by Robert Washburn
Two longtime board members and many other volunteers at Northumberland Hills Hospital were honoured for their wealth of experience and expertise at the annual general meeting recently.
Businessman Jack Russell and Lawyer Doug Mann were singled out for their nine years of service on the board of directors.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Lynda Davis said each served on numerous committees as well as a three-year term as chairperson.
“They each made a significant contribution, especially through some very difficult times,” she said. “They provided great leadership and were a great help.”
Russell chaired the board for a total of three years from 2014 to 2017, guiding the hospital through a time of steadily rising financial and patient pressures, through the review done by the Local Integrated Health Network (LHIN) and the Hospital Improvement Plan.
Mann preceded Russell as chair, serving on the board from 2012 to 2014.
Barry Gutteridge was also acknowledged for his service as a volunteer community member of the board since 2016.
Pat Page Hoisak received recognition as the outgoing president of the hospital auxiliary. She oversaw the organization of more than 350 volunteers, putting in more than 42,000 hours of support in the past year. The group also raised $200,000 over the same period.
Current board chairperson Elizabeth Selby had high praise for the auxiliary’s work.
“While we still tend to think of this hospital as ‘new’ we are actually preparing to celebrate our 15th anniversary later this fall. More and more of the equipment our physicians and health professionals require today, including technology backbone, are requiring replacement. We simply could be the hospital we are today or strive to be tomorrow, without the NHH Foundation and NHH Auxiliary’s ongoing support,” she said.
