AmbCanada is a voluntary organization, supported by a part-time Office Manager. The success of our initiatives relies on the generosity of our members through the gift of their time, energy, and expertise. 

There are numerous ways to get involved with AmbCanada in a way that fits with your schedule, regardless of where you live. Below are some examples, along with information about who to contact if you are interested. We welcome additional ideas or suggestions.

Most people start by volunteering to help with a specific AmbCanada event, such as the following: 

• Annual Holiday Reception. This event happens every year in early December in Ottawa. Volunteers are always needed to help at the check-in table, and to work with the Protocol team to guide guests to the 9th floor.  Contact: Olivier Nicoloff 

• Foreign Policy Conference: We held our first conference in May 2025 and will do so again in 2026. Volunteers are needed for a wide range of tasks, both onsite during the Conference and in the planning phase prior to the event. We also need a certain number of members to serve as moderators or panellists. Contact: Michael Small
• Monthly Speaker Lunches: We always need ideas for new speakers, especially from members who are willing to reach out to find them. We also need volunteers to serve as moderators for our events, whether inperson or online. Contact: Alex Bugailiskis
• Authors’ Event: This annual event showcases books published in the past year by our members. If you have recently published a book, or know another member who has done so, please let us know. Contact: Ian Ferguson

 

If you would like to find a way to contribute on an ongoing basis, here are a few options to consider. 

• Board membership: Board members may serve for up to two three-year terms. Serving on the Board involves contributing to the leadership of the organization as a whole, as well as participating in one or two of our Board committees (dealing with External Relations & Governance, Membership Services, Programs, or Nominations). Contact: Ian Burchett

• • Committee membership: Members may serve on a committee without joining the Board. It is a great way to find out if you might wish to serve on the Board at a later date. There is no fixed term for committee members. Contact: Ian Burchett
  • Mentoring: We have a mentoring program for future military officers through RMC and a briefing program for new HOMs. Contacts: Tim Martin and Roxanne Dubé respectively

• Website: We welcome volunteers to help us enrich the content on this website, especially the sections on Canadian Diplomacy and Publications. Contact: Carolyn Brereton

• Social Media: We are focusing our social media efforts on LinkedIn and are interested in developing ways to strengthen and elevate our presence. Contact: Alison LeClaire 

 

The time requirements for each of these responsibilities varies, but we try to be as flexible as possible, so that members can combine them with personal travel and other commitments.