Collingwood Hospital’s foundation board is changing with 3 new members

The Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation said goodbye to four board members and welcomed three new ones this summer at the annual general meeting in June and the meeting announcements made on 31 July.

The four retiring board members include Debora Bloom-Hall, Pat Wright, Joan Emmans and Jack Marley, who have all completed their terms.

The three incoming board members include David Downie, Hilary Laidlaw, and Louise Watt.

Here’s more about new and existing board members from the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) Foundation.

“Our deepest gratitude goes out to each member of our board who served their terms.” said Michael Dick, past chair of the CGMH Foundation, in a news release. “To Debora for her thorough business plan and detailed risk analyses, to Pat for her leadership and coaching in building our fundraising skills, to Joan for her work to the law and his role as the founder of the Giving Circle, and to Jack for his complete and utter dedication to the needs of our community and the incredible success of the New Age of Care campaign. Thank you.”

Jack Marley was elected to the Board in 2014 but before that he was a key member of the communications team that led the success of the $10 million New Age of Care Campaign.

Jack has done everything from billboards to creative design to consulting contract negotiations. He has represented the foundation board on the hospital’s development committee for about eight years.

Appointed as board chair in 2020, Jack has had additional responsibility to lead the foundation through COVID. Jack is focused on keeping the board engaged and led the board to a historic high in fundraising in his first year as chairman.

He has been a hardworking and dedicated member of this board for 10 years and an excellent representative of the CGMH Foundation in the community.

Jack will continue his foundation work as a member of the campaign cabinet and communications team.

Debora Bloom-Hall began volunteering for the foundation several years before joining the board.

He was involved in the planning and delivery of the grassroots triathlon program and spent a lot of time asking doctors, staff and community volunteers to participate in the Wasaga Beach swim, bike and run every fall. .

He followed this with leadership in Everest’s peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives and helped find a way to work with a contract events firm.

During her time on the board, Debora led the 2019 strategic development plan aimed at launching a successful capital campaign.

As a member of the audit committee, Debora’s suggestion of a deeper focus on organizational risk led to the launch of the risk committee in 2023 which she chaired for two years the past.

Thanks to Debora, the foundation now has a comprehensive business development plan and a detailed risk analysis tool that allows the board to better manage risk.

Pat Wright was elected to the board in 2018 after spending time consulting with the foundation.

As a professional fundraiser himself, Pat brought a unique perspective to the board that helped them understand the latest technology in fundraising.

Pat not only designed and delivered an in-depth fundraising training program, he used his skills to actively fundraise for the foundation among his friends and acquaintances. Currently, the board is working with Pat and using his deep knowledge of healthcare charities to pave the way for the first new CEO hire in 36 years.

Joan Emmans was a founding member of the highly successful Giving Circle in 2014.

Joan along with other founding members Mandy Macrae, Joan Schatz and Kara McIntosh started with the idea of ​​enrolling their friends in a special program specifically for women, which allowed them to see, first hand, the impact that gifts what they were doing to the lives of patients, doctors and staff.

What started with about 25 women has now built into a successful program of about 100 members that has launched some of the hospital’s newest projects.

Joan was elected to the foundation’s board in 2018 and, during that time, served on the management and finance committee and the risk committee.

Joan also served the foundation by putting them through the tough process of ONCA compliance, working closely with management and the foundation’s legal counsel to update the bylaws and shepherd the necessary documents to comply with the new regulations.

“Our CGMH Foundation team is extremely grateful for the dedication and service of these four board members,” said Jory Pritchard-Kerr, president and CEO, “They have provided exemplary governance and strong expertise that have contributed to the success of this foundation. They have truly fulfilled our mission of exceptional care in life.”

The hospital also has a new executive committee: Brad Miller has taken over the role of chairman of the board from Michael Dick, who is moving to the previous chair. Monica Quinlan will serve as treasurer for a second term and Kara McIntosh has been elected vice chair. The executive committee will serve a two-year term.

Board Chairman Brad Miller said the new members bring valuable experience as the hospital looks to raise funds for the new building.

“David’s strong background in Canadian taxation, Hilary’s extensive legal knowledge, and Louise’s operational background will be invaluable to the Foundation as we embark on the most important campaign in the Hospital’s history,” said Miller. in news coverage.

David Downie joined Baker Tilly WM LLP in 2021. Prior to joining the firm, he was a tax consultant with OMERS, one of Canada’s largest pension funds, where he helped manage corporate tax risks, structure and planning of the tax department, and assist OMERS. work with teams to evaluate multinational investments from an international tax perspective.

David has 21 years of tax experience, much of which was focused on Canadian multinationals and their international operations. David’s primary focus is international tax planning and compliance, which includes helping clients implement and defend their tax systems before tax authorities.

He has extensive experience in dealing with Canadian cross-border distribution, mergers and acquisitions and intra-Canadian investments.

Hilary Laidlaw is a certified specialist in estates and trusts law, whose practice has focused on estate planning and administration, with extensive experience in contested estates.

For over 30 years, Hilary has worked with McCarthy Tétrault LLP, one of Canada’s largest national law firms, representing private and corporate clients in a wide variety of real estate disputes, and advising in complex property planning, he often works with other professionals to achieve joint projects.

Hilary is a sitting member of the Ontario Solicitors’ Advisory Group for licensing examinations, and is actively involved in continuing education and legal development projects.

A former chair of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Ontario Bar Association, he received the 2010 Award for Excellence in Trusts and Estates Law. Hilary is the Guardian of St. Andrew’s College Foundation whose mission is to support private education by helping fund St. Andrew’s College Aurora.

Louise Watt is the first member of the board who also served as vice-chair.

Louise sits on the foundation’s risk committee and is also an active long-term member of the communications committee.

As vice president of operations for Reinhart Foods, Louise has proudly maintained a multi-generational Canadian family business, known for quality products and superior customer service throughout Canada and the United States.

Louise worked in full service manufacturing facilities across Canada as well as a fleet of vehicles and tankers to ensure a commitment to quality and a team dedicated to reliable customer service and deep commitment to our community.

“Joining the CGMH Foundation board at such a critical time is a great honor.” Hilary Laidlaw says, “I look forward to working with board members and foundation staff to bring the community together and support the development of the South Georgian Bay Hospital of Tomorrow.”