Heather Johnson

Volunteer Engagement Professional
Senior Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement
Canadian Cancer Society

PAVRO’s Director of Communications 

Heather has been working within the not-for-profit sector since 2003 and has held a variety of roles. Her current role as the Senior Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement with the Canadian Cancer Society sees her responsible for the engagement of leadership volunteers for the many programs and campaigns available to Canadians diagnosed with cancer in Eastern York Region, Durham Region, Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

Previous professional experiences include: Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services (Manager, Volunteer Program and Human Resources), Hope Air (Business Development and Volunteer Manager), FOOTPRINTS 4 Autism (Marketing, Fundraising, and Administration Consultant), Habitat for Humanity York Region (Volunteer Coordinator), and the Latcham Gallery of Whitchurch-Stouffville (Fundraiser).  

Volunteer engagement is in Heahter’s blood; the opportunity to tell the story of an organization or cause with the purpose of exciting others to help make a difference is a passion for her. As part of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Ontario Volunteer Engagement Team, overseeing more than 40,000 volunteers, she has the privilege of connecting with awesome and amazing volunteers each and every day.

We welcome Heather as PAVRO’s new Director of Communications while she remains active as a member with PAVRO, TAVA (former President) and DRAVA.

Other volunteer roles that Heather has been involved with include, former Chair of the Official Board and President of the Congregation for Dunbarton-Fairport United Church, and member of the Conference Planning Committee for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). She remains active volunteering with the Pickering Museum Village as Co-Team Lead of the Bloomers ‘n’ Britches gardening group as well as being a member-at-large on the Pickering Museum Village Foundation.

Heather completed her BA (Honours) in Communication and Digital Media Studies with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in 2019.  She had the honour of presenting a paper on the ethics of communication at the National Communication Association Convention in Washington, D.C. and, recently she delivered a presentation at Volunteer Toronto’s VECTor conference drawn from her Honours Thesis “Don’t Believe Everything You Read:  Volunteering in the Media.” Heather is currently pursuing her CVA certification with the intent to write the exam in October 2020.

Welcome to your new role Heather!