After eight years as Board Chair, Alison Johansen hands over the role to Tom Morton.
Port Moody, BC – September 11, 2020 – “On behalf of Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Morton to the role of Board Chair of the Foundation,” says Charlene Giovannetti-King, Executive Director, Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation. “Tom, a recent retiree and former tax partner at Smythe LLP, will serve as the new Chair of Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors for the next year. He joined the foundation first as a volunteer on the finance committee four years ago and was invited in 2018 to join the Board of Directors. He has served on the Governance, Strategic Planning and Finance Committees.”
Outgoing Board Chair, Alison Johansen, who served as Chair for the past eight years, was recognized by her fellow Board Members in June at the organization’s Annual General Meeting. Involved with the Foundation since the early 2000’s, Alison’s commitment and leadership always impressed her fellow Board Members – she truly led by example. She has spent countless hours advocating for Eagle Ridge Hospital (ERH), particularly the expansion (now underway), with local community leaders, all levels of government and our donor community – even her own family, all of whom have been involved with the Foundation in some way. She has left a lasting legacy, one you can see within the new Bruce Kehler Cardiology Department that just opened, as Alison and her husband, Brad, have chosen to name a Cardiac Echo Room.
Incoming Chair, Tom Morton had this to say, “I am intimidated following Alison in this role. She is a magnificent leader and has been a tireless advocate for Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation. Under Alison’s leadership, we saw the Foundation embark on the largest fundraising initiative in its history – a $5.0 million campaign to expand ERH. We are proud so say we have reached an incredible 92% of that goal. Most recently, the Foundation has been faced with helping ERH and residents of the Tri-Cities with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. But with challenges comes opportunities. Alison’s leadership helped make us an organization that can react well to these challenges and we’re proud to be playing an active role in ensuring ERH is well-equipped for a second wave. I am excited for what the future holds and how we can keep evolving the organization to continue on our mission to enhance health care services in the Tri-Cities Region through philanthropy and advocacy.”
Tom brings with him experience as a seasoned CPA, CA and Tax Practitioner. A long-time Tri-Cities resident, Tom and his wife, Joanne, have three boys and proudly call Port Coquitlam home.
Another change to the hospital foundation board is the departure of Kelly Hobbis who served the organization for 12 years. In her time on the Board, Kelly was Vice Chair and Chair of the Wheel to Heal organizing committee – a cycling event that raised over $1.1 million in its 10 years. Kelly, a former nurse and co-owner of Cap’s Westwood Cycle, has also been a strong advocate for the hospital. She and her husband, Glen, made a leadership donation to name two IV Therapy Treatment Bays in the new Community Outpatient Services Department at ERH in honour of her husband’s battle with Leukemia.
