About CCAE
We provide opportunities for networking, professional learning and mutual support.
The Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) is a volunteer-led organization that promotes excellence in educational advancement. We provide opportunities for networking, professional learning and mutual support.
CCAE features peer to peer learning to share best practices among Canadian advancement professionals. Fees are in Canadian dollars and events are all based in Canada. CCAE members represent universities, colleges, polytechnics, institutes, independent schools and cégeps from across the country.
Advancement encompasses advancement services, alumni relations, communications and marketing, fundraising (development), external relations, and public relations and other advancement disciplines.
2023-2027 Strategic Plan
An inspired and connected community of professionals working to advance education in Canada.
Mission
Strengthening the capacity and amplifying the impact of educational advancement in Canada.
CCAE Guiding Principles
As a catalyst for professional learning and a cultivator of connections across the educational advancement sector in Canada, CCAE is guided by principles that inform all, and are woven throughout, activities and initiatives. CCAE is dedicated to curating and delivering exemplary programs, resources, and services that are:
- Inclusive, respectful, and representative of a diversity of experiences, languages (French and English), perspectives, interests, and identities.
- Excellent and create value for advancement professionals, partners and sponsors.
- Innovative, relevant, and data informed.
- Collaborative, engaged, and responsive to the sector.
- Guided by best practices in sustainability and environmental protection.
CCAE understands its role as a Canadian not-for-profit organization and is committed to transparency in its, governance, ethics, communication practices and social impact reporting. CCAE aims to meet or exceed all legal and fiduciary requirements governing not-for-profit organizations, in ways that are visible to stakeholders.
Lucy Gendron & Mark Savenkoff at the 2019 CCAE National Conference
CCAE Board of Directors

Julie Davis | Chair
Vice-President, External Relations and Development, Trent University
Term: 2021 – 2024

Jo-Ann Campbell Boutilier | Vice-Chair
Executive Director, College Advancement and the Holland College Foundation, Holland College
Term: 2021 – 2024

Brent Johnston | Vice-Chair
Executive Director, Advancement,
The Country Day School
Term: 2019 – 2022

Erin Sargeant Greenwood | Vice Chair
Vice-President, Advancement & External Affairs, Saint Mary’s University
Term: 2021 – 2024

Derek Cassoff | Past Chair
Managing Director, Communications, McGill University
Term: 2022 – 2024

Sarah Clarke
Director, Advancement Services, Carleton University
Term: 2023 – 2026

Natalie Cook-Zywicki
Associate Vice-President, Alumni; Executive Director, alumni UBC, University of British Columbia
Term: 2021 – 2024

Lindsey Fair
Associate Vice President University Communications & Marketing, University of Victoria
Term: 2021 – 2024

Caroline Girard
CEO of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations Department, Université Laval
Term: 2023 – 2026

Krishan Mehta
Assistant Vice-President, Engagement, Toronto Metropolitan University
Term: 2022 – 2025

Tasneem Rahim
Director, Fund Development and Alumni Engagement, Bow Valley College
Term: 2022 – 2025

Mark Savenkoff
Vice-President, Advancement, Algonquin College
Term: 2022 – 2025

Zahra Valani
Executive Director, Community Relations, Hillfield Strathallan College
Term: 2021 – 2024

Hélène Véronneau
Executive Director, Development, University of Montreal
Term: 2021 – 2024
CCAE offers professional learning programs covering the latest trends and techniques in advancement, designed to meet the needs of our 4,400 members at 132 Canadian educational institutions.
CCAE offers professional learning programs covering the latest trends and techniques in advancement, designed to meet the needs of our 4,400 members at 132 Canadian educational institutions.
CCAE’s Award and Fellowship Programs
Celebrate the Best
Advancement Work in Canada
Provides prestigious
TD Insurance Fellowships
in Advancement
Recognizes Promising
New Advancement Talent
Recognize Achievers that support Advancement and Education
National Partners

