Who we are

Inspiring South Georgian Bay to invest in the future of healthcare.

We Want Outstanding Care for Life.

The Collingwood G&M Hospital Foundation inspires the communities of South Georgian Bay to invest in the facilities, equipment, programs and services for the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital. With 90% of all the Equipment and Technology at the G&M Hospital funded by community support, the Foundation successfully carries out many large fundraising initiatives to fund the hospital’s most critical needs. Thank you for supporting CGMH and helping us provide outstanding care for life.

Learn about your impact

Our Staff Team

Mary Thomas

Director, Philanthropy (Interim)

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Mary Thomas

Director, Philanthropy (Interim)

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Mary is thrilled to step into the role of Interim Director of Philanthropy, working alongside a dedicated team during this exciting time for Collingwood General & Marine Hospital and its Foundation. A passionate advocate for the non-profit sector, Mary transitioned to philanthropy after nearly two decades in technology. Since 2003, she has contributed to fundraising efforts at leading organizations, including the ROM, SickKids Foundation, United Way Simcoe Muskoka, and most recently, Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation. A creative and results-driven professional, Mary has a proven track record of building impactful partnerships and delivering meaningful support for clients, donors, and organizations alike. Outside of work, she embraces the beauty of South Georgian Bay, spending her time hiking, biking, boarding, and kayaking.
Jory Pritchard-Kerr

President & CEO

705-444-8630

[email protected]

Jory Pritchard-Kerr

President & CEO

705-444-8630

[email protected]

Jory has led Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation since 1988 and sits as a member of the CGMH Senior Leadership Team.

Jory has volunteered extensively with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) serving on the Board of this international organization for ten years, including two years as Chair. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of healthcare philanthropy having presented on multiple occasions for the AHP in Canada, the US and Germany; as well as the Ontario Hospital Association and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Jory was the fifteenth Canadian to be awarded the Fellows professional designation from the AHP in 2007 and in 2022 Jory was awarded AHP’s prestigious Si Seymour Award for her extensive commitment to healthcare philanthropy globally and advancing philanthropy in her local community.

Jory is married to Doug Kerr. They have raised three boys in Collingwood and are thrilled to have their six grandchildren living in the community.
Alison Smith

Director of Operations & Communications

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Alison Smith

Director of Operations & Communications

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Alison Smith is the Director of Operations and Communications at the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation. Alison is responsible for articulating the mission and vision of the Foundation and communicating and promoting their core values through strategic planning, educational tactics, content creation and engagement.

With over 15 years of experience in marketing and media communications, Alison started her career with some of the very best brands in marketing including General Electric, Procter & Gamble and TJX. Working in South Georgian Bay has led to finding extraordinary brands that were just waiting for their stories to be heard. From fabricating glass on 5th avenue, to helicopter flight clubs, to producing music videos, her work has been anything but boring!

Prior to the Foundation, Alison dedicated her time as a volunteer for Home Horizon and the Barbara Weider House and co-chaired their signature event, The Coldest Night of the Year. Alison played an integral role in the planning and execution of the communication strategy to increase awareness, gain social followers, educate the community, and ultimately encourage sign up for the event. This resulted in a record-breaking year for the charity, taking 3rd place nationally and raising over $215,000 for youth facing homelessness in South Georgian Bay.
Kate Black

Director, Philanthropy

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Kate Black

Director, Philanthropy

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Kate is the Director, Philanthropy at the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation, responsible for working with our closest partners and donors to fuel revenue generation for the hospital’s highest needs. Kate is a highly strategic, values-driven leader, with over 10 years of progressive experience working with philanthropists and private giving foundations within high-growth comprehensive campaigns.

Kate thrives on building genuine and meaningful relationships with donors and key stakeholders, and is passionate about curating unique and personal experiences that allow them to connect with a cause and feel the impact of their support and involvement with an organization.

Kate most recently joins us from Kids Help Phone, where she recently worked as the Director, Philanthropy throughout the COVID pandemic, before she and her husband moved north to lay roots in Collingwood. Prior to her time at KHP, she supported the Philanthropy teams at Plan International Canada and the University Health Network Foundation (previously Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation)

Kate is accredited with the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation and holds a post-graduate diploma in Fundraising and Volunteer Management, from Humber College, and a BA in Global Studies and Languages, from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University. Having grown up in cottage country, she spends as much time as possible outdoors – whether on the ski hill, hiking or on the lake.

