Longtime CAPEB executive director changing jobs
Clyde deViller to start community health board position March 16
Clyde deViller is moving from CAPEB to a position as co-ordinator of three community health boards.
A familiar face in the Municipality of Argyle’s Acadian community for many years – most recently as executive director of CAPEB – is making a change.
Clyde deViller, who since 2006 has been executive director of the Conseil acadien de Par- en- Bas, is leaving CAPEB and will become community health board co- ordinator for Yarmouth, Clare and Digby under the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
His last scheduled day at CAPEB is March 16 and he will start his new position three days later.
DeViller will succeed Brenda Burgess as community health board co- ordinator. His office will be at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
For nearly three decades, deViller worked for the local Acadian community in various roles, including the one he’s held for the past dozen years or so.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time with CAPEB and wish to thank all those who made my job so fulfilling and who work to help our Acadian community thrive,” he said. “An opportunity for change has arisen and after 29 years I felt it was a good opportunity for myself and my family, allowing CAPEB to bring in someone with new ideas and vision. I’m not going far and my work will still be communitybased, so I am looking forward to the new challenge.”
Projects that happened during deViller’s time with CAPEB included the opening of the Par- en- Bas school community centre in Tusket, the founding of the Conseil des arts de Paren- Bas ( a local arts group), the launch of the Festival du bon temps Par- en- Bas and, most recently, the unveiling last year of an Acadian Odyssey monument in West Pubnico, among other initiatives.
“I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people who had a shared vision, which enabled these things to happen,” he said.
Norbert LeBlanc, president of CAPEB, has known deViller for many years and has worked with him on several levels and says he was impressed with deViller’s commitment to the Acadian community.
“His passion for his language and his culture are two of his strongest assets,” LeBlanc said. “We are sorry to see him leave.”
DeViller remains a member of Nova Scotia’s French school board – CSAP – so in this capacity he will continue to be involved in the Acadian community.
Meanwhile, Lisa Garand, manager of community health board support with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, western zone, says they look forward to having deViller join their team.
“Clyde brings many years of experience in community development and cultural promotion to the role,” she said. “This experience will be invaluable as the co- ordinator supporting three community health boards, working to connect with communities on health plan priorities and providing wellness funds to community groups and organizations.”
She also expressed thanks to Burgess for her work with the community health boards serving Digby, Clare, Yarmouth and Shelburne.
“Brenda helped provide support for our community health boards during a time of transition for the health system and was very effective in facilitating the community health boards as they came together to develop the first shared community health plan,” Garand said. “We certainly wish her best of luck in the next phase of her career.”