News Release

March 27, 2019 – Just 5 years after being selected as one of Atlantic Canada’s top 50 emerging leaders by 21inc, Moncef Lakouas will take on the lead role at one of Moncton’s most established and impactful child and youth organizations. Lakouas is the Boys and Girls Club of Moncton’s new Executive Director, succeeding Daniel LeBlanc, who, after more than 30 years in the role, will retire in May.

Lakouas, who moved to Canada as an international student from Morocco in 2004, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Université de Moncton in 2007, and then earned another degree in Accounting in 2015, at the university’s Faculty of Business. After graduating, Lakouas became a financial analyst at a Moncton based management consulting firm.

Developing youth and immigration services in the province are both close to the new Executive Director’s heart. Lakouas’ commitment to his community has led him to serve as President of the Student Union, FÉÉCUM, the Board of Governors at the Université de Moncton, the Board of Directors of U de M Alumni, the Board of Directors of Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick as Youth Delegate, and on the board for the CAFI – a centre which offers settlement and support services for francophone immigrants in southeastern New Brunswick, and serves on the Board of Directors for MAGMA the Multicultural Association of Greater Moncton. He is currently the President of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council and the coach in residence for the Dialogue NB Youth Activators of Change Social Cohesion Lab as well.

Denis Arsenault, President of the Boys and Girls Club of Moncton’s Board of Directors says, “With Moncef’s training and financial acumen, his vast experience in the areas of leadership and project management, and his clear dedication to serving the community, we are confident he will be an excellent Executive Director.”

Lakouas says, “The many years of hard work by Daniel, the incredible staff, volunteers and board members is evident in all of the impacts being made at the club each day. With every day that I’m here, I get more and more excited about being part of this team, and this journey for the empowerment of the children and youth of our community. I look forward to getting to know everybody better and to meeting many more of our community partners, donors and government representatives, without whom much of this would not be possible.”

For more than 60 years, the Boys and Girls Club of Moncton has carried on a tradition of helping young people to discover, develop and achieve their full potential by engaging them in activities that challenge and enrich their minds, bodies and spirits, and nurture their self-esteem. Currently, the club serves more than 1,200 children and youth each year. The club’s REACH program travels to 15 communities 6 days a week, transporting young people to and from the club’s services. These services include the club’s renowned Raise the Grade program, its CONTEXT mental health program, the LIFE financial literacy program, GPS drop-in services, and the PATH program, which helps with the settlement needs of newcomer children and youth.

In 2008, the club’s multicultural population was just 2.4% of their membership, while in 2019, that number has grown to more than 60%.

Arsenault says, “Moncef’s first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to settle in Canada, his experience with various multi-cultural associations and councils, the fact that he’s tri-lingual, speaking English, French and Arabic, along with our confidence that he has his finger on the pulse of what the region’s young people need, also makes us very excited for the future of this organization.”

Lakouas, who recently started in his new role, will work closely with the outgoing Executive Director until May, to allow for a smooth transition.

For more information and/or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Rebecca Campbell
Director of Communications and Resource Development
Boys and Girls Club of Moncton
Office: 506-858-0949 ext. 102
Cell: 506-874-8474
Email: [email protected]