Kate is inspired every day by the opportunity to work with individuals who are driven to create significant community and societal change and she feels fortunate to be a liaison in this pursuit.
Alison Sheffer

Donor Relations & Stewardship Officer

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Alison Sheffer

Donor Relations & Stewardship Officer

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Alison is the Donor Relations & Stewardship Coordinator for the CGMH Foundation. Born & raised in Collingwood she is amazed everyday by the caring & generosity of this wonderful community.

Supporting all programs within the Foundation, Alison manages our donor database & financial records. Alison resides in Wasaga Beach-home of the longest freshwater beach where she can be found paddleboarding in her spare time with her husband & loves spending time with her friends, family & new granddaughter.
Maria Borges

Manager, Annual Giving

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Maria Borges

Manager, Annual Giving

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Maria is the Annual Giving Manager at the CGMH Foundation and she is very passionate about inspiring people to support the Foundation’s cause through the different Annual Giving programs, like Monthly Giving, Employee Giving and direct mail campaigns such as Nurses Week and Tree of Life.

Maria was born in Brazil and moved to Portugal at the age of 9. She completed her B.A. in Political Science & International Relations in Lisbon in 2004, and obtained her Master’s Degree in Public Administration in New York City in 2008, where she resided for 5 years. In 2011, she moved to Canada. She lives in Wasaga Beach with her husband and two children.

When she is not at work, Maria loves listening to music, playing the guitar, and spending time with friends & family.
Melissa Davis

Data Management & Stewardship Assistant

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Melissa Davis

Data Management & Stewardship Assistant

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Melissa was raised in Ivy, a small village southwest of Barrie. Melissa attended Georgian College in Barrie, where she graduated with Honours from the Hotel and Resort Administration program. During her college years, Melissa was passionate about the Food & Beverage sector. She had 3 Co-Op placements during her schooling – Sherwood Inn, Muskoka, Lake Joseph Club, Muskoka, and Chateau Whistler Resort, BC. After graduating, Melissa worked in the transportation sector in Toronto. She has over 20 years’ experience planning and managing the logistics of ground transportation for corporate clients across Canada.

In January 2020, Melissa made the move to Collingwood from Barrie and became a volunteer at CGMH in the Emergency Waiting Room. In March 2021, while her job in Toronto was still on hold due to Covid 19, she became a Pandemic Support Assistant at the hospital. One year later, Melissa transitioned to the Foundation as a Data Entry Clerk and currently she is a Data Management & Stewardship Assistant.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys travelling, spending time with family/friends, scrapbooking, photography, and cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Anne-Marie Underhill

Campaign Assistant

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Anne-Marie Underhill

Campaign Assistant

705-444-8645

[email protected]

Anne Marie brings her exceptional organizational and administrative skills to the newly developed Campaign Assistant Role.

Over her career, Anne Marie has planned major corporate events with Rogers Centre and Second City. She developed and launched a successful Community Program for residential developer, Conservatory Group in Toronto. Locally, Anne Marie worked as Community Coordinator with the Collingwood Shipyard’s development.

In 2015, Anne Marie joined the hospital. She worked with the redevelopment consultants and internal and external stakeholders to support the development of the Stage 1 submission. She transitioned into the administrative team and worked as the Executive Assistant to the CEO for three years.

After a year in Ottawa, Anne Marie returned to Collingwood and joined the Foundation. She is excited to support the team as they move into the biggest campaign of their history.

Board of Directors

Brad Miller

Chair

Brad Miller

Chair

Brad Miller is the Chief Financial Officer at AGNORA, North America’s leading fabricator of high-quality, oversized architectural glass. With a robust background spanning more than 13 years at TD Bank in Retail and Commercial Banking, Brad brings extensive financial expertise to his current role. He holds both an undergraduate degree and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, complemented by a CPA (CMA) accounting designation.

