The Massawippi Foundation is pleased to welcome Charlotte Bastien to its Board of Directors. A long-time resident of Ayer’s Cliff and an enthusiastic user of the Massawippi and Tomifobia trails, Charlotte brings to the Foundation a unique combination of environmental expertise, management experience, and a deep personal connection to the Massawippi Valley.
For Charlotte, joining the Foundation is a natural way to give back to a community that is very close to her heart.
“I love Lake Massawippi and its valley,” she explains. “I would like to contribute to activities that benefit the community and help preserve the unique ecosystems of the Lake Massawippi watershed.”
Her connection to the Tomifobia Trail is particularly significant. Involved for three years, Charlotte volunteered to serve on the transition committee during the transfer of ownership of the trail from Sentiers Nature Tomifobia to the Massawippi Conservation Trust. As a regular user of both the Massawippi and Tomifobia trails, she understands the importance of providing opportunities for people to experience nature while ensuring these exceptional environments are protected for future generations.
Charlotte’s professional background adds another important dimension to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. She devoted 32 years to the federal public service, beginning her career at Environment Canada and later holding various positions, including at the St. Lawrence Centre and the Canadian Meteorological Centre. She also served as a member of the Great Lakes Research Managers Council of the International Joint Commission.
In 1996, Charlotte accepted an international position with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She helped establish the Secretariat in Montreal and served as liaison with the Francophonie, while overseeing the organization of international meetings in South America and Africa.
She later continued her career with Veterans Affairs Canada, where she held various leadership positions. In recognition of her exceptional service, she received the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service in 2007. She became Director General of Regional Operations and later served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Oversight and Communications, before retiring from the public service in 2022.
These decades of experience enabled her to develop extensive expertise in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and the management of complex and future-oriented organizational challenges.
Charlotte holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering Sciences from McGill University’s Macdonald College. She is a member of the Huron-Wendat First Nation and is fully bilingual in French and English.
We are delighted to welcome her and to work alongside her in protecting the natural environments that make our region so exceptional.
We are fortunate and grateful that she has chosen to join our organization.
