Steinbach MLA and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Kelvin Goertzen, announced that the Manitoba government has made several appointments to the boards of the province’s five regional health authorities.

“Regional health authority boards guide the important work of providing the right care in the right place at the right time,” said Goertzen. “These new board members will help guide health care as we work to strengthen our system and improve access to consistent, quality care across the province.”Under The Regional Health Authorities Act, the minister appoints directors to each board. Board members must ensure the organization complies with applicable legislation, regulations, provincial policies and ministerial directives.

New board members include:

Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority:

  • Jillian Whitford (Saint-Georges), a retired, bilingual city councillor, economic development officer and former employee of Tembec, and
  • Glen West (Selkirk), department manager with Manitoba Hydro.

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority:

  • Maj. Catherine Harris (Winnipeg), a retired Salvation Army officer,
  • Victor Giesbrecht (Winnipeg), president of Trikor Builders and a realtor with Maximum Realty,
  • William (Bill) Baines (Winnipeg), president and chief executive officer of AML Wireless Networks Inc.,
  • Bryce Matlashewski (Winnipeg), an investment advisor with National Bank Financial, and
  • Dawn Daudrich (Churchill), owner and operator of Lazy Bear Lodge.

Northern Health Region:

  • June Chu (Wabowden), owner and operator of the Silver Leaf Hotel and Motel,
  • Angela Enright (Snow Lake), a consultant on economic development, international trade and real estate, and
  • Mary Head (The Pas), a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and the manager responsible for natural resources.

Southern Health-Santé Sud:

  • Tammy de Rocquigny (St. Claude), a bilingual registered nurse.

Board reappointments include:

  • Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority: Margaret Mills, chair (Pinawa), Oral Johnston, vice-chair (O’Hanley), Judy Dunn (Dugald) and Brian Magnusson (Winnipeg Beach);
  • Prairie Mountain Health: Cheryl Bjornson (Ste. Rose du Lac) and Duane Whyte (Swan River);
  • Northern Health Region: Judith Kolada (Thompson); and
  • Southern Health-Santé Sud: Elin Czeranko (Langruth), Debbie Iverson (Carman) and Konrad Narth (Zhoda).

The minister noted the selection of board members is based on a range of knowledge and skills, in areas such as governance in public-sector, private-sector or not-for-profit boards, government structures and processes, law, business, finance and accounting.

The minister thanked outgoing members for their service.