Ottawa
Ottawa-based David Millen was appointed to the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) board of directors in March 2022.
David is a social worker who has devoted his professional life to the protection and well-being of children. He was associate executive director at the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa from 1987 to 1997 where he was responsible for community development, fundraising and strategic planning. Between 2002 and 2008, David coordinated three national conferences on safer schools and anti-bullying and served as coordinator for the annual National Child Day celebration in the Senate of Canada.
He is the president and founder of KidsCan, a program designed to reduce the incidence of bullying behaviour in schools and communities and is a certified trainer of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
In 2000, David co-founded Youtheatre Ottawa which toured schools throughout Ontario. He was a founding board member of The Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa where he has served for more than 10 years. He was key to the establishment of the Spirit Awards program now in its 25th year.
David has a deep commitment to social justice issues and has conducted community development work in Haiti, Kenya, Ghana and in the Cree First Nation of Eeyou Istchee in Northern Quebec. He is associated with several community organizations in Ottawa and prior to retirement was associate professor in the advanced diploma program for Child and Youth Care Ontario at Algonquin College.
David is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal for service to children and youth.