Manulife is the newest CCAE National Partner, a partnership that has been solidified through an agreement stretching out over the next 10 years.
Stemming from the CCAE Strategic Plan, this new national partnership will provide CCAE with increased financial stability over the next decade and will allow us to expand opportunities for educational advancement professionals across Canada through innovative initiatives and connections.
Manulife has been a proud supporter of CCAE through numerous events and initiatives for close to 20 years. CCAE is pleased to bring an industry leader and strong member affinity partner on board as a National Partner.
Recently, Manulife accepted a CCAE proposal to have their 2020 CCAE National Conference support redirected towards CCAE’s annual Volunteer Recognition Program. Close to 300 CCAE volunteers were recognized for their efforts and treated to a Starbucks gift card, thanks to Manulife’s support of this proposal.
Please join us and the entire CCAE Board in recognizing this remarkable step, as we send gratitude to all at Manulife.

2020 marks the 20th anniversary of MBNA’s National Partnership with CCAE!
It goes without saying that this 20th year has been like no other. Even in the face of unprecedented adversity, CCAE has pivoted to continue to provide enormous value, not only to its members, but also to their valued supporters. Watching the CCAE community come together with MBNA’s support, to assist those in need across the country has been a proud moment for us. With 100’s of partnerships across the country, this relationship is one we hold near and dear to our hearts.
Similar to how CCAE and its members pivoted, MBNA’s only priority over the last 5 months has been finding ways to help Canadians. Working closely with provincial and federal Covid-19 officials, we rolled out a Credit Card Monthly Payment Deferral program and Interest Rate Relief Support; both aimed at helping those impacted most by Covid-19. In addition, all marketing in our affinity credit card programs were halted to ensure we supported our partners with a clear and consistent message; this was a time for our partners to focus on their members.
As our national sponsorship journey with CCAE continues to strengthen, so does MBNA’s affinity credit card program. In many ways, we’ve changed significantly.
We have seen a major shift in what Canadians look for when choosing a credit card. This shift has led to significant changes to our partnership programs to ensure we continue to be aligned to what consumers want. In addition, we have listened to you; our partners. Simplicity is key!
Our NEW affinity card programs are simple and low touch, while providing an additional revenue stream to your alumni offices. Anchored by an award-winning credit card product, our affinity programs are focused on providing a partner-friendly approach to marketing while providing enhanced value to your alumni. This new and much simpler model ensures that our partnership programs are open to schools of ALL sizes. In the absence of our annual CCAE national conference, we wanted to reach out and thank you for your support and let you know MBNA is changing with the times; and we invite you to reach out and find out more!
To those already partnered with MBNA, we thank you for your confidence and you can rest assured that we will continue to stand behind you to support you in any way we can.
If you are looking for new Credit card affinity opportunities, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our partnership team is happy to connect with you in this new virtual world to discuss how MBNA can support you and your Alumni.

Each year, we look forward to joining the advancement community at the National Conference. While we missed connecting with our colleagues and friends in Winnipeg in May, we were grateful to be able to virtually congratulate the 2020 TD Insurance Fellows, Miruna Timotin of New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) and Zachary Robertson of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). We also heard about the many successes of outgoing Fellows Jenna Kirker, from Lakehead University, and Karissa Hartley, from the University of Lethbridge. We wish them all the best as they embark on the next stage of their professional journey.
The CCAE National Conference and various seminars and learning events throughout the year are critical opportunities for professional development.
TD Insurance will continue to be there for our partners, our customers and our communities. We’re proud of all we have accomplished together over the past 25 years and are committed to continuing to support the advancement community, today and into the future.
A wide variety of volunteer opportunities for members offer an excellent volunteer learning experience while providing CCAE with very important people power.
Learn about the need for, and benefits of, volunteering with us.
A wide variety of volunteer opportunities for members offer an excellent volunteer learning experience while providing CCAE with very important people power.
Learn about the need for, and benefits of, volunteering with us.