When I stepped into the role of CEO this year, it was clear that EWB Canada was at a crossroads. Our balance sheet told part of the story: the way we were operating needed to change. But the deeper issue was something more fundamental.
Our greatest strength has always been our people. But for several years that community had become disconnected. Chapters across the country were operating independently, with limited connection to national leadership and to one another. Our alumni, the most powerful proof of EWB’s impact, had drifted to the margins of our story, their experience and commitment largely untapped.
Over the past year I travelled across the country visiting chapters, meeting alumni, and listening to the people who built this organization. What I discovered, everywhere I went, and in each conversation, was people who still deeply believe that EWB matters – to them and to the world. The passion, ideas, and commitment of this community remain as strong as ever.
Twenty-five years in, EWB arrived at a moment of reckoning and, I believe, a moment of opportunity. This past year was one of rebuilding: rediscovering what makes this organization distinct, reconnecting with the people who carry its identity, and laying the groundwork for
growth that will last. There is something fitting about that. Our 25th anniversary was not just a milestone to celebrate, but a moment to ask tough questions about who we are and what we are building toward.
This report is a record of that work in progress, and shares our first steps in rebuilding that momentum. It is a snapshot of a community reconnecting, a movement finding its voice again, and an organization beginning its next chapter.
You will find stories from our chapter community, who are finding their footing and each other again. You will read about our renewed advocacy campaigns and our deepened commitment to systemic impact in Africa. You will see the partnerships that have helped EWB not just survive this period but grow through it. And it all led to xChange – our first in-person national gathering since the pandemic – that served as a celebration of 25 years of EWB Canada and a declaration of what comes next.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Your continued engagement, insight, and support will help shape EWB’s next chapter.
Yours Sincerely,
David Boroto, CEO
