*CAG enhances Board perspective
News Release
March 11, 2009 - The Community Advisory Group has recently completed its introduction and orientation to Rouge Valley Health System (RVHS) and will begin bringing its advice to the hospital’s Board of Directors.
The Community Advisory Group is comprised of 11 members, who reflect the views and concerns of the diverse communities that make up the
“The advisory group helps ensure that the hospital obtains views from a cross-section of community members. The Community Advisory Group helps us extend the hospital’s communications network into the community to open a dialogue and encourage greater community engagement,” says Janet Ecker, chair of the RVHS Board of Directors.
The primary purpose of the Community Advisory Group is to ensure that RVHS is made aware of the needs and viewpoints of the community. In particular, the advisory group is mandated to:
* Bring forward community views on health care needs and issues;
* Help communicate to
* Provide advice and feedback on current issues that
* Help in encouraging health care decision-makers to support local health care needs.
Information on the terms of reference for this new group is available on the hospital’s website, at http://www.rougevalley.ca/communitymatters .
Community Members
Isrit Ahmed
Isrit Ahmed is a researcher, community planner, activist, advocate, policy analyst and a leader-organizer with a wide range of skills to contribute to the Community Advisory Group. She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology and an MA in Social Science. Since 2005 she has worked as a Community Planner for Scarborough with the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto. She has been involved at the governance level with several community agencies including West Scarborough Community Legal Clinic, East Scarborough Storefront, and Resident Rising community association. She is deeply rooted in the community from both a professional and a personal perspective. She understands people’s needs, identifies emerging trends and issues affecting low-income groups, knows how to organize communities, has a proven track record of advocacy experience and facilitation of public forums involving stakeholders.
Member Since: November 2009
Steve Campbell
It is important for Steve Campbell to be an active and contributing member within his Ajax community. That’s why he has become so involved through his volunteer roles in the following organizations: the Ajax Environmental Advisory Committee (Chair); Ajax Pickering Board of Trade Membership Committee; and a board director of Judo Ontario. An independent financial officer by trade with Campbell Financial Advisors, Steve also spends time as a Sensei for the Iron Will Judo Institute. Steve describes himself as a good listener who looks for solutions and opportunities that will help to improve and add value to an organization.
Member Since: December 2008
Patricia Clark
Patricia Clark has made a career out of being involved in her community. She has spent 30 years as a politician and volunteer in the community. Pat was a past board member of the Ajax Pickering Hospital Board; a past Ajax Councilor and Regional Councilor before she retired in 1991. Since 1976, she and her family have made use of Rouge Valley Health System (Ajax site), and says she is a long-time supporter of the hospital. Currently, Pat works as a Real Estate agent in the Pickering-Ajax community and volunteers as the Gala Chair of the Ajax Battle of River Plate Reunion. Pat believes a role with the RVHS Community Advisory Group would be an opportunity to be a part of a movement geared towards making our hospital better for patients and employees.
Member Since: December 2008
Conrad D’Souza
Conrad D’Souza has 14 years’ experience to offer as a caregiver for his son who is a resident in the complex continuing care program at RVHS. He is a retired professional engineer and professor with expertise in methods improvement and quality assurance. He is currently an active RVHS volunteer in the Tom Leon Center and a former member of the hospital’s Research Ethics Board. He also served on the Accreditation team three years ago. Conrad is involved with a number of other community organizations including the Anglo-Indian Association and Homeplace Non-Profit Education Inc. Organizational skills coupled with dispute resolution expertise and successful interaction with a diverse body of clients of all ages, genders, social and cultural and religious backgrounds are some of the strengths that Conrad brings to the Community Advisory Group.
Member Since: November 2009
Randy Filinski
Randy Filinski is a Pickering resident and former Scarborough resident who has a keen interest in health care and how it affects local residents of the community, especially seniors. He is actively involved in a number of community groups including; Community Care Durham and Central East; Durham Cancer Organization; Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Seamless Care for Seniors Steering Committee; Central East LHIN Communications Committee and Aging at Home. After spending 25 years at IBM as a marketing and sales executive, Randy took a two-year sabbatical to explore volunteer opportunities in the health care sector. He spent that time volunteering on several boards and local advisory committees. Now retired, Randy hopes to use his project management, marketing, and integration skills for the betterment of health care in the community.
Member Since: December 2008
Liben Gebremikael
Liben Gebremikael has over 15 years of experience working in the social and primary health care sector as a front line outreach worker, social work and community developer. He is now the executive director of TAIBU Community Health Centre, a recently established organization in Scarborough’s Malvern neighbourhood. The mandate of TAIBU is to provide primary health care services to the community, with a focus on children, young adults and seniors. Liben is himself a Malvern resident, who has a particular interest in cross-cultural work and addressing the issues of diversity and health disparities in the community. He looks for opportunities to share his expertise in engaging the community in making informed decisions about their health issues.
