We are proud to announce the appointment of Chantal Laferrière as the new Executive Director of FDOI.
Chantal brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in the philanthropic and community sectors, with a career dedicated to strengthening organizations that support individuals and families facing vulnerability. She is widely recognized for her expertise in governance, organizational transformation, philanthropic development, and executive leadership within complex nonprofit environments.
Throughout her career, Chantal has served as Executive Director to numerous foundations and community organizations active in areas such as food security, mental health, housing, healthcare, and social inclusion. She has led major fundraising initiatives totaling tens of millions of dollars, mobilized multidisciplinary teams, and overseen organizations with diversified funding models and significant operational and real estate complexity.
Her arrival comes at a pivotal moment for FDOI.
For more than 60 years, FDOI has been a lifeline for West Islanders experiencing hardship. While the West Island is often perceived as prosperous, the reality is that food insecurity, social isolation, housing precarity, and unmet basic needs continue to grow. Demand for our services is increasing year after year.
In response, FDOI is expanding.
The organization is undertaking a significant expansion to grow services, increase capacity, and bring supports closer together, allowing us to better meet the evolving needs of our community while ensuring long-term sustainability.
Asked about what excites her most as she steps into this role at such a pivotal moment for the organization, Chantal shares:
“What inspires me most is the opportunity to connect our mission even more deeply to the real needs of the community. FDOI is evolving from a recognized organization to a true catalyst for change in the West Island. This growth gives us the chance to act with agility, strengthen collaboration, and create spaces and initiatives that make a concrete difference in people’s lives. I’m deeply committed to working closely with our teams, partners, and community so that this next phase of growth is both impactful and profoundly human.”
This next phase requires disciplined leadership, strong governance, and a deeply human approach to service delivery.
Chantal steps into this role with clarity and intention. In her first months, she will focus on listening, strengthening internal alignment, consolidating operations, reinforcing governance and financial practices, and supporting the organization as it scales, ensuring that growth remains fully aligned with FDOI’s mission and values.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are confident that Chantal’s leadership, grounded, collaborative, and impact-driven, will guide FDOI through this next chapter with care, compassion, and long-term vision.
We are delighted to welcome her to the FDOI community.
FDOI — Meeting the essential needs of our community.
