Who We Are

Norma finished her federal government career a few years ago after 28 years. "It was an easy transition for me to leave as I was starting a farm...going back to my roots," states Norma. 

After a few years getting organized and figuring out what they wanted the farm to focus on they determined that Maple Syrup and Golden Retrievers were 'it'. Since then, Norma and her husband have built a solid business in maple syrup and are now getting ready to breed their 8th generation of Goldens.  

Norma started volunteering with the BGVA a few years ago because she wanted to be involved locally and get to know more people. She decided the BGVA was a good choice for multiple reasons - one - she has family that live here and have received excellent care, two - she wanted to give back to her local community in an area that she believed in, and three - Norma's mother volunteered at her local hospital and always told her it was satisfying and rewarding to feel that you were contributing to an organization that everyone uses. 

David is a lifelong resident of Brockville; married to his wife Eileen; father of 4; and “grandpa” to 5.Volunteering with the BGVA began in the fall of 2019, after a 29+ year career in the Chemical Industry.

Providing service to others is a trait David learned early on from his maternal grandmother, and he sees volunteering as a natural extension of that.

Previous volunteering centered around family endeavours through coaching sports teams and serving on school parent and church councils.

David considers volunteering with the BGVA to be a privilege. He looks forward to continuing the excellence that has been established by current and former volunteers.

Dennis and his wife, Melinda transferred to the Prescott branch of RBC in 1994 and thought they would stay for 2-3 years then move. That was back in 1994 and they are still happily living in the area today. They both retired from RBC in 2012.

Today, they have 2 children & 3 grandchildren, living in Lyn and the Ottawa area. So they are fortunate to be active and involved.

Dennis and Melinda are active away from the hospital, either cycling when the weather allows and snowshoeing in the winter months.

 
During 2022, Melinda required orthopedic surgery, the couple felt they received such phenomenal care at Brockville General, that they decided to give back by volunteering. In late 2022 they joined as Volunteers and thoroughly enjoy their roles in Day Surgery and as Welcome Ambassadors. 

Dennis has been a Rotarian, and volunteered with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, the BGH Foundation, 1000 Islands Habitat for Humanity, Heart & Stroke, Brockville Multicultural, Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Prescott BIA and the United Way of Leeds & Grenville allocation committee.

Liz retired with her husband Christian in 2011, moving from Toronto to Brockville in 2016, after trying full-time cottage life for a few years. 
Having studied and worked at York University she held various positions dealing with Faculty Council and Senate Committee work.
Liz splits her time each year, between Brockville and wintering in Fort Myers, Florida.

Liz has volunteered in the Emergency Department and participates in classes with the Brockville 50+ Activity Centre, playing pickleball and studying French.

Carol’s career spanned over forty years working with volunteers in Not-for-Profit Agencies, Health Care, and Long-Term Care. After she retired from St. Lawrence Lodge, she traveled extensively and wintered in Florida. Her belief in the value of Volunteerism in the community has led her back to the BGVA, and she looks forward to working with the board.

Carol has served on several committees and boards over her 36 years in Brockville. Currently, she is an active member of the Breast Cancer Awareness Kingston Board and the Chestmates dragon boat team. Carol is learning to play the D’jembe the African drum and is a member of the choir Shout Sister.

She is a mother to 3 grown children and an active and adventurous Nana to her 5 grandchildren.

Sandra is a retired Director of Development for our YMCA. In that capacity, Sandra established an Annual Appeal, and is a founding Director of the YMCA charitable Foundation.

Sandra has served on several local Boards of Directors, including Loaves and Fishes and the Aquatarium. Her last 

and current positions have been with BGVA, chairing the Board from 2018 to 2020.

Sandra and her husband Bill, raised two daughters in Brockville. Sandra enjoys travelling, playing bridge and entertaining friends and family. Time with her four grandchildren brings her tremendous joy.