Since settling in Collingwood in 2010, Brad has become deeply involved in the community. Inspired by the exceptional care his family received at CGMH, where his two sons were born, Brad began volunteering for the CGMH Foundation in September 2015. He actively serves on the Admin & Finance, Risk, Investment and Executive Committees and has been a valued member of the board since June 2017. Beyond healthcare philanthropy, Brad contributes his time to various local charities, including Habitat For Humanity and Junior Achievement, and previously dedicated six years to Rotary International.
Michael Dick

Past Chair

Michael Dick

Past Chair

Michael Dick is a Principal/Shareholder with The Osborne Group in Toronto. Michael graduated from Queen’s University in 1977 achieving a BSc. in mathematics and engineering.

Before Michael permanently moved to his family’s home in Collingwood, they started coming to Collingwood on a weekend basis to enjoy the ski hills and community. Michael joined the Toronto Ski Club and the Georgian Bay Club and is also a member of the Mountainview Probus.

When not serving on the Foundation Board and the Administration & Finance Committee, Michael enjoys travelling, golfing and skiing. Michael enjoys being able to promote the importance of Health Care within the community and working with the Foundation staff who make it fun to raise money on behalf of the Hospital.
Kara McIntosh

Vice-Chair

Kara McIntosh

Vice-Chair

Kara McIntosh is an acclaimed contemporary Canadian artist living near Nottawa, ON with her family and works full-time from her studio located in The Tremont building in Collingwood. Her work can be found in many private and corporate collections in Canada, the US, Europe and Australia. As a founding member of the CGMH Foundation’s Giving Circle, Kara has seen first-hand the power of connecting donors to innovative ideas at the hospital. Kara is an active board member for the Collingwood Hospital Foundation and in 2026, will take over as Chair to continue her vision for a rural hospital with state-of-the-art technology and innovative new programs.
Monica Quinlan

Treasurer

Monica Quinlan

Treasurer

Monica Quinlan is an accomplished financial executive with over two decades of experience in strategic financial management, process improvement, and organizational leadership. Currently serving as the Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer for the Town of Blue Mountains, Monica oversees a comprehensive range of financial operations, including budget management, financial reporting, and audit processes. Her role is pivotal in advising the Council, CAO, and Senior Leadership Team, ensuring that the town’s financial resources are optimized to meet operational and strategic goals.

Monica began her career in Windsor Ontario, where she spent over 10 years in the automotive industry in the private sector, honing her skills in financial management and analysis. Her transition to Wasaga Beach marked a shift into the public sector, where she served as Treasurer for the town, overseeing municipal finances and budgeting.

Monica holds a CPA, CMA designation and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting and Labour Studies. Beyond her professional achievements, Monica is deeply committed to public service and community engagement. She has dedicated her time to the CGMH Foundation board, where she has served as Treasurer for four years. Monica’s leadership and financial stewardship extend beyond her professional roles, as she actively participates in community activities with her family.

Outside of work, Monica enjoys spending time with her family, who share a passion for boating, camping, hiking, and biking. Living in such a vibrant area allows them to enjoy the beauty of South Georgian Bay together. With a mind for numbers and a heart for public service, Monica is dedicated to working tirelessly for the residents of Collingwood, ensuring financial responsibility and community well-being.
Darin Thompson

Community

Darin Thompson

Community

Darin Thompson is a Wealth Advisor/Portfolio Manager with Connor, Clark & Lunn Private Capital Ltd. and has over 25 years of experience in the investment management industry, both from a private client and institutional perspective. Darin is an active board member for the Collingwood G&M Hospital Foundation.
Hilary Laidlaw

Community

Hilary Laidlaw

Community

Hilary Laidlaw, B.A., LL.B, C.S., TEP is a Certified Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law, whose practice focuses on estate planning and administration, with extensive experience in contested estates.

For over 30 years, Hilary practiced with McCarthy Tétrault LLP, one of Canada’s largest national firms, representing both personal and corporate clients in a wide variety of estate disputes, and advising on complex estate planning, often working alongside other professionals to achieve integrated plans. Hilary also provides mediation services in this area of the law.

She is a frequent lecturer and participant in conferences and continuing legal education seminars addressing current issues in the law of estates and trusts, and has written extensively in the area for both professional publications and other media. Hilary was an instructor for the Law Society of Ontario Bar Admission Course in the Estate Planning and Administration Section and served as head of that section for five years until its restructuring in 2006. Since then, Hilary has been a sitting member of the Law Society of Ontario Solicitors’ Advisory Group for licensure examination, and maintains active involvement in continuing education and law reform initiatives. A former Chair of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Ontario Bar Association, she received the 2010 Award of Excellence in Trusts and Estates Law. Hilary maintains membership in a variety of professional organizations, including the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). She has been consistently listed in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.

