Denyse Umutoni

Denyse Umutoni is the current Director of Service at the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) and a restorative practitioner deeply committed to justice, dignity, and community healing. Born and raised in Rwanda and having immigrated to Canada in her 30s, she is a survivor of the Genocide against the Tutsi who has transformed her lived experience into a lifelong dedication to compassion, service, and principled leadership.

Fluent in French, English, Kinyarwanda, and with working knowledge of German and Spanish, Denyse brings over two decades of experience across child protection, restorative practices, gender-based violence intervention, and community advocacy. Her work is rooted in building systems that center humanity, accountability, conflict resolution, and meaningful support for families and communities.

Her impact also extends internationally. In Rwanda, she served as a French teacher for over a decade, worked as an Education Coordinator for the UNICEF/CINEDUC initiative, and contributed to preserving genocide history as an assistant director on films such as Shake Hands with the Devil, 100 Days, and Opération Turquoise. Through this work, she helped amplify truth, memory, and justice on a global stage.

Beyond her professional roles, Denyse is deeply engaged in community leadership. She serves as President of the Humura Association, is a board member of Maison d'Amitié — Ottawa's francophone women's shelter — and actively supports initiatives focused on gender equity, peacebuilding, seniors' advocacy, and survivor empowerment. Her leadership and volunteerism have been recognized through multiple awards.

Grounded in the values of Ubuntu, Denyse continues to create spaces where healing, accountability, and hope coexist — empowering individuals and communities to move forward with dignity, strength, and possibility.