The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) has announced the upcoming departure of executive director John Dickins.

Dickins headed the CAJ’s efforts for the last ten years and is leaving the association to become a teacher.

CAJ president Mary Agnes Welch said in a release:

“John has been the lone staffer in our Ottawa office, running what’s otherwise an entirely volunteer organization. He’s managed the awards, the fellowships, the annual conferences and the daily demands of the board, all with aplomb. He’s also been the architect of some of our most recent successes, namely the 2007 Global Investigative Journalism conference in Toronto and winning charitable status for the educational arm of the CAJ.”

The CAJ is now on the hunt for a new executive director. Applications accepted until Jan. 5, 2009.