Hilary is a Trustee of the St. Andrew’s College Foundation whose mandate is to support independent education by assisting with the funding for St. Andrew’s College in Aurora.

Hilary received her BA and LLB from the University of Toronto and currently resides in Collingwood.
David Downie

Community

David Downie

Community

David Downie has been working as an advisor with Baker Tilly in South Georgian Bay, Toronto and Vancouver since 2021. Prior to joining the firm, he was a tax consultant with OMERS, one of Canada’s largest pension funds where he assisted in managing overall enterprise tax risk, tax department composition and design, and assisting OMERS deal teams in assessing multinational investments from an international tax perspective. David has 27 years of tax experience, many of which were focused on large Canadian multinationals and their international operations. He has also extensive experience helping businesses and owners structure their affairs in a tax efficient manner.
Rebecca Meesters

Community

Rebecca Meesters

Community

Rebecca joined the foundation board in 2023 after co-founding and chairing the Collingwood Young Professionals Committee since 2020. Rebecca holds an Honours BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors and the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management Executive Program for Not For Profit Governance Essentials.

Originally from the GTA, Rebecca and her husband Cale moved from Toronto to Clearview as Cale had grown up in the region. Rebecca and Cale now have two children, both of whom were proudly born at the CGMH, just like their father and grandparents before him.

Rebecca has worked with CIBC in commercial banking for over 12 years with a specialization in Public Sector and Not for Profit organizations. Rebecca is proud to support the hospital that has given her family and our community so much. When not working or volunteering, Rebecca can be found hiking and enjoying the outdoors with her dog, travelling, painting and spending time with friends and family.
Louise Watt

Community

Louise Watt

Community

Louise has deep roots in the Clearview farming community and is now a resident of Collingwood. Prior to her retirement as the Vice President of Operations for Reinhart Foods, Louise proudly maintained a multi-generation Canadian family run business, recognized for quality products and superior customer service across Canada and the United States. Louise operated full-service production facilities across Canada along with a fleet of vans and tankers ensuring a commitment to quality and a team that was dedicated to unmatched reliable customer service and deeply committed to our local communities. Louise is Chair of the Foundation’s Risk Committee and is also a long time active member of the Communications Committee.
Michael Lacroix

Hospital President & CEO

Michael Lacroix

Hospital President & CEO

Michael Lacroix was Board appointed to President and CEO of the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital in June 2022, following an extensive executive search.

Michael is a highly experienced, solutions-oriented hospital executive that served as the Vice President Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer at CGMH from 2011 to 2022.

With nearly 20 years of progressive leadership experience, Michael is a high-performing hospital leader with an unwavering focus on the patient experience and the health and wellness of the CGMH team. Michael balances strategic decision-making with financial discipline, and is deeply committed to developing and strengthening partnerships and collaboration at the local, regional, and provincial levels.

Michael is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Master of Health Science degree from the University of Toronto, and an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Brock University. Michael is LEAN Green Belt certified and also holds a Certified Health Executive designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Barry Goodwin

Hospital Board Chair

Barry Goodwin

Hospital Board Chair

Barry Goodwin joined the CGMH Board in 2020 and has served as Chair since June 2022.

Barry was a professor at the University of Toronto’s Munk School Global Affairs and Public Policy, teaching in the Master of Public Policy program. He also had a long career as a senior executive with the Ontario and federal governments where he oversaw large government agencies such as the LCBO and the OLG, as well as many regulatory agencies involved with public safety and consumer protection. He has developed significant amounts of legislation and worked in fields like economic development, trade, labour market policy and infrastructure development.

Barry has extensive board experience serving as a board member and overseeing boards on behalf of the government and as a senior executive reporting to a board. He studied at U of T and York’s Schulich School and has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors program.