Member Since: December 2008
Phyllis G. Hill
Recently retired educator, Phyllis Hill, has been contributing to the community for the last 37 years as a teacher, principal and school superintendent. For the majority of her career, she worked with many diverse groups, building partnerships and cultivating growth. Her experiences in the education sector have given her an extensive background and set of skills for working with others, problem-solving and providing leadership. In addition to the commitment to community Phyllis has shown through her career, she has also been actively involved in several community organizations and agencies, such as the Flemingdon Interagency and Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, and is currently a member of the Curran Hall Community Association, and. In her retirement, Phyllis looks forward to being able to continue contributing to Scarborough, where she has lived for 20 years.
Member Since: December 2008
Ome Jamal
Ome Jamal is the Pharmacist Owner of a busy Shoppers Drug Mart in Scarborough. She has been involved in several projects dealing with community health programs, educational programs and seniors programs at various levels. Her innovative approach to community outreach has educated individuals living with diabetes, enhanced the coping skills for caregivers of people with mental illness and provided new immigrants with access to dental care. She is currently assisting the RVHS Foundation in raising funds to support a designated room for patient education in the new birthing centre. Ome is very involved with the Ismali community’s Aga Khan Foundation. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge of community health needs with the Community Advisory Group.
Member Since: January 2010
Hajara Kutty
For the last eight years, Hajara Kutty has been a teacher with the Toronto District School Board. She is also a campaign organizer for the Islamic Institute of Toronto and a resident of Scarborough. However, it is her experience as a coordinator for Postpartum Support International (Greater Toronto Area) and as a Mental Health Patient Advocate that she believes will enable her to make the greatest difference in her community. Through her knowledge and understanding of the needs of women who have just given birth and their families and of the issues facing highly stigmatized and marginalized groups, Hajara would like to help address typically neglected and under-serviced areas of health care in the community.
Member Since: December 2008
Kathy Sparrow
Just over one year ago, Kathy Sparrow moved to Ajax so that she could be closer to her place of work. She is an occupational therapist at the Ajax satellite office of the Grandview Children’s Centre, where she has worked for the last five years. Energetic and always willing to share her ideas and opinions, Ms. Sparrow has been an active member of several community organizations and committees, including volunteering in Lesotho, Africa as part of Habitat for Humanity. She is currently a member of the International Centre for Disability Research–Trinidad Working Group and a five-pin bowling coach with the Special Olympics. Now Kathy would like to become involved with her new home community of Ajax. She hopes to be able to offer fresh perspectives and insights.
Member Since: December 2008
RVHS Foundation Representative
Linda Crawford
Linda Crawford is currently a Branch Manager at Scotiabank with over 25 years of banking experience. She works with many personal and professional clients to help make their financial dreams and goals a reality. Born in Barbados, Linda moved to Canada in 1974 and to Ajax in 1991. Linda is an active member of the Patrons’ Council and has served as the Silent Auction Chair for the Rouge Valley Health System Foundation’s annual gala. Linda strongly believes in giving aback to the community in which she works and lives.
Member Since: February 2009
RVHS Board Representatives
Rhonda Lawson (Chair)
Rhonda Lawson has a long-standing career as a progressive human resources executive with both Canadian and global corporations in the professional services, high tech, commodity, pharmaceutical and insurance industries. Currently, she is president of Lawson Management Consulting, which provides consulting services to business leaders and boards in the areas of talent management, change management and strategic planning. Prior to establishing this firm, she was senior vice-president of human resources for ING Canada. Rhonda is also an active member of her community with many years of experience on boards and committees. She was previously part of the Annandale Curling Club Executive Board and currently serves on the Pickering Museum Village Advisory Committee and the City of Pickering Heritage Advisory Committee.
Lisa Mattam
Lisa Mattam is a Managing Principal with The Mattam Group, a management consulting firm in Toronto, where she is responsible for all of the firm’s business development. She also designs and delivers leadership training programs, and coaches executives on leadership and diversity in the workplace. Prior to developing and launching The Mattam Group in 2006, Lisa built her career leading sales, client relations and product management at pharmaceutical and biotech companies in Ontario and abroad. Lisa has been a long-standing contributor to the business understanding of talent management throughout the corporate sector. She is actively involved in speaking engagements at universities and professional associations, and has been a member of the Women’s Executive Network and the Women of Distinction Committee, YWCA. Lisa joined the Board in 2009.
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RVHS is an excellent acute care community hospital with many programs, including 24/7/365 emergency, cardiac care and mental health.
Contact
David Brazeau
Director
Public Affairs and Community Relations
(647) 294-8885
Last modified 2010-08-25 02:16 PM
