Carl Hetu has died - a tremendous loss for Development and Peace Caritas Canada

Source: Caritas Canada

It is with profound grief that Development and Peace - Caritas Canada (DPCC) announces the passing of its executive director, Carl Hétu.

Hétu, who had been ailing from cancer for two years, breathed his last in the wee hours of this morning, surrounded by his family. He was 66 years old and is survived by his wife, Lorraine; four children; and three grandchildren. To them, and to the countless friends he leaves bereaved, we offer our most heartfelt condolences.

Well before he began working for DPCC, Hétu was a committed supporter of its mission. He drew his fierce passion for justice and peace from his deep and abiding Catholic faith, which was also the source of his strength and forbearance as his illness progressed.

Hétu first began working for DPCC in 1990. Over the next 14 years, he served as an animator for various regions in Ontario. He was responsible for recruiting, training, coordinating, mobilizing and inspiring members. He also distinguished himself by cultivating strong relationships with clergy across the province; by leading a solidarity trip to Peru; and by representing DPCC on a fact-finding mission to Colombia.

In 2004, Hétu took on the directorship in Canada of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), which supports Catholic charities in the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and India. He helped reorganize CNEWA's headquarter operations and shifted its focus to longer-term programs. He also travelled extensively in Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, and regularly spoke on issues affecting these countries.

Hétu returned to DPCC in February 2022, when its national council selected him as executive director from a solid field of exceptional candidates. The decision proved fortuitous.

Hétu began by strengthening DPCC's relationship with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Having won the bishops' trust and backing early on, he was able to implement his ambitious vision for the organization.

Being as idealistic as he was pragmatic, Hétu substantially expanded and reinforced DPCC's advocacy and philanthropic development functions. His instinctive grasp of the imperative of engaging young people was reflected in the support and resources he committed to growing DPCC's youth and schools programs, establishing its youth ambassadors program and professionalizing its social media presence.

Hétu achieved all this within the first half of his five-year mandate. In September 2024, he went on medical leave. Braving gruelling bouts of treatment, he resumed charge of his responsibilities in July 2025 and remained engaged in guiding the organization with the help of his fellow directors until the very end.

To DPCC's president, Gabrielle Dupuis, Hétu was much more than an accomplished leader. She said: "Carl was a man with a big heart whose passion and unifying vision left a profound mark on DPCC. His humane and collaborative approach, along with his ability to listen, helped strengthen bonds within the organization and with our partners, allies and collaborators. His impact on our programs, the way we work together and the many people he touched will continue to be felt for years to come."

In our loss, we draw solace from Jesus's reassurance: "Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26). We remain inspired by the leadership and memory of Carl Hétu. We will forever be guided by what he had said upon assuming charge as our executive director: "We stand united, as one human family, inspired by the Gospel… to accompany the most vulnerable and mistreated persons at the peripheries of our planet. We won't rest until dignity and peace are afforded to all."

Watch Carl's New Year message for 2026: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyI_MCmTudY