Niagara Health System Supervisor Appoints Committee to Help Select New Hospital Board

This Post submitted by the Niagara Health System

(Niagara At Large is pleased to post the following news from the Niagara Health System – the body responsible for operating most of the hospital services in Niagara, Ontario – with this brief comment from NAL publisher Doug Draper.

In all due respect to the individuals chosen for this committee – most of them executive members of Niagara’s business community – it might have been helpful to include at least one member from the labour committee and someone from the public interest groups that have dedicated so much of their time in recent years performing a watchdog role  over the region’s amalgamated hospital services. This might help make out for some of those voices in the Niagara community that felt so shut out of the decision =making process around our hospital services for most of the past 12 years. – D.D.)

Dr. Kevin Smith, Niagara Health System Supervisor, is pleased to announce the appointment of the Community-Based Nominating Committee.

NHS supervisor Kevin Smith

This committee, first mentioned in Dr. Smith’s interim report to the Minister of Health, and also recommended in his final report, will evaluate applicants and recommend acceptable candidates for the new NHS Board of Directors. This important committee is designed to be arms-reach from the Board, and will help continue to ensure the Board is composed of members with the skills and collective ability to govern a large and complex organization.

Appointees to the committee are as follows:

Mr. Gary Burroughs – Gary Burroughs is currently Chair of the Niagara Regional Council. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a hotel owner-operator for 30 years, former Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake for a decade, and past Chair of the Niagara Parks Commission and Shaw Festival.  Burroughs was elected as Regional Councillor for Niagara-on-the-Lake in the municipal election of October 25, 2010.

Mr. Art Frank – Art Frank has been President of Casino Niagara Limited since June 2006. Mr. Frank is responsible for the day-to-day operation of both Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. He previously held senior leadership roles with Casino Rama and Carnival Resorts and Casinos.  

Ms. Cathy Hopkins – Cathy Hopkins is a local business owner, with two Tim Hortons (Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake), and a frequent volunteer with a number of organizations. Ms. Hopkins is a founding member of the Niagara Health System Foundation Board, and contributed to the success of the It’s Our Time Campaign.  

Mr. John Marsh – John Marsh is a retired CEO, trained as an Engineer, and has extensive governance and management experience. John is an oft recognized citizen of Port Colborne. He and his wife Rosanne Marsh were the recipients of the 2012 Niagara Entrepreneur Community Contribution Award.  Along with working to bring United Way to Port Colborne, the pair have supported a number of key organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Port Colborne Marine and Historical Museum, Showboat Theatre and, Niagara Health System Foundation’s It’s Our Time Campaign. 

Ms. Tamara Paton – Tamara Paton is a management consultant at IdeaVine, and serves on several boards including CAA Niagara, NHS Foundation, and ServoAnnex. Tamara earned an MBA from The Wharton School, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Originally from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Tamara lives in St. Catharines, with her husband and two young children.

Mr. Doug Rapelje – Doug Rapelje has dedicated his life to Niagara’s senior citizens. Following 40 years of advocacy on behalf of the seniors’ population, the Region of Niagara dedicated one of its retirement homes, Rapelje, in his honour. He has held numerous volunteer leadership roles in organizations focused on quality of life for seniors, and improved healthcare.

Dr. Karl Stobbe – Karl Stobbe is the head of the medical school for Niagara Region, serving as Regional Assistant Dean of the Niagara Regional Campus of McMaster University.  Dr. Stobbe has extensive expertise in rural and international health, and is a distinguished teacher, lecturer and researcher.

Mr. John Suk – John Suk is former CEO of Nycomed Canada Inc. (now retired).  Mr. Suk is currently CEO/Owner, Xigera Inc., a management consultancy. Mr. Suk is also a governance expert, having completed the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) program. Mr. Suk is currently Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Brock University; Chair of Board, IIX Corporation, St. Catharines; and Exciton Technologies, Edmonton. He is also a Board Member of Medical Futures, Toronto. 

Committee members were selected following a competitive interview process. Many talented individuals applied to join this important committee, and Dr. Smith extends his thanks to all who participated in the process.

The Community-Based Nominating Committee will hold its first meeting in early November 2012, at which time it will discuss the committee’s terms of reference, and the call for applications for new Board Members for the Niagara Health System Board of Directors.  Dr. Smith will facilitate the initial meeting.

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