Board of Directors

Joanne Flewweling

Joanne Flewwelling is retired senior healthcare executive with a unique blend of both Clinical and “Back Office” experience. She held a number of continuously progressive executive leadership roles over the course of her 32 year career. Driven to deliver operational excellence in support of quality patient care and innovation, Joanne strived to design and lead progressive, system-level strategy to create comprehensive health services including clinical operations, information technology, finance, and performance management in both academic and community hospital settings.

Joanne is a Registered Nurse (RN) with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from the University of Toronto and a Master of Health Studies (MHS) from Athabasca University. She also completed the Advanced Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management.

Dr. Eric Brown

After medical school at Queen’s University and a residency in Anesthesiology at McGill University, Eric Brown joined the medical staff at Brightshores.  He recently completed a term as Chief of Anesthesiology and is now Urban President of the Medical Staff Association.  Other interests include family, playing the piano, and exercising in order to be able to indulge his love of food.

Steven Green

Steven Green is a health care leader with extensive experience leading operations, projects and teams combined with a proven track record in guiding cross-functional teams in the design and implementation of innovative health care systems and solutions. Expert leader, negotiator, communicator and businessperson able to forge solid relationships with strategic partners and build consensus across multiple organisational and strategic partnership levels.

Dr. Andrew Jeffery

Jessica Hill

Jessica Hill spent 30 years as a senior public servant with the Federal Government (Health Canada) and the Ontario Provincial Government working in the Ministries of Health, Integrated Services for Children, Community and Social Services, Training, Colleges and Universities and Children and Youth Services. She then moved to the non-governmental broader public service as the inaugural CEO of the federally funded Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the CEO of the Ontario College of Family Physicians. She received the CMHA, CM Hincks Award in 1995 for advocacy for mental health when she was the Assistant Deputy Minister of Mental Health. She has been Chair of the Board of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto and most recently, of FRAYME, a National Center of Excellence in Youth Mental Health. She has an MSW and a M.Ed. from the University of Toronto. She has two children and three grandchildren who are the apples of her eye.

Lynn Keays

With more than 30 years of experience in labour relations, human resources, and leadership in the health care and food service distribution sectors, Lynn Keays currently works as a consultant in corporate social responsibility, sustainability and government relations. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Beaver Valley Outreach, in the Town of the Blue Mountains. Lynn first came to the beautiful southern Georgian Bay area in the late 1980s and has lived here full-time since 2020.

Tyler Laitinen

Tyler Laitinen is a multi-talented designated accountant with a passion for numbers. He provides insightful advice to enable organizations to make informed financial, tax and business decisions, that have a meaningful  impact  supporting  the community.

Tyler enjoys helping organizations find efficient solutions to suit their needs. He has worked in public practice as a senior key member of various private organizations. His financial background and experience allows him to easily relate and communicate with clients and stakeholders, while bringing a holistic approach that aligns accounting analysis, risks and controls, internal processes, and tax planning to help organizations meet key strategic objectives.

Deborah Pope

Deborah Pope is a Director of Service at Bruce Grey Child and Family Services who has spent her career advocating and promoting child safety in her community and province. Most of her career has been with Bruce Grey although she was also a senior leader in Eastern Ontario for 5 years at Family and Children’s Services of Lanark Leeds and Grenville. Deborah has an extensive history working with legislation and in the public sector. She has participated in a number of provincial key work groups to lead change in the areas of adoption, kinship service and foster care improving outcomes for children in the province.

Martha Rogers

Dr. Martha Rogers is a retired professor from York University and continues to hold a Senior Scholar position in the Faculty of Health. She has a background in health sciences and spent many years as a senior academic administrator leading large-scale innovation and change. Her interests include global health futures, complexity science, program evaluation and strategic planning. She is a resident of Kimberley and is actively involved with healthy communities initiatives and food security.

Brian Shannon

After completing his Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business Administration at the University of Western Ontario. Brian also attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and completed a course in Science Museum Management.

Brian worked for the Government of Ontario for 20 years and enjoyed a range of positions including as Executive Director of Corporate Services at the Ontario Science Centre where he was responsible for Finance, Human Resources, Physical Plant, Security, Food Service and Fund Raising.

Brian has always been active in his communities including as:
Board Chair, Supportive Housing in Peel – under his guidance this organization became financially sound in June of 2008 and after being technically bankrupt in November of 2001.

Board Chair, Headwaters Health Care Centre, three years, Treasurer two years and Director 1998-2004

Director, Community Care Access Centre of Peel, (CCAC) Nov. 2003 to August 2005. Local Health Integration Network, Director 2006.

Convenor, Local Steering Committee Central West CCAC –2006.
Town of Caledon Council Volunteer Committees:
1. Ad hoc Committee on Council Representation, 1993
2. Code of Conduct Committee, 1996

Vice-President and Coach, Caledon Minor Hockey Association
Coach, Caledon Minor Soccer.
Chair, Mayfield Secondary School Parents Athletic Council. Raised $120,000 during two year term.

