Board of Directors

Jim Cooper, Chair

Jim Cooper is the president of Brockville manufacturer, Canarm Ltd. He began with the organization in 1978, and took over as president in 2007. Since then, Canarm has become a national leader within its industry. In 2012, Canarm was named one of Canada's best managed companies by CIBC and Deloitte professional services.

Jim is well known for his support of community services. In June 2017, Jim received an honorary diploma from St. Lawrence College. In 2013, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce, which recognized the extensive volunteer work he has done within Brockville and surrounding areas. Since 2006, Jim has served on the Brockville YMCA Board from 2005 to 2012 and as Board chair from 2010 to 2012. Jim currently sits as chairman of the Student Advisory Council for Loyalist College's Business Sales and Marketing program in Belleville.

Jim is a longtime supporter of BGH. Since 2003, he has co-chaired the palliative care annual fundraising golf tournament. Over $3 million dollars has been raised by this single-day event. From 2015 to 2017, he sat as a director on the Brockville and District Hospital Foundation's Board.

Michael Adamcryck, Director

Michael Adamcryck is a dynamic banking professional. A private investor through his company, Adamcryck & Associates Inc., Michael focuses on investing, financing and providing advice regarding, growth, expansion, acquisitions and succession planning to small- and medium-sized enterprises within Leeds and Grenville. In his past, Michael was regional vice-president at Royal Bank of Canada, leading a team of 250 people across the retail branch network in eastern Ontario. Prior to banking Michael had ownership interests in light manufacturing, Home Hardware Building Centre and retail operations focused on the outdoor industry.

Michael currently sits as the chair of St. Lawrence College, the College Employer Council of Ontario, and the City of Brockville Economic Development Advisory Committee. He is also a board member with 1000 Islands Masters Swim Club and an advisory board member with Homeward Bound.

Michael has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University along with a Graduate Degree in Management and a Masters of Business Administration from Athabasca University. Michael lives in Brockville with his wife Amanda and son Burke.

Tom Bingham, Director

Tom Bingham founded Bingham & Bingham Consulting and Design Services Inc. in February 1998 and directed the operations of its health care division until his retirement in 2015. During that time Tom was involved, as the principal consultant, on numerous multi-hospital service consolidation, capital development and restructuring projects including a four-year engagement as a hospital consultant with the Ontario Ministry of Health.

In 1994 Tom was appointed to the position of vice-president of corporate services at Queensway-Carleton Hospital. Through this role, Tom was involved in providing support to the Ottawa Valley Hospital Alliance and its numerous multi-site service integration projects. Tom originally joined the Queensway-Carleton Hospital as director of laboratory services and was responsible for developing the Valley Laboratory Program, the first fully integrated laboratory service delivery system in Ontario.

He has been an active participant on numerous government and hospital association committees and task groups where his knowledge and leadership in the field of laboratory reform was universally acknowledged.

James Eastwood, Director

James Eastwood is the senior lawyer at Eastwood Law Offices. A lawyer since 1991, he previously practiced law for 21 years at Stewart, Corbett Law Offices in Brockville.

James obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (with distinction) from Carleton University. His law practice is focused on family law, and employment law where he has represented clients in multiple levels of court, including the Ontario Court of Appeal. James has also appeared before a number of administrative tribunals.

Throughout his career, James has provided legal services for a variety of boards of directors.

 Jeremy Hobbs, Director

Jeremy Hobbs is the Superintendent of Human Resources, Facilities and Information Technology for the Upper Canada District School Board, which encompasses 27,000 students, 4,000 faculty and staff at 90 schools. Jeremy’s portfolio includes responsibility for a combined operating and capital budget of over $100M along with almost 300 staff across his three departments.

Having started his career as a teacher, Jeremy worked on IT strategy in Ottawa-Carleton and Peel District School Boards and then moved to the UCDSB in 2004. In addition to his work in public education, Jeremy is involved with the community, having served on the Board of the Brockville and Area YMCA as Vice Chair, the Upper Canada Swim Club as President, the Brockville General Hospital Redevelopment Subcommittee and the St. Lawrence College Board of Governors.

Denise Kall, Director

Denise Kall has been a faculty member at St. Lawrence College in the School of Baccalaureate Nursing since 2012. She teaches primarily in third year, specializing in community health nursing. Denise holds a Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Public Health (Nursing Specialization) from Lakehead University. She recently earned the Certified Canadian Nurse Educator designation from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).

Prior to joining the College, Denise spent over 20 years working in public health as a program leader in reproductive health, a project leader in early child development, the coordinator of a safe communities coalition, as well as various portfolios in health promotion. Earlier in her career, she led the transition from separate postpartum/nursery units to a combined mother/baby unit at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and held clinical instructor positions in obstetrics at both the University of Ottawa and University of New Brunswick. She started her nursing career in the labour and delivery wards and neonatal intensive care. Outside of teaching and nursing, her interests include canoeing and camping.

