Board of Directors

Board Chair

When I retired in 2014, my wife and I moved to our cottage on Big Rideau Lake and made it our year-round home. I now try to master the bagpipes and to break 100 on the golf course. I have had at least 4 different careers since University. (1) Lawyer in Calgary (23 years), (2) Member of the Legislative Assembly for a downtown Calgary constituency (9 years). I was directly involved in the development and implementation of that province’s access and privacy laws. (3) practiced access and privacy law in Calgary and was a consultant to the federal Minister of Health on health privacy (2 years). (4) Saskatchewan’s first full-time Information and Privacy Commissioner (10 years).

Since moving to eastern Ontario, I served as the Commissioner-in-Residence at the federal Information Commissioner’s office (2014) and now spend my time as a grandpa and do some privacy/access consulting work across Canada.

Vice Chair

Shane has been living near Elgin since 2015 but with family in the area Rideau Lakes has been like home for the past 25 years. He is a veterinary epidemiologist with many years of experience in private practice, research, government and most recently with Canada’s national veterinary association.

Shane’s professional interests include animal welfare and One Health, that is the close relationship between human health, animal health and ecosystem health. Shane enjoys woodwork, paddling, and spending time with his family including his two Hungarian Vizslas.

Director at Large

Cheryl is President of Hands on Practical Solutions and brings with her over 28 years of experience in post-secondary education. Cheryl has held senior positions as the Curriculum Manager and then as Director of Health Care for one of the largest Private Career Colleges in Canada. She played an active role in several successful healthcare, legal program accreditations and site visits across Canada. She actively participates as a curriculum reviewer with the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation education review committee. Cheryl also serves as an external advisor to the Board of Directors of Career Colleges Ontario, is a Board Director for the Ontario Dental Assistants Association and The National Dental Assistants Examination Board.

Director at Large

Joanne van Dreumel has been the Executive Director at the 1000 Islands History Museum, in Ganaoque Ontario, since 2015. She studied Fine Arts at the University of Ottawa and completed the Museum Studies Certification in 2019.

She has over 30 years of experience in museum, gallery, and hospitality industry management. Joanne is an advocate for culture, heritage, inclusivity and diversity. She has lived in the Rideau Lakes area since 2001, and currently resides with her family in Delta.

Joanne pursued a position on the Board of Directors at Country Roads Community Health Centre to help protect and improve the health services for everyone in our rural community.

Director at Large

Born, raised, working and living in the Rideau Lakes area, Mary Ellen has brought her now 25 years of experience from the Municipal sector and previous non-profit sector to the organization.

When the opportunity arose for a position on the Board, I realized I wanted to return to volunteering and giving back to my community after being a volunteer for many years with minor hockey when my children were involved.

I’ve been a client of Country Roads for many years and thought it would be another good opportunity to give back to my community while learning how the organization provides it’s services and approaches Health Care in a rural environment.

Director at Large

Sharen has family roots in the Rideau Lakes, Smiths Falls, and Lanark County area. Now retired in the beautiful Rideau Lakes Township, Sharen has put to use her 20 years of experience in business and financial administration.

Sharen has worked for and been involved with various not-for-profit businesses and community organizations over the years. Mostly business oriented, the longest involvement was with the Community Futures program finally finishing her career as the Community Economic Development Officer with the Elgin Community Futures Organization in Elgin County.

Currently a Board Member of the Rideau Lakes Economic Development Committee and a volunteer in other capacities including a curling club, Sharen is a strong believer that a vibrant community is a strong community and strong communities breed economic and community diversity and strength.

Sharen feels her previous work experience, familiarity of Country Roads Community Health Centre and volunteer career will be put to good use as a member of the Board of Directors.

Director at Large

Diana began her career in a small Northern hospital in Saskatchewan after completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with distinction and a Master of Nursing in Leadership and Patient Safety from the University of Alberta.

Diana’s clinical and management experience provided her with an abundance of experience in various health care settings including acute care work in Pembroke and Winchester hospitals, community work with the Victorian Order of Nurses in Winchester, continuing care/long term care, and subacute care with the Capital Care group, and acute care and patient safety in two large teaching hospitals at the University of Alberta and the Royal Alexandra.

