Ruth Lau MacDonald became PSAC’s Regional Executive Vice President for the National Capital Region in May 2024. 

Ruth comes from a multi-generation military family and was born in Germany while her parents were posted to CFB Baden–Soellingen.  With relatively few postings, her family spent most of her life on bases in south-eastern Ontario, but Ruth has always called Ottawa home. 

Ruth has always had a keen sense of justice and has channeled that into her activism in all areas of her life.  Her identity as a queer woman with an invisible disability frames her worldview and her work prioritizes inclusion, creative problem solving, accountability and transparency. She has been involved in many organizations, including elected positions with la Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne and the Carleton University Students’ Association. 

Ruth is a settler with family connections to Cape Breton (Mi'gma'gi), Edmunston (Wəlastəkwey), Germany and Lebanon.  In her career she has had the privilege of contributing to work that seeks to bring reconciliation into action via the implementation of modern treaties and self-government agreements.

Ruth joined the federal public service as a student and held term/casual positions for years before securing an indeterminate position, and becoming a PSAC member, in 2019.  Ruth served as Chair of the Ottawa Area Council from 2022 to 2024 and was elected as Alternate REVP for the NCR at the 2023 regional convention. 

Ruth holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology from Carleton University as well as a diploma in Child and Youth Work from St Lawrence College.  

Ruth Lau MacDonald is the youngest woman in the union’s history to serve on PSAC’s National Board of Directors.