Vancouver – Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility announced today that, after an extensive nationwide search, its Board of Directors has appointed Christopher T. Sutton as its Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Christopher most recently held the position of National Executive Director of Canadian Hard of Hearing Association.
“We’re very fortunate to gain a leader with Christopher’s experience, talent and vision,” said Barbara M. Brown, Wavefront Centre’s President of the board of directors. “Today’s announcement is about advancing our organization’s growth. It’s about our future: establishing concrete relationships with our community and policymakers. It’s about advocating for change, a better change, synonymous with Bill C-81: An Accessible Canada Act, that ensures a barrier-free Canada.”
Christopher joins Wavefront Centre at a unique and opportune time. Christopher says, “Together, we will move forward in making Wavefront Centre the premier non-profit organization in Canada at the forefront in providing consultation, services, advocacy, and programs that enable Deaf and Hard of Hearing and hearing people achieve barrier-free communication accessibility everywhere.”
Established in 1956 and trusted for over 64 years, Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility (operating name for the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) is a BC based, charitable non-profit organization. Wavefront Centre provides innovative services in the areas of Audiology, Counselling, Seniors Outreach, Sign Language Interpreting and Communication Devices to help Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients achieve full communication accessibility. Wavefront Centre has received numerous accolades for excellence in client care and community service.
Wavefront Centre also announced that Grace Shyng, previously interim Executive Director, will assume an interim role as Special Advisor to the CEO. In this role, Grace will work with Christopher to ensure a smooth transition at the organization, working on various projects, and will continue to assist in the audiology department.
More About Christopher T. Sutton:
Christopher comes to Wavefront Centre after being the National Executive Director of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA), where he was known as one of the forces behind the development and passage of Bill C-81: An Accessible Canada Act, and where he positioned CHHA as the leading go-to-organization for people impacted with hearing loss in Canada. Prior to his role at CHHA, Christopher worked for some of the largest organizations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors working on behalf of people with disabilities around the globe. Christopher obtained his MBA from Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario and a BA from Gallaudet University. Christopher was born deaf, communicates in American Sign Language and English, and wears a hearing aid and cochlear implant.
Quick Facts:
- Wavefront Centre has 3 Metro Vancouver locations: Vancouver – Mount Pleasant, Vancouver – Broadway, and Port Coquitlam.
- In 2019, Wavefront Centre served more than 16,000 clients.
- Wavefront Centre’s service include: Audiology, Employment Counselling, Seniors Outreach, Clinical Research, Communication Devices Program, and Sign Language Interpreting.
- Approximately 157,000 people report being Deaf or Hard of Hearing in BC.
Media Contact: For interviews or additional information, please contact the Head of Communications & Marketing, Yat Li, at 604-736-7391, or by email at yat.li@wavefrontcentre.ca.
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