignment with Eviance’s mission, vision, and strategic plan;
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Promote the organization’s goals, values, and core knowledge, including global and cross-disability perspectives;
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Participate in Board meetings (approximately 5 annually) and serve on at least one Board committee (approximately three to five annually); and,
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Contribute a minimum of 30 hours annually in their role as a Board member.
Preferred Competencies
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Interest in Eviance and commitment to advancing inclusive, equitable, and accessible communities;
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Knowledge and practice of intersectionality, inclusion, and reflexivity;
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Ability to work respectfully and effectively within a diverse board and with differently located stakeholders;
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Willingness to actively support fundraising efforts;
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Readiness to devote time and energy to Board responsibilities;
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Bilingualism (English and French) is an asset;
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Experience with governance and/or governance education; and,
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Familiarity with knowledge mobilization is an asset.
Board Member Requirements
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Hold active membership in Eviance; and,
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Commit to a three-year term, renewable once.
Board Positions Available
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Two (2) positions; and,
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One three-year term beginning September 11, 2026, eligible for renewal to a second three-year term beginning September 2029.
Nomination Process and Timeline
A slate of candidates will be compiled, and ballots will be distributed to Eviance members in good standing in August 2026. The 2026–2027 Board of Directors will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on Friday, September 11, 2026, held virtually via Zoom and facilitated out of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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The deadline to submit nominations is: Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM CDT.
Bring your lived experiences, voice, and leadership to help shape a more inclusive and accessible future. Eviance welcomes emerging and established leaders in disability communities to join our Board of Directors.
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The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies Inc., operating as Eviance, is a national not-for-profit Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD). We serve as a facilitator of knowledge-to-action, bringing people and ideas together to advance intersectional, action-based solutions that promote human rights and equity-focused decision-making in Canada and internationally.
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At Eviance, we define an OPD as an organization where at least 80% of staff, board members, and volunteers are persons with disabilities across diverse locations. We are committed to addressing systemic inequities while meaningfully supporting priorities identified by the diverse disability communities we serve — particularly grassroots organizations.
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As a change-driven organization, Eviance works to build more inclusive, equitable, and accessible societies. We do this by fostering strategic partnerships, supporting collaboration, and strengthening capacity to address the social, political, and economic issues impacting people with disabilities.
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Our work is guided by global human rights frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We advance our mission through:
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Community-based initiatives, including research, education development, and knowledge mobilization;
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Strategic partnerships with governments, institutions, organizations, businesses, and the public;
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A commitment to high-quality, evidence-informed policy and practice;
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Meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of our work; and,
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Approaches grounded in intersectionality, reflexivity, innovation, and excellence.
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We recognize that disability is shaped by intersecting identities and experiences, including geography, culture, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Our work reflects this complexity and aims to address systemic barriers while acknowledging both the challenges and strengths within disability communities.
Qualifications and Assets
We are seeking individuals who demonstrate:
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Experience serving on an OPD and/or non-profit board (an asset);
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Lived experience as a person with a disability (strongly valued);
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Demonstrated commitment to equity, accessibility, human rights, and social justice;
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Awareness of historic, current, and emerging issues related to disability, including but not limited to mental health (psychosocial disability);
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Ability to practice reflexivity and apply critical thinking in governance and decision-making;
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Understanding of the historical roots of the cross-disability movement within human rights and broader social justice movements;
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Systems thinking skills and the ability to engage with complex, interconnected issues; and,
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Familiarity with non-profit governance practices, including knowledge of Nathan’s Board Governance principles (an asset).