Our Board is made up of 10-12 members from our community plus a past chair. The Board meets monthly (except July, August and December). Since 2001, our Board has used the Consensus Model of Decision Making – both at committee and board meetings.
Currently, our Board has five standing committees. Terms of Reference for each committee are reviewed and approved annually – click on the links below to access the Terms of Reference for each committee.
ConnectWell Community Health reports to the Board through:
ConnectWell Community Health Accreditation Final Report 2023
ConnectWell Community Health Strategic Plan Report 2023
Originally from Guelph and then Simcoe, Mary Lou graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Pharmacy.
She moved to Carleton Place in 1978 and worked as the pharmacist at both the Perth and Carleton Place Hospitals. She changed course in 1999 and took a position as pharmacist and manager of the Rexall Drug Store in Perth until her retirement in 2019.
Mary Lou has also been an active volunteer, serving on the board of directors of Open Doors for Lanark County Children and Youth for a total of 12 years. During this time, she was a member of several committees as well as board chair for three years. She also worked on the board and working committee of the Cancer Society Relay for Life in Smiths Falls for three years, focusing on finance and recruitment.
She is a firm believer in the importance of community health care being vital to the future of our healthcare system.
Now retired, she is happy to continue her work and interest in community health care as a volunteer. She also enjoys other activities, including golfing, gardening, yoga, playing bridge, and curling.
Wayne Stryde lives near Clydesville in Lanark Highlands with his partner Maryse Desrochers, who is a certified fitness instructor with the ConnectWell health promotion program, and their wonderful Golden Retriever, Lola.
Wayne is a retired public servant, having spent forty-plus years working at the federal level in a number of different ministries, including the Treasury Board and the Privy Council Office. Most of this career he worked for programs with social development mandates, most particularly in public health/health promotion and crime prevention. These work experiences gave him a good appreciation of the world of non-profit community-based organizations and of the important nexus where the volunteer non-profit sector meets government.
Wayne is a fan and avid supporter of any effort that tries to make our community stronger, healthier, and more resilient. In his view, ConnectWell is surely an outstanding example of such an effort.
Now retired, Wayne and Maryse spend their days in outdoor sports activities, gardening, tending to their still-growing family, volunteering in the community and generally trying to make the most of their glorious and ample leisure time.
Bruce was born and educated in Toronto, attending York University. After spending nine years in the private sector as a computer analyst, he joined the Ontario Public Service, where he spent the next 32 years working in a variety of positions in the Ontario Courts, primarily designing and developing computer applications to administer justice and financial accountability in all levels of the court system. For the final five years of his career, he was appointed as a Regional Assessment Officer in the Superior Court; although now “retired,” he has agreed to continue to perform this function on a part-time basis.
When Bruce and his wife retired, they wanted to be closer to their son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, who live in Beckwith. They found a home in the Lanark area that they both loved and made the move to rural life. They believe being on the edge of the village provides the perfect combination of access to community and country.
Having been an active volunteer in a variety of organizations such as Scouts Canada, church youth groups, Fanshawe Pioneer Village, and most recently, the Lanark Highlands Food Pantry, volunteering is in Bruce’s blood. He is excited to be joining the Board and looks forward to actively supporting the ConnectWell team as we move forward, continuing to deliver the excellent whole health services he has had the pleasure of observing firsthand.
Jean grew up in Montreal but moved to Ottawa in 1972 and began frequent visits to Lanark Highlands in the late 1970’s. In 2005, she and her husband retired and moved to build their home in Watson’s Corners.
Jean is a nurse by training and practiced in paediatric critical care for 16 years before heading to the University of Ottawa to complete a BScN, followed by an MScN from the University of Toronto and finally a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. The remainder of her career was as a Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. Her main research focus was the impact of childhood illness on families.
Jean believes in volunteerism and the impact volunteers make to building community capacity. She first served on the board of MERA and then joined the Board of Lanark Health and Community Services (LHCS) in 2007. Most recently, she completed two terms, one as President, of the Perth and District Community Foundation.
