GARY
ST. AMAND

CEO

Member of Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation

📍Resides on Treaty 6 and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 4

Gary is a nonprofit leader recognized for advancing equity, justice, and community wellbeing through people-centred leadership.

He began his career in youth-serving spaces, working directly with young people in community-based settings such as youth drop-in centres and frontline support programs. These early experiences grounded him in relationship-based practice and strength-based approaches, deepening his understanding of systemic barriers and the importance of responsive, human-centred approaches. 

Throughout his 25-year career in the nonprofit sector, Gary has played a key role in launching innovative service models, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, and ensuring continuity of essential services during times of crisis. Central to his leadership has been a commitment to evidence-informed practice, continuous improvement, and demonstrating meaningful outcomes for individuals and communities. He is known for fostering strong organizational culture, empowering teams, and balancing fiscal stewardship with human-centered outcomes.

Sport has played a formative role throughout Gary’s life:

“Sports shaped my understanding of teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. Whether it was playing shinny (street hockey) on our front street, being a captain of our high school football team, or competing provincially and nationally in track and field events, the opportunity to participate in sport was foundational to my development as a person and as a leader."

As a values-based leader of Algonquin lineage, Gary is deeply committed to reconciliation, community building, and developing resilient leaders equipped to shape a more equitable future.