Dr. Reade is a rural family physician, educator and health care leader based in Mindemoya. Following medical school at the University of Alberta and an early career in western Canada, she has made Manitoulin Island her home since 2001. Dr. Reade is a member of several collaborative teams providing patient care at MHC, at the Manitoulin Central Family Health Team and at the M’Chigeeng Health Centre.
Dr. Reade is an Associate Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and loves to share her passion for rural medicine with medical learners. In addition to her usual clinical practice, she is interested in emergency preparedness, point of care ultrasound and working with Debajehmujig Storytellers on medical education projects. Dr. Reade received a Certificate of Special Competence (Emergency Medicine) in 2012 and the Physician Leadership Institute Certificate in 2019.
Dennis McGregor was appointed to the Board in 2015 and was elected Chair of the Board in June 2021. Previous to becoming Chair of the Board, Dennis held the position of Vice-Chair for two years. During his tenure, Dennis has also held the position of Chair and Vice-Chair for the Resource, Nominating and Executive committees, as well as serving on the Strategic Planning and Governance Committees.
He worked as a Marketing Manager for a major Insurance company in Toronto for 15 years, before returning to his home community of Whitefish River First Nation (Birch Island) in 1992, where he went on to work as the Band Economic Development Officer for another 17 years until semi-retirement in 2010. Dennis has served on numerous community boards including: Mnidoo Mnising Employment & Training, Whitefish River Development Corporation, Waubetek Business Development Corporation, and the Great Spirit Circle Trail. Dennis recently retired from Cambrian Insurance in Little Current and brings a strong business, economics, and insurance background to his Board role.
Dennis and his partner, Georgina, enjoy travelling, camping, and volunteer work in their community.
Debby Turner was elected to the Board of Directors in June 2012 and is currently the Vice- Chair of the Fundraising Committee. She is also a member of the Governance and Nominating Committees. Previously she served as Chair of the Quality Assurance and Fundraising Committees and Vice-Chair of the Governance Committee.
Debby was born and raised on Manitoulin and has spent most of her life here. Debby owns and operates a 5th generation family business which has been serving Manitoulin for over 134 years.
Debby has been active in the Community through years of volunteering with the Little Current Figure Skating Club, the Ski Club, Community Service Advisory Committee, Downtown BIA, Classic School of Dance, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Downtown Beautification, and Centennial Bridge Committee.
Debby is married with 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren. She enjoys skiing, sailing, gardening and time spent at their cottage.
Kimberley has spent most of her summers over the past 40 years on Lake Manitou at her family’s cottage. Recently, she and her husband Wes moved from London, Ontario to Manitoulin and decided to become involved as a volunteer in the local community. A graduate from Western University, Kimberley is the founder and president of Prime Management Group Inc., Executive Search and Recruitment.
Kimberley has many years of experience serving on various boards including St Joseph’s Healthcare, St Joseph’s Hospice, Pathways Skills and Development, NPA Worldwide and The London Chamber of Commerce. As an avid traveler, for both business and pleasure Kimberley has enjoyed learning about the different cultures throughout the world and is always thankful to call Canada her home.
Over the winter months, she and Wes and their black lab Tommy, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren in Victoria, British Columbia.
Derek Debassige, a McMaster trained Physiotherapist, is proprietor and Clinical Director of the Manitoulin Physio Centre located on the M’Chigeeng First Nation.
He has worked to create a broad skillset, aiming to service the diverse needs of a northern rural setting. Having set his sights on integrating service delivery across private and public sectors, he has developed a unique access point to physiotherapy services. Currently his multi-disciplinary team provides outpatient and home-based occupational therapy and physiotherapy services, on and off First Nation communities.
Prior to joining the Manitoulin Health Centre Board of Directors, Derek served as Board member for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and also served as former Chair of the National Aboriginal Health Organization. As well, he was elected councillor on his home First Nation’s council.
In 2008, he was recipient of the Health Recognition Award from the Union of Ontario Indians. In 2009, he was recognized as Waubetek Business Development Corporation's Youth Entrepreneur of the Year and, in 2010, he received the First Nations Business Award of Excellence from the Northern Ontario Business Awards. In 2016, he received the McMaster University Distinguished Rehabilitation Science Alumni Award and most recently, in 2019, Derek’s leadership and advocacy efforts were recognized by the Ontario Physiotherapy Association.
Derek is currently the Chair of the Nominating Committee and a member of the Quality Assurance and Strategic Planning Committees. He has previously served as Chair of Quality Assurance, Vice-Chair of Strategic Planning and was a member of the Executive Committee.
