Leigh Couture named Executive Director at Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

(On December 1, 2021, Leigh Couture will take over duties as the new Executive Director of the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre that serves Stittsville, Kanata, West Carleton-March and Rideau-Goulbourn.)

Leigh Couture will become the new Executive Director at the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (OWCRC) starting December 1, 2021. An executive search took place over the past several months and the WOCRC is pleased that Leigh accepted their offer. Leigh takes over from the previous Executive Director, Michelle Hurtubise, who had departed the organization in September.

OWCRC is grateful to Michelle for her dedicated years of leadership. She has worked with community-based health and social services for 30 years and will be missed. Michelle will be taking over the Executive Director position at the Centretown Community Health Centre.

(Michelle Hurtubise is the former Executive Director of the WOCRC and left the position in September 2021. Photo: Submitted)

Michelle told Stittsville Central, “It was a difficult decision to leave WOCRC as it is a wonderful organization that is so deeply connected to the broad range of communities that it serves. The staff and Board of Directors are a remarkable group of individuals who care deeply about the people WOCRC serves. I am delighted that they have been able to recruit Leigh who values the kind of innovations and adaptability shown by staff across the organization”.

Leigh has held several senior level social roles in Ottawa as the Director of Community Health services at Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre and as the joint Associate Executive Director at Youturn Youth Support Services and Roberts/Smart Centre so brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Anthropology and Law from Carleton University, took a mini-MBA Executive Development course at McGill University and attended the Rotman School of Management for Advanced Health Leadership.

With her proven track record and strong community commitment of advocating for health, mental health, children and youth, seniors and employment services, Leigh will provide insight into the local issues and relationships with many key funders, partners and residents that will be an asset for WOCRC.

On the announcement of her new position, Leigh shared with us, “I am thrilled to join such a stellar organization that has worked with and for the Ottawa West Community over the last 35 years with the goal of securing a future where everyone has access to the services they need for their health and wellbeing. I am looking forward to getting to know the team and community better over the coming months, and building on the existing foundation of impactful, community-focused service delivery that the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre is known for”.

The Board of Directors of the OWCRC recognized the experience and leadership that Leigh brings to the role as Executive Director, “Leigh embodies the core values of the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre  and will be a strong leader and visionary for our Centre moving forward. We’re excited to welcome Leigh to Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre”.

About Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre brings care and community together; with over 200 volunteers, part-time and full-time staff; delivering programs to the Stittsville community as well as Kanata, West Carleton-March and the Rideau-Goulbourn areas. Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre connects clients of all ages with services and resources. They are committed to supporting our diverse communities in far west Ottawa by providing and coordinating accessible health and social services.

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