Our Trustees

James Roche
Managing Partner
True North Public Affairs

James Roche is the Chairman of the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health. He is the Managing Partner of an Ottawa-based consultancy, True North Public Affairs, and has an extensive background in governance, public policy development and government decision-making. He is an experienced corporate executive, recognized for both his strategic planning and management skills.

Prior to founding True North, Mr. Roche led two of Canada's pre-eminent management and public affairs consulting practices. He was a Managing Partner at SECOR, one of Canadas largest independent management consulting firms, responsible for the Ottawa office, which specialized in governance and public policy. He was also President and Chief Executive Officer of GPC Canada, a national public affairs firm with seven offices across the country.

Prior to this, Mr. Roche led one of Canada's largest Crown corporations, VIA Rail, the national rail passenger company, with 5,000 employees and a 700 million dollar annual operating and capital budget.

He also served in a senior advisory capacity at various federal government departments and agencies and was Chief of Staff to two federal cabinet ministers.

Mr. Roche is Co-Chair of the Advisory Panel for Mental Illness Awareness Week and member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture. He has also been active in fund-raising for Ottawa University as a member of the Dean of Social Sciences advisory group.

Mr. Roche has a BA in political science from the University of Saskatchewan and an MA in history from McGill University.