CSSDP's Board of Directors is made up of 8 active chapter members and 3 others from across Canada. Board of directors members run and are elected at the annual general meeting held at the national CSSDP conference. The other 3 are appointed board members, not students but valued members of the community with a level of experience working in drug policy related issues.

Benjamin J.A. Mossbarger
Chair

University of Toronto, graduate studies in physics

I was a member of, and at one point president of, Brown University's chapter of SSDP during my undergraduate years.  When I started grad school at the University of Toronto and learned there was a burgeoning chapter here, it seemed only natural to continue my involvement.
My opposition to the war on drugs is as multifaceted as the injustices which the war perpetrates.  I abhor the drug war's criminalization of marginalized groups of society, its upholding of structural inequalities with regards to race and socioeconomic status, its perpetuation of neo-colonialist geopolitical structures, and its infringements on personal freedoms.  My personal "pet peeve" about the war on drugs is the way in which it creates policy based on misguided ideologies rather than scientifically established ideas of effective governance (I have the same feelings regarding sexual education and economic policy.)

Cory Halpert
Vice Chair

University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) – Criminology, Justice, and Policy Studies
Seneca College – Police Foundations Diploma
Toronto, Ontario
I have been involved with CSSDP since I established the UOIT/Durham College Chapter of CSSDP in 2009 and acted as director until my graduation in 2010. My interest in drug policy stems from a wide range of social (poverty, oppression, violence, etc.) and social justice issues (crime, criminal justice, etc.) that I believe Canada has taken an “ass-backwards” approach to. Studying criminology has allowed me to research, analyze, and criticize Canada’s current approach to substance use and abuse issues in a variety of contexts (social, political, economic, etc.). In my fourth year, I did an extensive research paper on the history and development of cannabis criminalization determining that most of the social problems caused by drug use are actually caused by society’s misinformed reaction to substance use and abuse. Aside from CSSDP, I also volunteer as an outreach worker with the Toronto Rave Information Project (TRIP!) setting up booths in Toronto’s rave community offering safer drug use and sex information and supplies.

Priya Shah
Secretary

Carleton University – Bachelor of Music
Ottawa, Ontario

I first got involved with CSSDP in 2008, and became president of the Carleton chapter in 2009.  I am very passionate about the work CSSDP is doing because as a grassroots organization we are able to reach out to people in our communities and schools, and raise awareness about the policies and programs that harm and stigmatize drugs and drug users.  I am a firm believer that prohibition does not work, and am all for finding alternative means to ending the violence that stems from the drug war.  It’s important to understand that drug use is complex, and drug users with addictions require help instead of punishment.  Outside of CSSDP, I am an in-school mentor for BBBSO, a member of the Youth Advisory Council for the CCSA, and co-creator of the Sensible Disobedience podcast: http://sensibledisobedience.blogspot.com/

Lorraine Schembri
Treasurer

Simon Fraser University: major – Psychology  minor – Biology
Our school’s CSSDP chapter has been around for about five years and I’ve been running it for the past two.  My interest in CSSDP stems from my interest in harm reduction and general concern for community well-being.  Nearly all community members are drug users and many of them are illegal drug users.  This is a reality that will always be.  However, the harms associated with drug use can be greatly decreased, especially the ones that result from drug policies so making the change is simply logical.  I’m also interested in drug-assisted psychotherapy and the research being done in that area.  Most legal/illegal drugs have safe, useful purposes so denying the physical and/or psychological healing benefits of them is illogical and immoral at the expense of those who need them.
Extra tidbits: I’m an Aquarius, I snowboard and have recently learned to juggle

Jessi Murray

I am a second year Social Service Work student at Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario. I am the current President of the Durham College/UOIT chapter of CSSDP, and have been a member since it's formation in October 2009. I have worked to foster chapter involvement in the Durham Harm Reduction Coalition, working with social service agencies in our community, such the Aids Committee of Durham Region and John Howard Society, taking part in fundraising initiatives for programs such as Project X-Change . My involvement with CSSDP stemmed from a range of passions, from human rights and freedoms, to the importance of honest youth education, as well a particular interest in the harms of cannabis prohibition.

Aleksandra Kalnins

Nelson, British Columbia

Jewellery and Small Objects Design, Kootenay School of the Arts

Mainly interested in: drug education and harm reduction

"Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving."
Kahlil Gibran

Karl Smyth
School – Carleton University & U of T
Region - Toronto
How you got involved with CSSDP – Joined in University
Why you're still involved - “I must study politics and war, that my (children) may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, natural history and naval architecture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, tapestry, and porcelain.” – John Adams
Your interest in Drug policy - "There is no greater power, nor a more heinous abuse of it, than the ability of those who are powerful in a society to define selfhood for those who are not." - Lillian Rubin
Hobbies – Music, Spending time with friends
Favourite season - Now

Sean Desrochers
University of Lethbridge

I recently completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Lethbridge, studying the Social Sciences with a focus on History, Political Science and Philosophy. I am continuing at the University of Lethbridge now studying towards a Bachelor of Education in Social Studies Education. Students and youth are among those who stand to suffer the most from drugs both legal and illegal, and failed drug policy. We need to be addressing these issues in light of science and evidence in order to reduce the harm that these substances and policies, cause to individuals and society. I helped found a chapter of CSSDP at my school, which is now is its second year and building a presence on campus, working in education and harm reduction. This is my first year on the board of directors and I am excited to have this opportunity to make a difference, not just on behalf of myself and students of the U of L chapter, but also for the victims of senseless drug policy, who constitute one of the largest persecuted populations in the world.

APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Donald Macpherson

Tara Lyons