 Kim Little, Director

Kim Little is the Manager of Integrated Program Delivery with the Community and Social Services Division of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.  Currently managing the delivery of social assistance, Kim has also worked in policy, program review, and child care service system management over her 18 years. On behalf of the Counties, Kim has facilitated community planning related to the Best Start child care expansion and the recent transformation of Ontario Early Years Centres. In the past, Kim has served as a member and Chair of the Board for Downtown Brockville.

Born and raised in Brockville, Kim holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Rotman School at University of Toronto. A lifelong learner, she recently completed the Executive Diploma in Municipal Management through the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario.

A dynamic, community-minded leader, Kim brings expertise and skills in the areas of strategic planning, program delivery, evaluation and oversight, policy development and change management. 

Catherine Macdonald, Director

Catherine Macdonald was the president of a food and nutrition product manufacturing company for 17 years. She spent her career forging relationships with many of the largest food companies across North America and Europe. She has over 30 years of experience in the food and service industries, gaining expertise in sales, marketing and operations in distribution and manufacturing businesses.

Catherine has been a director of the boards of one of Canada's largest safety supply companies and an international mining supply company for 10 years. She serves on a committee supporting fundraising efforts to launch broadcasting hubs across the province and provide internship positions for students in journalism and political science programs for TVO, Ontario's educational broadcaster.

She has a degree in Political Science from McMaster University and she completed the ICD Board Governance program for SME at the Rotman School of Management - University of Toronto.

Catherine divides her time between Aurora and Mallorytown, and is involved in community events in the 1000 Islands, including the committee for the 1000 Island Playhouse Moonlit Gala.

Catherine is married with three children, all of whom are pursuing their education in Ottawa.

Sara Piracha, Director

Sara Piracha has gathered over 20 years of experience in the non-profit and corporate sectors. She is highly skilled in strategic and operational planning, project and program leadership, policy and governance development, marketing, public relations and revenue generation (fundraising, sponsorship, public sector support). Currently, Sara provides consulting services to a variety of non-profit organizations and municipal governments.

Her expertise in fundraising, institutional leadership, advocacy, strategic planning, policy development and governance has been strengthened by her community and civic activities. She proudly served as part of Canada's United Nations Delegation to the World Summit on Social Development and the World Summit for Children.

As an active volunteer, Sara has served as a member on various boards and committees including the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children, the Canada 125 Corporation, the Aga Khan Foundation, The United Nations Rights of the Child Caucus, The Ottawa Chamber Music Festival Society, the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club, and the Maritime Discovery Centre Communications Committee. As past chair of the YMCA of Brockville and Area board of directors, she continues to support the association as a committee volunteer and the Federation as an ad hoc committee member to YMCA Canada. She serves as a member of parent council at Academie Catholique Ange-Gabriel and is a volunteer member of the palliative care team at Brockville General Hospital.

Dave Publow, Director

Dave Publow worked for the Ontario Ministry of Finance – Assessment Division, beginning in 1968, and ended his career as the property assessment commissioner for Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Counties in 1999. David moved to Brockville in 1970 and has been an active part of the community since that time. He and his wife Judy have two adult children and are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren.

David has served on many boards and committees over the past 45 years. He served on the Board of Providence Care Hospital in Kingston for 10 years, ending his tenure in 2012. He was a member of the board of directors of the Brockville & District Hospital Foundation for many years, and continues to co-chair the Friends of Palliative Care Golf Tournament Committee – a fundraiser for BDHF Palliative Care. He was named Brockville's Citizen of the Year in 2009.

David is the former chair of the Marguerita Residence Corporation – an affordable seniors' housing organization, and is currently the chair of the Development Committee for Wall Street Village Project – part of the Marguerita Residence Corporation.

Bob Snelgrove, Director

W. Robert (Bob) Snelgrove is the president and CEO of GerrAudio Distribution, a company he founded in 1979 while studying at the University of Waterloo. GerrAudio caters to the technical needs of major performing arts centres and international touring musical artists.

His career in audio design and sound reinforcement has fostered a dedication to the arts reflected in his charitable work with local and regional theatre groups, including the Brockville Arts Centre. He is a longstanding member of the Audio Engineering Society, the Canadian Acoustical Society, and the Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology.

Bob joins the team with six years' experience on the Board of Governors for St. Lawrence College, the latter portion of which he acted as vice chair. During his tenure with St. Lawrence College, Bob worked with the chair on the recruitment of a new College President and CEO. He now looks forward to serving his community in the health sector as a member of the hospital board.

Larry Vander Baaren, Director

Larry Vander Baaren is currently CEO of Russell Hendrix Foodservice Equipment, the largest national distributor of foodservice equipment in Canada with locations in all major markets across the country.

Larry was co-founder and president of Hendrix Foodservice Equipment which started operations in Brockville, Ontario in 1981. His current role was assumed in 2016 when Hendrix was acquired and consolidated with Russell Food Equipment.

