Jana Comeau welcomed as BCAPI’s new Executive Director
SAINT JOHN, NB — After an exhaustive search, the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI) is pleased to welcome Jana Comeau as its new Executive Director.
Comeau joins BCAPI with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning the not-for-profit, post-secondary education, and business sectors. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Hestia House, where she led organizational renewal efforts, strengthened community partnerships, expanded fundraising capacity, and positioned the organization as a trusted voice on key social issues.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jana to BCAPI," says Ryan Mitchell, BCAPI Co-Chair. "She is a collaborative, values-driven leader, and her experience building partnerships across business, government, education, and the community makes her uniquely qualified to lead BCAPI into its next chapter."
Prior to joining Hestia House, Comeau held senior leadership positions at Yorkville University, the University of Fredericton, and the University of New Brunswick, where she led major organizational initiatives, developed innovative programs, and worked extensively with business and community leaders across Canada and internationally.
“It is an honour and privilege to be able to step into the giant footsteps of Monica Chaperlin as the next BCAPI Executive Director,” says Comeau. “Having lived in Saint John for the past 30 years, I have always been struck by the support exhibited by the local business community. BCAPI is a testament to the capacity for social impact the business community can create when collaborating collectively with all levels of governments, community organizations, and the public. I look forward to continuing to build on BCAPI’s legacy of collective impact and lending my background and experiences towards future successes in reducing childhood poverty in Saint John.”
Comeau will be taking over from Monica Chaperlin, who has held the Executive Director position for more than 20 years.
“Monica’s two-decade contribution to BCAPI and her career-long contribution to improving the lives of Saint Johners is a stunning accomplishment,” says Andy Carson, BCAPI Co-Chair. “She has truly made a significant difference – and she has the gratitude of the entire BCAPI organization as she takes her retirement and joins the BCAPI Leadership group.”
Comeau will work closely with BCAPI's Executive, Leadership group, community partners, and supporters to advance the organization's strategic priorities.
About BCAPI:
The Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI) is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to catalyzing, facilitating, and collaborating to end generational poverty in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Comprising business and professional leaders, BCAPI is driven by the belief that poverty can be substantially reduced if the community’s leadership focuses on this common goal and works with leaders from all sectors to achieve change. BCAPI members work collaboratively with people living in poverty, community organizations and government to develop, demonstrate and scale-up solutions that provide children, youth, and families with the essential tools and resources to succeed in school and life.
BCAPI’s primary role is as a catalyst for change, leveraging the skills, resources, and influence of its members and partners to help change the outcomes for those living in a cycle of poverty. BCAPI focuses its efforts on supporting young people from cradle to career, primarily through educational programming and supports.
BCAPI also contributes business and professional leadership, skills, and resources to specific community initiatives. Its members advocate for projects that help children, youth, and families to overcome the barriers to achieving their full potential.
The organization was founded in 1997 by Bill Gale.