Director, Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. Six years.
Chairman, Ontario Sires Stakes Committee for three Years
Director, Inter-provincial Lottery Corporation (1978-1981)

Not surprisingly, Brian was Awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for Volunteerism.

In Meaford Brian serves breakfast and purchases the food for the breakfast program two times per week at the local public school with a Church men’s group.

Brian is a Director and Treasurer of the Meaford Hospital Foundation, Chair Brightshores Five Foundations Board, a Director of the Brightshores Health System Corporation and Chair of Board Governance Committee and Investment Advisory Committee.

Brian is a member of the Lakeshore Football Officials Association and
referees Minor Football and High School football in Peel and Halton Regions in the summer and fall.

Ann Ford

Ann Ford is currently the President & CEO of Brightshores Health System, a large regional health centre that operates six hospitals located in the Grey Bruce region as part of an integrated rural health system.

Ann has spent much of her career in executive healthcare leadership and has experience with large project development and implementation working with provincial, healthcare partners and community stakeholders within both urban and rural communities.  In addition to her BSc. Microbiology, Ann holds a Masters of Health Administration of the University of Colorado and is a graduate of the Advanced Health Care Leadership Program at Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto.

Beth Morris

As Vice President, Clinical Programs and Chief Nursing Executive, Beth will lead our clinical programs and planning for our quality care portfolio.  Her past positions, most recently as Interim Chief Nursing Officer at Brant Community Healthcare System, brings a wide range of executive nursing and hospital operations experience to Brightshores.  She is an advocate for regional health planning and has a strong understanding of the benefits of systems planning and collaborative partnerships in building, accessing and delivering patient care.

Paul Sinclair

Paul Sinclair is a semi-retired consultant working in the health care, clinical research, and association management fields. He spent 15 years in the pharmaceutical sector performing clinical research and thereafter 20 years in the medical association management field. When not consulting, he enjoys time with his family, granddaughter, and grand dog, as well as volunteering and working on his golf game.

Dr. Cornelius Van Zyl

Dr. Cornelius Van Zyl is the current Chief of (Medical) Staff at Brightshores Health System and has been a member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada since 1999. He completed his education and training in family medicine in South Africa, where he practiced prior to relocating to Saskatchewan in 1993, and subsequently Ontario in 2002. He received his CCFP(EM) in 2005 and was awarded a Fellowship in the College of Family Physicians in 2017.

As an Emergency and Hospitalist physician practicing at our Owen Sound hospital, Dr. Van Zyl has been providing exceptional care to patients at Brightshores since 2003. Dr. Van Zyl previously served several terms as the Chief of Staff at the Canora Union Hospital in Saskatchewan while practicing comprehensive primary care in the town of Canora, SK. During his tenure as Medical Superintendent at Tygerberg Hospital, a major teaching hospital located in Bellville, South Africa, Dr. Van Zyl was the administrative head of the Surgical Departments, Chairman of the Planning and Commissioning Unit, the Intravenous Fluid Committee, and managed the 64 intern posts. 

Dr. Van Zyl previously held the position of Chief of Emergency here at Brightshores and his return to a leadership role as Chief of Staff will allow him to make a remarkable contribution as a member of both the Executive Team and as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.

Joss Ann Johnston

Joss Ann Johnston is a Community Legal Worker who has a variety of experience in healthcare, governance and counselling positions. She is well-versed in the promotion of self-advocacy, cultural competency and trauma informed care. Joss Ann continues to bridge access and connection to service Indigenous communities. Joss Ann is a non-practicing Registered Practical Nurse and is a member of Chippewas of Nawash. 

Emma Stainton

Emma Stainton is a community builder with a background in finance who brings 14 years of investment management experience with a specialty in institutional investors and consulting. Emma is committed to healthcare and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Caregiver Organization and is the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, a role that she sought out after supporting her parents through their cancer journey. Emma first came to the Beaver Valley in 2010 and has been a full-time resident since 2020. In recent years, she’s pivoted her career into the health and wellness sector. After completing her certification in Pilates, Emma is now a full-time movement educator. She takes great pride in helping people feel safe, capable and confident in their bodies. When not working with clients, you’ll find her on the slopes at Beaver Valley, hiking the Bruce Trail, or paddling on Georgian Bay. Emma holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Bishop’s University and received her CFA® charter in 2013. 

Adam Kahgee

I was born and raised on Saugeen First Nation #29. I moved away and obtained an Honours Bachelors Degree from York University and a Juris Doctorate from Osgoode Hall Law School. I returned to Saugeen Shores in 2016 and began working at Bruce Power, starting in the supply chain organization and eventually supporting Corporate Affairs as Director of Indigenous Relations and on to my current role as Director of DEI and Privacy. Prior to working with Bruce Power, I was the Director of the Justice Sector for Chiefs of Ontario. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, cooking and entertaining. I volunteer with local sports organizations, and coach girls soccer.