Larry was born and raised in Brockville and entered the foodservice supply industry after graduating from Ryerson in 1975 with a diploma in Foodservice and Hospitality.

 Nicholas Vlacholias, President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Secretary

Nicholas (Nick) Vlacholias joined Brockville General Hospital as President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2017. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) leading a team comprised of clinical departments and corporate services. Nick has more than 20 years of experience transforming and integrating health care organizations into high-performing centres. Prior to joining CHEO in March 2012, Nick served as the Chief Operating Officer at Cornwall Community Hospital where he successfully led the complex merger of the two Cornwall Hospitals.

Nick is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1990.

Nick has participated as a Director with the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA), and over the past five years he has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the newly amalgamated Mohawk Medbuy Corporation and its predecessor organization Medbuy Corporation.

 Dr. Robert Malone, Chief of Staff, Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee

Dr. Robert (Rob) Malone has worked at Brockville General Hospital as the Chief of Psychiatry and member of the Medical Advisory Committee since 2000. He was appointed as Chief of Staff in November 2017. During his time at BGH he has proven his commitment to BGH through a variety of hospital initiatives, including his leadership during the successful transfer of acute care psychiatry services from the Brockville Mental Health Hospital to BGH.

Recent project leadership includes Accreditation, a computer physician order entry (CPOE) pilot project, and BGH's medical credentialing process. During his tenure with BGH, Dr. Malone has provided medical leadership and advice with the South East Local Health Integration Network.

Dr. Malone has shown a commitment to learning and teaching. In addition to leading over 16 presentations and participating in over 21 conferences on Mental Health and healthcare issues, he has received a multitude of awards. Most recently, he received the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award from Queen's Department of Psychiatry in 2016.

He is a highly regarded by fellow staff and physicians, and is an active member of the BGH community. In 2014, he was the keynote speaker at the Hospital's Annual General Meeting and in 2013 he was nominated by BGH staff for the Workplace Happiness Action Team's Team Member of the Year award.

 Julie Caffin, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer

Julie joined Brockville General Hospital as Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive in 2017. Her portfolio includes Professional Practice, Women and Children's Program, Critical Care Program, Medical Program, Surgical Program, Complex Continuing Care, Rehabilitation, Palliative Care.

Julie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Carleton University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, an Honours Degree from York University and a Master of Health Sciences Degree from the University of Toronto. She received a certificate in Advanced System Leadership from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management Executive Programs. She is an active member of the College of Nurses of Ontario and has an Adjunct Academic appointment in the Queen's University School of Nursing.

Julie has received recognition awards from Kingston General Hospital. She was awarded the Team Award for Leadership with the Emergency Department Information System Implementation project and Team Award for Care for her efforts with the Inter-professional Collaborative Practice Model project.

Julie is an active member of BGH's Community Advisory Council and sits as Chair of the Patient and Family Advisory Council. She participates in 3SO's Operations Committee, and is a key member of the regional's South East Community Care Access Centre and Hospitals Executive Forum.

 Dr. Jamie Hynd, President, Medical Staff Association

Dr. Jamie Hynd is the President of the Medical Staff Association and Chief of Internal Medicine at Brockville General Hospital. He provides medical leadership to the Hospital’s Trillium Gift of Life committee and is a champion of BGH’s Cardiovascular Program. Since 1988, Dr. Hynd has practiced in the areas of Cardiology and Internal Medicine at BGH.

Dr. Hynd has shown extensive experience and leadership in internal medical during his career. An active member of numerous provincial and national committees, he has also lectured and completed a multitude of research papers on internal medicine.

 Dr. Patrick Davison, Vice President, Medical Staff Association

Biography coming soon.

Scott MacCrimmon joined the Brockville and District Hospital Foundation's Board of Directors in 2013. He is the co-owner of Ed Huck Marine in Rockport, Ontario. Scott holds a Certified Professional Yacht Broker CPYB and Registered Licensed Florida Yacht Broker professional designations.

Scott is also involved in various organizations, including The OMOA (Boating Ontario), and the Toronto Boat Show Advisory Committee. In previous years he was past Chair of the Canadian Discover Boating Board, past Board Member of the U.S. Discover Boating Board, and past Board Chair of Spader Performance Group 20 Organization.

Karen Matte, Past President, Brockville General Volunteer Association

Karen Matte has worked for more than 40 years in healthcare, mainly in nursing leadership. Karen was a past chief nursing officer at Brockville General Hospital. She has sat on the board for Heart and Stroke Foundation and the advisory board at St. Lawrence College.

Karen supports the BGH board as the president of Brockville General Volunteer Association. The association boasts more than 300 volunteers who support patients through care support and fundraising efforts.

An advocate for healthcare in Leeds and Grenville, Karen is passionate about the many fundraising activities offered through the association. Money raised through the association supports equipment purchases and community funded programs at the hospital.