Chris currently acts as the Senior Partner at Veracity Real Estate Solutions, a full-service real estate valuation and advisory consultancy that serves the Province of Ontario. After spending a year at Conestoga College, he attended McMaster University where he graduated with an honours degree in Ancient History with an Interdisciplinary Minor in Native Archaeology. He then pursed a post graduate degree in Real Estate at the University of British Columbia where he earned his AACI designation with the Appraisal Institute of Canada.
Prior to joining the Manitoulin Health Centre Board of Directors, Chris has served on a number of non-for-profit organizations and charitable organizations, holding such positions as President of Chapter 29 of the International Right-of-Way Association and of the Ontario Association of Municipal Real Estate Administrators. He is also a founding board member of Ayr Charity BBQ and the Veracity Helping Hands Foundation, both charitable organizations that provide support for community projects and charitable organizations across the Province of Ontario.
He and his family have been part of the Manitoulin community since the early 1980s, and in 2019 Chris finally called the shores of Mudge Bay (Kagawong) home. In his spare time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, reading, boating and fishing.
Heather Hall (Best) graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1990 with Bachelor of Business Administration (Co-op Option).
She worked in Toronto at an advertising/marketing firm for a few years until moving north back to her hometown of Gore Bay. Over the next few years she worked for Manitoulin Transport in the accounting and traffic departments. Heather has been an independent contractor as a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) for the last 20 years.
Heather & her husband, Dave, own several successful businesses including Manitoulin Self Storage, DH Electrical, and Best Bookkeeping & Accounting Services. They have 2 grown children and live in Sheguiandah with their 2 cats and 1 dog. In her spare time, Heather enjoys snowmobiling, curling bonspiels, boating, golfing and cottage life..
Michelle Hart is a retired pharmacist who was born and raised in Mindemoya. She returned to the Island after graduating from the University of Toronto with a BSc in Pharmacy and completing a residency in hospital pharmacy. Along with her two brothers, she owned and operated three Guardian Pharmacies and Mindemoya Foodland for 30 years. Her husband was a OPP officer on Manitoulin Island for his whole career. Together they raised three children while being very active in their community.
Michelle Hart joined the Manitoulin Health Centre Board in September 2021. She is on the Fundraising Committee and the Quality Assurance Committee. She has been a board Member of the Assiginack Family Health Team since it’s inception and has been volunteering with Public Health as a vaccinator for the Covid mass vaccination clinics.
Michelle love to be outdoors cycling, kayaking and skiing. She also considers herself an avid amateur quilter.
Jane was elected to the Board of Directors in June 2016. During her tenure on the Board, Jane has served as the Vice-Chair of the Board, Chair and Vice-Chair of Quality Assurance as well as a member of the Audit, Strategic Planning, Governance, Executive and Resource Committees.
Jane has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and graduate degrees in Epidemiology and Statistics. She has over 20 years of experience in the health care system in Ontario, both in the public health and Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) sectors as an epidemiologist and decision support specialist.
Jane and her husband, Randy, have lived in the Municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island since 2008.
From Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Gerrilynn was appointed to the Board in August 2021. She recently moved back to Wiikwemkoong in early 2021 after 17 years of living in various locations across Canada. She now works at the Naandwechige-Gamig Wikwemikong Health Centre as the Associate Director. Previously, Gerrilynn worked in policy at the First Nations Health Authority in Vancouver, BC, and in research at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health in Saskatoon, SK. She attended Western University where she obtained her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences, and her Master of Public Health degree.
Prior to joining the Manitoulin Health Centre Board of Directors, Gerrilynn was a Board member at Youth CO, a Vancouver non-profit organization, and at the Wikwemikong Nursing Home.
Gerrilynn is currently the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, Vice-Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee.
In her free time, Gerrilynn enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, playing hockey and reading.
Sheryl joined the Board of Directors in September 2022. She is currently a member of the Audit, Fundraising and Resource Committees.
Having been raised in the community of Wiikwemkoong, Sheryl is intimately familiar with the benefits and trials of living in rural Ontario. Her family later moved to Little Current, where she has remained to establish and grow her career, and to raise her family.
Sheryl has enjoyed a 35 year career in the field of public service, and has extensive experience dealing with the public. She is also a strong believer in life-long learning and holds several diplomas in Municipal Governance and Municipal Finance. She has broad experience in the Accounting Field which ultimately lead to her 18 year role as the Treasurer for the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands.
Sheryl has a strong family focus and takes great pride in the three children she and her husband Ian raised in Little Current while building their respective careers. She relishes the time she can spend with her two young grandchildren and is determined to work towards building a better world in which they can live and grow.
Some of her favourite things to do include photography, cycling, running, and spending time with family.