FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada appoints new
national president
Toronto, February 1, 2007 -  The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
is pleased to announce the appointment of Yves Savoie as president and
chief executive. Mr. Savoie is known as a passionate advocate for people
with disabilities and brings with him significant fundraising and non-profit
management experience.
He succeeds Alistair M. Fraser who has served as the MS Society’s
president and chief executive for the past 25 years. With his
retirement, Mr. Fraser leaves behind an impressive legacy. Under
his tenure, the MS
Society has grown from a lesser known organization to a high-profile
national entity that last year raised $30 million in revenue,
a new record.
 "These have been extremely rewarding years — challenging,
exciting, and deeply inspiring,” Mr. Fraser says. “The time
has come for me to bring them to a close, and have the MS Society move
forward under new leadership.”
Mr. Savoie takes the helm of a growing and well-managed organization.
Fundraising events like the Super Cities WALK for MS, RONA MS Bike Tour,
MS Carnation Campaign and MS Read-A-Thon are well known across the country
and make up the majority of the MS Society’s growing revenue base.
With respect to the delivery of services, the MS Society is helping tens
of thousands of clients annually through self-help groups, exercise programs
and equipment provision. In addition, Canada enjoys an international reputation
as a leader in MS research that stems from the MS Society’s consistent
flow of funds to support innovative and compelling work to find a cure
for the disease.
“I’m blessed to have the opportunity to join an organization
whose reputation and stature are well known in the non-profit sector and
beyond,” Mr. Savoie says. “So much has been accomplished by
the MS Society and this momentum will continue. Until a cure is found
and all people impacted by MS have the quality of life they are entitled
to, we will not rest.”
Prior to joining the MS Society, Mr. Savoie was the executive
director of the Family Service Association of Toronto. From 1998
to 2003, he served as the national executive director of the Muscular
Dystrophy
Association where he was a passionate advocate for the inclusion
of people with disabilities in the community.
Previously, he led the fundraising activities of the Royal Ontario
Museum and the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation as the
executive director and president of their respective foundations.
He holds an MBA
from Concordia University and a Master of Management from McGill
University.
Mr. Fraser will continue his involvement with the cause as a
director of the MS Scientific Research Foundation, an entity
that receives the majority of its funding from the MS Society
and is the world’s
largest organization dedicated solely to funding MS research.
About Multiple Sclerosis and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease of the
brain and spinal cord. It is the most common neurological
disease of young adults in Canada. Most people with MS are diagnosed
between the
ages of 15-40, and the unpredictable effects of MS last for
the rest of their lives. The MS Society provides services
to people with MS and
their families and funds research to find the cause and cure.
For more information, to make a donation or to volunteer, please
call 1-800-268-7582 or visit www.mssociety.ca.
Contact Information:
Stewart Wong
National Manager, Media Relations
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Telephone: 416-967-3025
stewart.wong@mssociety.ca
www.mssociety.ca
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