The unique needs of the marginalized – particularly the Indigenous and those with mental health issues helped to shape Diana’s experience as a Patient Care Manager of the Orthopaedic Surgical program in a large inner-city hospital. From there Diana transitioned into the role of Manager of Quality and Patient Safety and became the Privacy Officer for this large teaching hospital.

Currently, Diana teaches a Seniors Gentle Fit Program and at times a Falls Prevention Program. She is involved in the community through the seniors’ luncheons, church work, the Rideau Lakes Horticulture Society and is a member of both the Newboro and North Crosby Community Enhancement Committees.

Diana is passionate about the provision of safe client care and the quality of services that meet the needs of seniors.

Director at Large

Eva settled in the Township of Rideau Lakes in 2020, after years at family cottages in the area and a career in education and community development. She is a teacher by profession and values life-long learning. Eva taught in preschools, public and private schools and adult education and workplace settings. These included school boards, CHEO, Ontario Early Years Centres and Heritage College.While doing resource development she also became passionate about advocating for others. Eva has always made volunteering a part of her life.Various positions have been held within education, recreation and health organizations. Some of these were the Ottawa District School Board, Nepean-Kanata Swim Club,Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre and Roger's House. Eva is familiar with the structure and scope of programs offered in Ontario. Now, this member spends time active around the lake, learning about photography, playing with her granddaughter and travelling between community commitments. Eva joined the Country Roads Community Health Centre Board of Directors to share her experience and knowledge, while representing others and to help maintain our most valuable community health centre.

Director at Large

Bob has been a property owner in Rideau Lakes since 1987 and moved here in 2004 after his retirement from international development work with the Canadian International Development Agency and the World Bank. His experience in managing large projects in Africa, many of which were health related, has given him an appreciation of how important the delivery of primary health services is to rural residents.

Rideau Lakes has always been his home away from home for many years, a place where he has been able to enjoy the fresh air and nature that we live in. Having friends and relatives here who live a different lifestyle than in the city and in the developing countries with which he has worked has given opportunities for physical and mental relaxation. He has been able to return to work refreshed and knowing that he can return to our little piece of this world. The dream has always been to help his community and being on the board gives him the opportunity to help the community he lives in rather than communities far away.

Since his retirement Bob has volunteered with a number of local service organizations as well as the Ontario Trillium Foundation and represented the North Crosby-Newboro Ward on Rideau Lakes Council. He is also a member of the Board of the Newboro Medical Centre.

His many years of management and governance experience support his objective of wanting to help his community have the services they need to live a long healthy life.

Treasurer

Pamela Cairncross moved to Elgin in 1997 from Quebec and has been farming on Summers Road with her family ever since. Semi-retired after building a Grain Elevator and running a successful business called Cairnbrae Elevator, Pamela would like to contribute her time and knowledge to a worthwhile cause.

As clients of Country Roads Community Health Centre, Pamela and her family have always been very impressed with the level of dedication and care they have received over the last 25 years. In addition to her involvement in several committees Pamela was the Chair for the South Crosby Recreation Group, serves on the Library Board and was key to the implementation of the Empowered Reading Program currently used in the Upper Canada District School Board.

As a strong supporter of the local community and having accessed many of the programs and services, Pamela is a passionate advocate for supporting children and local supports.

Director at Large

Tim and his wife, Sarah, moved to Portland in August 2023. They have five grown-up children and three grandchildren. Tim was born, raised in the Kingston area and still has family there.

Tim has worked the majority of his 28-year career in healthcare administration, in senior leadership roles. Tim has a master’s in business administration and has led many large, clinical transformation projects. He has worked in various hospitals throughout the province, Providence Centre (Kingston), Toronto Grace Hospital (Toronto), Markham Stouffville Hospital (Markham), Southlake Regional (Newmarket) and Queensway Carleton Hospital (Ottawa).

Tim wanted to give back to his new community and volunteer with the Board at the Country Roads Community Health Centre. He is hopeful that his experiences in digital health, privacy and hospital administration will help guide him in this new governance role.