Since first joining LHCS, she has witnessed many changes and a great deal of growth in the organization, which is now known as ConnectWell Community Health. She has served as Vice Chair, Chair, Past Chair and has continued her connection as a Community member of the Governance, Nominating, and Joint Planning Committees. This is an important time of significant changes in health care service delivery in Ontario and she is delighted to be a part of the next phase of the organization.
Finally, on a personal note, she believes rural living is a wonderful experience that has provided her with easy access and opportunities to fill any spare moments following her cherished pursuits of painting, gardening, cycling and cross-country skiing.
Nick is currently the Associate Director of stem cells operations at Canadian Blood Services, overseeing a national portfolio of multiple programs and teams across the country. Nick has been with Canadian Blood Services for over 23 years in numerous leadership capacities and loves being able to have a positive impact on patients’ lives every day. He has over 25 years of experience in health care and is highly committed to working for solutions to improve equitable access to health care services in rural communities, especially with the challenges ahead.
Nick has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Windsor; he is a registered medical laboratory technologist and certified Project Management Professional. He lives in the Lanark Highlands and has always lived in and enjoyed rural life, including over four years in Nunavut. He enjoys soccer, hiking, fishing, camping and canoeing. He is married with two adult children.
Shari is a seasoned health care leader and educator with over 35 years of experience in nursing and primary health care, she brings extensive expertise in service delivery, strategic leadership, and interdisciplinary team facilitation. Her work has spanned rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada, where she has led initiatives in public health, pharmacy, urgent care, and community wellness.
She holds multiple graduate degrees, including a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Arts in Leadership, and has served in senior roles with Indigenous Services Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. She has contributed to national standards in nursing practice and education and has a strong history of mentoring primary health care students and employees and colleagues.
A lifelong advocate for equity in health, she is known for her thoughtful leadership, critical thinking, and commitment to inclusive, holistic community care.
Kim O’Connor (Carleton Place)
Kim has worked in the Developmental Services field for 35 years, and has been in team leadership for over 20 years, more than 10 of those at senior levels of non-profit organizations, including reporting to a Board of Directors and to government Ministry officials.
Kim has worked independently and as a member of a team in highly responsible positions with minimal supervision. She has been particularly focused on working for individuals with complex health and behavioural needs, to live high-quality lives in their communities. Inclusion and equality are her guiding principles and passion.
She is very person-centred and collaborative, having worked with a variety of agencies and families. She and her family have also been respite and homeshare providers for persons with intellectual disabilities.
While thorough and professional at all times, she enjoys finding the laughter in life and making sure everyone has the opportunities they need to succeed.
She has volunteered for minor sport teams, Ontario Special Olympics, People First of Lanark County, and the Mississippi Lake Planning Committee.
Kim lives on Mississippi Lake with her husband, two sons, and a variety of pets. She has received many gifts and contributions of grace and perseverance throughout the years from the people that she has worked for and it is now time for her to “pay it forward.”
Jan grew up on a Dairy farm outside of Almonte. While pursuing her degree in Behavioural Sciences, Jan started her involvement with ConnectWell as one of LCP’s initial summer students in 1981.
With a love of horses and certification in Therapeutic riding, Jan knew that this type of program had to be available to individuals in her community. So, she got busy training horses, organizing volunteers, and ordering equipment. In 1982 the Therapeutic Riding Program was established with one instructor, two horses, 19 riders and 25 volunteers!
After graduating in 1983, Jan remained with the Therapeutic Riding Program and also worked as a speech assistant with the Language Development Program. In 1988 she made a move to the Behaviour Development Program where she was a Behavioural Consultant for 18 years. In 2006 Jan took on the role of Worker Recruitment and Caseworker with the Family Relief Program – Respite Services. During her 11 years with Respite Services, before retiring in May of 2022, Jan developed and supervised four Social Recreation Day Programs for youth graduating from school that did not have a day/occupational program.
Jan was involved in many aspects and programs at ConnectWell over the years and devoted her career in Developmental Services supporting families with children/adults with intellectual disabilities.