Barry resides in the Town of Collingwood.
Dr. Michael Lisi

Medical Staff Appointee

Dr. Michael Lisi

Medical Staff Appointee

Dr. Michael Lisi, MD, FRCSC, FACS, DABS, Dipl ABOM, is the Chief of Staff at CGMH. He completed General Surgery training at McMaster University and further pursued leadership training at Harvard University. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

He is a General Surgery Examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and he is the sole Canadian Community General Surgeon Representative for the General Surgery Specialty Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor with the Department of Surgery at McMaster University, Queens University, and the University of Toronto (adjunct). He sits on the General Surgery Competence Committee for the Department of Surgery at McMaster University. He sits on the Ontario Hospital Association Physician Hospital Leadership Council. He is an assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

Dr. Lisi has served the Georgian Bay community as a General Surgeon at the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) since 2008. He is the past president of the CGMH Medical Staff Association and he is the surgeon lead at CGMH for the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. He has served as the Medical Director for Collingwood Surgery, Georgian Bay Endoscopy and Remedy Medica. He is the past chair of the Board for the not-for-profit ‘The Living Wish Foundation’.

He values quality, innovation, engagement, people, and a positive culture for work and learning.

He enjoys time with his spouse and very lively triplets.
Jennifer Young

Ex-Officio – Campaign

Jennifer Young

Ex-Officio – Campaign

Jennifer is a retired District Vice President with Scotiabank. She resides in Collingwood with her husband Larry. Jennifer’s grandson is the 7th generation in Collingwood and she is so proud to call Collingwood home.  Jennifer’s career in banking has given her great opportunities in many communities but feels no other community compares to Collingwood.  

Jennifer graduated from Wilfred Laurier with a Business Administration Diploma. When Jennifer isn’t serving on the board or many other Foundation committees, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and having fun with them.

Jennifer loves being able to give back to her community through working at the Foundation as a Volunteer. Jennifer is very excited about the new Hospital and is looking forward to helping raise donations from her wonderful community for the new build.  Jennifer believes we are so fortunate to have the generous support of our community in South Georgian Bay.

Our Mission, Vision and Values

Mission

We inspire everyone in our communities to invest in the facilities, equipment, programs and services the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital needs.

Vision

Outstanding care for life.

Values

Donor Centered, Integrity, Innovation, Accountable, Grateful

Land Acknowledgement

The Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation acknowledges it is located upon the traditional territory of the Anishinabek people of the Three Fires Confederacy. We also acknowledge that the Tionontati people of the Wyandot Nation also inhabited these lands.

We acknowledge that these nations were sovereign nations existing before the arrival of settlers and we respect pre-colonial treaties and covenants that are existing before settler arrival.

We also acknowledge the spiritual interconnection among these nations to the land and water we share here today.

We also acknowledge the waterways within the area as it has a long history predating European arrival. These waterways were the life blood of the people as traditional trade and hunting routes which provided essential navigation to communities since time immemorial.

We are dedicated to focus on the ongoing evolving needs of First Nations, Inuit and Metis individuals to provide innovative, and compassionate care.

In the spirit of Reconciliation, our team will continue to enhance and bring cultural understanding to the CGMH with collaborative Indigenous partnerships that will develop inclusion and diversity within our people and community.

Accountability

The volunteers and staff of the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation are dedicated to ensuring that each donated dollar is used for its intended purpose and in the most cost-effective manner possible.

The Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation is a registered charity (#11886 8272 RR0001) and abides by the Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code developed by Imagine Canada. We follow the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) Donor Bill of Rights and the AHP’s Code of Professional Standards.

To protect your privacy, we do not rent, trade or sell donor lists. Please click here to read our full privacy policy.

To view our current Audited Financial Statement, review our By-laws or read our most recent Donor Impact Report, click here.

“CGMH is a place of caring individuals. And even though we are a small town we have so much great expertise here. People should have great confidence in our hospital.”

Mark and Jane Palmer

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“I have been very lucky in life and I am more than pleased to repay some of that to support our hospital to allow them to continue to improve and serve our community.”

Art Church – Grateful Patient

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“This is a small hospital, and they do a great job at staying on top of technology, attracting good surgeons and a great healthcare team. I think our hospital has a lot to offer, and this is part of the reason why we think it is important to donate, and we hope others will do so as well.”

Paul and Karen Jackson

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“I am living life to the fullest, enjoying retirement, and I couldn’t be happier. To say that Dr. Cheng’s involvement in my care was life-changing truly is an understatement. I will forever be grateful to her.”

Anna Drazenovic

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