• From seed to survival to sustainability, national charity Forests Canada has proudly built the infrastructure and network needed to conserve, restore, and grow Canada's forests to sustain life and communities today and for generations to come.
• Forests Canada welcomes Alison Dempsey and Rick Scott; thanks Peter Johnson and Bonny Skene for their longstanding contributions.

TORONTO, April 1, 2026 /CNW/ - To help Canada's forests thrive and advance its mission to conserve, restore, and grow our forests to sustain life and communities, Forests Canada recently added two new members to its Board of Directors: Alison Dempsey and Rick Scott.

"It's an important time for us as an organization. Canada's forest landscapes are experiencing unprecedented impacts from wildfire and biodiversity loss, which creates complex challenges for forest recovery, regeneration, and long-term resilience," Jess Kaknevicius, Chief Executive Officer, Forests Canada, says. "I am so happy to be able to welcome Alison Dempsey and Rick Scott to our Board of Directors and know they will help us stay committed to the health and vitality of our forests today, and for future generations."

Dempsey is a lawyer, governance advisor, and board director with over 30 years of experience spanning private practice, international business advisory, nonprofit, regulatory and consulting roles. She works closely with senior leadership and boards to strengthen ethics, governance, strategy and risk oversight whilst championing accountability, responsible stewardship, and sustainable outcomes.

Dempsey holds an Arts degree from Queen's University, law degrees from University of British Columbia (JD) and University of Exeter, England (LLM), and earned a doctorate (PhD Law) focused on ethics, governance, law and securities regulation. She authored Evolutions in Governance - Towards an Ethical Framework for Business Conduct (2013) and other publications on related subjects and recently completed six years (three terms) on the Board of Forest Professionals BC (FPBC) serving as a government appointed Board member. 

Scott recently retired as a senior partner of a large, international law firm. He has extensive experience in corporate and commercial law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions in the agribusiness, energy, and consumer products sectors. He holds law and commerce degrees from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and has a longstanding interest in forest and prairie conservation. As a landowner in Northumberland County, Ontario, Scott has worked with Forests Canada on the restoration of a tallgrass prairie and the reforestation of lands previously used for grazing.

Forests Canada would like to thank outgoing Directors Peter Johnson and Bonny Skene, who had been on the Board of Directors since November 2015 and February 2017, respectively.

"I'd like to thank Peter and Bonny for their dedication and for lending their guidance to us as we navigated so many important milestones, including broadening the scope of our operations as Forests Canada, and supporting the planting of our 50 millionth tree," Kaknevicius says. "We appreciate everything they've done for us and for Canada's forests."

About Forests Canada

Forests Canada is a national charity working to conserve, restore, and grow Canada's forests to sustain life and communities. With interactive education programs inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, and high-quality forest recovery efforts supporting local jobs and economies, we have proudly built the infrastructure and network needed to help ensure the greatest possible outcomes for Canada's forests from coast to coast to coast.

Learn how you can get involved today. Visit www.ForestsCanada.ca or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn to find out more.

SOURCE Forests Canada