Peter grew up on a pig farm outside of Listowel, Ontario. Shortly after graduating from high school, he moved to Montreal, drawn by the city’s vibrant culture and opportunities. There, he pursued studies in physics, followed by a focus on art conservation, which led to a career with Parks Canada. Although not an expert on trees—his knowledge extending only to recognizing that the green part belongs on top—he has had the unique experience of handling Mackenzie King's crystal ball.

After a distinguished career that took him across the country with Parks Canada, Peter retired from federal service and settled in Brockville just before the onset of the global pandemic.

In his retirement, he has embraced a variety of activities, including beekeeping, kayaking, curling, and golf. In 2022, Peter welcomed Joey, a terrier mix rescue dog, into his life. Together, they have become involved in delivering Meals on Wheels, working at a local distillery, and participating in weekly therapy dog visits at the local hospital. With parents who volunteered at the Parry Sound Hospital for 30 years, community service seems to be in his blood.

Connie was born and raised in Montreal, she moved to Ontario when she married and settled in Brockville, her current home, in 1978.

Connie and her husband are the parents of two sons, one of whom has two daughters. Connie and Stewart are very involved in their granddaughter's activities, as both her sons and their families live in the Brockville area.
Connie was employed with the Royal Bank of Canada for 35 years completing her career here in Brockville as a Senior Account Manager.
Since the early 2000’s Connie has worked with the Pastoral Care Program at St Francis Xavier Church serving communion in the hospital as well as in the community. Connie contributed to Habitat for Humanity as a member of their Board of Directors and for the past 12 years, she has been actively helping her husband with his flower planting project at the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Currently, Connie is working with the Bereavement Team in the hospital and the Palliative Care team in the community.

Dan is an Environmental Geoscientist who has managed the Ottawa office of a large international engineering firm for over 30 years. In 2022, he and his wife, Vicki, retired and relocated to Brockville where they built their dream home on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in Mallorytown. One of the reasons they decided to relocate to Brockville was the presence of the Brockville General Hospital. Having a quality and efficient healthcare system in their community is important to them, which is why they both volunteer at the BGH. They have two children who live and work in the Ottawa area, one as a nurse in the healthcare system and one as an engineer.

When he is not volunteering at the Brockville General, Dan is biking, hiking, boating, kayaking, and puttering around his workshop.

In addition to Dan’s volunteer work in the Emergency Department, his current and past volunteer activities include: Member of the Environmental Advisory Committee for the Township of Front of Yonge; past Chair of the Land Development Committee for the Greely Community Association; former member of the Ottawa Chapter of The Executive Committee (TEC); past Board Member for the Project Management Institute (PMI); and former Executive Committee member for the Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Geotechnical Society.

After retiring from a fulfilling career as a Certified Dental Assistant with the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit, Lainie began volunteering at the hospital ten years ago. During her time at the health unit, she served two terms as a Board Director with the Ontario Dental Assistants Association.

In addition to her local contributions, Lainie participated in two dental mission trips with Mercy Ships—one to Africa and one to Guatemala—where she found the experience deeply rewarding, providing an opportunity to give back to those less fortunate.

Lainie had always intended to give back to her community after retirement, and she felt the hospital would be a perfect fit. Having previously served on the BGVA board, she is eager to contribute once again. She can also be found volunteering at the Gift Shop on Thursday afternoons, so feel free to stop by and say hello!

Elizabeth, along with her husband Peter and their two children Paul and Kim, immigrated to Canada in 1969 starting a new life in Toronto. They have since welcomed two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Over the years, Elizabeth has lived in various cities including Ottawa, Winnipeg, Montréal, Burlington, Rankin Inlet, Fort McMurray and Maitland, plus a 3-year stint in Europe after she and her husband retired.
Elizabeth cannot remember a time when she hasn’t volunteered. From teaching English in Kenya for a year to teaching an adult to read and write. Apart from volunteering at BGH, Elizabeth drives for Freedom Drivers, an organisation that takes animals from high kill shelters in Quebec to rescues in Ontario, and Kibble 4 Paws which distributes manufacturers donated pet food to rescues. “I must confess to being busier now than I was when I was a paid employee!" says Elizabeth.