Mr. Robin Collins, an active supporter of nuclear disarmament and global governance for more than 30 years, and Dr. Sylvie Lemieux, a retired Lieutenant-Colonel army engineer and public service executive, will jointly Co-Chair the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, effective March 19, 2021.
They replace Earl Turcotte, a former Canadian diplomat and UN official, who did not stand for re-election in order to undertake two independent advocacy projects in support of nuclear disarmament.
The nomination of Mr. Collins and Dr. Lemieux, presented by former Senator and Ambassador for Disarmament, the Honourable Douglas Roche O.C., Chairman of the CNANW Search Committee, was unanimously approved by the CNANW Steering Committee and endorsed by the 18 member organizations of the CNANW.
Mr. Collins has a B.A. in political science from Carleton University and works professionally in the microscopy technology field. He is also secretary and past vice-chair of the Canadian Pugwash Group, member of the Group of 78 working group on peace and security, and secretary of the World Federalist Movement-Canada where he is focused on UN peacekeeping, UN Emergency Peace Service (UNEPS), Responsibility to Protect and UN reform.
Dr. Lemieux completed a Master’s degree in Globalization and International Development and a Doctorate in Conflict Studies at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa. In addition to her work as a project and program leader, she has been an active civil society advocate focusing on social justice, the environment, global peace and nuclear disarmament for many years.
The outgoing Chair of the CNANW Earl Turcotte remarked, “Although our Network has been a force for change for more than 25 years, much remains to be done in Canada and around the world to achieve our ultimate goal: the total elimination of nuclear weapons. I have worked with both Robin Collins and Sylvie Lemieux for several years, and could not be happier that two such qualified and accomplished individuals will lead the work of the CNANW, going forward. And that they, as did I, will have the support and assistance of a highly effective Steering Committee.”
Mr. Collins and Dr. Lemieux paid tribute to Turcotte and also to his predecessor, Ms. Bev Delong, who Chaired the CNANW for two decades, acknowledging the tremendous work undertaken by the CNANW during their respective tenures.
Ms. Delong remains a member of the Steering Committee, along with:
– Dr. Nancy Covington representing Voice of Women for Peace
– Mr. Rob Acheson representing Science for Peace
– Mr. Cesar Jaramillo representing the Canadian Pugwash Group and Project Ploughshares
– Dr. Jonathan Down representing International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (Canada)
Joining them as new members of the Steering Committee are:
– Dr. Richard Denton representing Friends for Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, and
– Dr. Erika Simpson representing the Canadian Peace Research Association
Other member organizations of the CNANW are:
– The Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility
– Canadian Disarmament Information Service (CANDIS)
– Canadian Federation of University Women
– Canadian Peace Alliance
– Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day Coalition
– Group of 78
– Religions for Peace Canada
– Rideau Institute
– United Nations Association of Canada
– Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Canadian section)
– World Federalist Movement – Canada
Contact: cnanw@web.ca