Recently retired, Jan and her husband have built a home on Mississippi Lake where they enjoy many activities with their three adult children and grandson. Jan enjoys boating, reading, felting, crafts, travel, volunteering and hopes to be riding again soon! She is honoured to serve as a member of the ConnectWell board and looks forward to continuing her work to ensure the most vulnerable individuals in our communities have the services and supports they need.
Stephen Bird grew up in Perth with multi-generation roots in the Almonte and Pakenham area. Stephen served on the Board of the North Lanark County Community Health Centre when Lanark Community Programs joined to form Lanark Health and Community Services. When he returned to the Board in 2012 Whitewater Bromley CHC became part of Lanark Renfrew Health & Community Services (now ConnectWell Community Health). He has been Vice Chair, Chair, Secretary-Treasurer, and Past Chair of LRHCS. Now, with his return to the ConnectWell Board in 2024, he hopes to serve as Chair of the Governance Committee.
Stephen has been on the Boards of Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, The Legal Clinic, and Lanark CAS/FCS. He is currently on the Boards of Leeds Grenville Lanark District Health Unit and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. He has acted as an accreditation reviewer for the Canadian Centre for Accreditation and Imagine Canada.
Stephen is a retired lawyer having practised administrative law for many years with the Lanark, Leeds & Grenville Legal Clinic (now The Legal Clinic) which serves low income residents of Lanark, Leeds & Grenville, and North Frontenac counties. In addition to his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School he has a Master’s degree in recreation from the University of Waterloo. He co-authored Recreation and The Law (Carswell), and he is an avid sea kayak paddler and all-season cyclis
Lesley spent her childhood in Ottawa cottaging with her parents on Crosby Lake. She went to Guelph University and interned at Sunnybrook Medical Centre to become a registered dietitian. After several years working at Chedoke/McMaster Hospitals she started her own consulting business teaching and promoting evidenced-based nutrition information to the public.
After a move back to Ottawa, she worked for a multi-national food company (pharmaceutical division) in senior management and as head of medical and scientific affairs. While there, she built strategic alliances and partnerships with health organizations to design and deliver programs to healthcare professionals and their clients.
Following this, Lesley worked as a senior business analyst in the development of provincial and national electronic health records and then as a clinical educator for an umbilical cord blood stem cell company.
Lesley and her family bought a piece of lake front property near Lanark in 1997 and proceeded to slowly develop the land and build a cottage. In 2016 the cottage became their home! Since retiring. Lesley has become a busy gramma and volunteers on the Carebridge board of directors. She learned a lot through chairing governance (revising by-laws and policies), participating in a small working group to form an Alliance with Community Living Association Lanark and subsequently developing a new strategic plan and yet another new set of by-laws and policies.
Lesley is looking forward to continuing her board work with the dedicated individuals at ConnectWell, while learning more about the primary care aspect of this impressive multiservice organization as it faces significant changes in our provincial health care delivery services.
Lesley has been a lifelong Masters and lake swimmer and enjoys most sports, including kayaking, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and even playing golf poorly!
Gerry has a BBA from Trent University and is currently a supervisor for a multinational company. Throughout the last five years he has supervised teams ranging from 10 skilled tradesman to 100+ production staff. He is a certified green belt in Six Sigma with a keen interest in optimizing processes and systems.
While he looks forward to continuing to progress in his career, he takes an interest in supporting local not for profits in whatever capacity he can. From being a board member and eventually President of LAWS (Lanark Animal Welfare Society) four years ago, he is now looking to join Connectwell’s board to volunteer his time to help aid those who are supporting his community.
Originally from the Cornwall area, Gerry moved to Perth after finishing school, where he lives with his wife of 10 years. They have an 80-acre farm with four dogs (Shenron, Artemis, Cruiser, Vitani), three cats (Luxury, Kratos, Luna), four horses (Trademark, Rolex, Rory, Rebel), and two rats (Algernon, Skinner). In his free time, he enjoys working on farm renovations, playing video games and supporting his wife at her horse lessons and shows.