Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference Visits TBRHSC and TBRRI

 These individuals are participants in the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, which visited TBRHSC and TBRRI to get a closer look at how investment in health research makes a community healthier, wealthier and smarter.

“It is a privilege to be selected as a site for this prestigious activity which packs the most intense experiences of life in Canadian industry and community into a unique two-week event. It is a testament to the caliber of the leading-edge research conducted here, and the scientists who complete that important work,” said Dr. Bill McCready, Interim President & CEO at TBRHSC and Interim CEO at TBRRI.

The Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference was created to broaden the perspectives of future leaders in business, unions and public administration so that their decisions are based on a practical understanding of the influence of their organizations on the general welfare of the community. The mission of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference is to: improve decision-making abilities among young leaders likely to occupy high level positions in the near future; facilitate a more progressive era of interaction between leaders from business, labour, government and the broader community; and broaden their understanding of Canada.

During their visit to TBRHSC and TBRRI, participants were toured through the lab facilities and had the opportunity to speak with scientists and their students about how they are inventing the future of healthcare through the advancements in medical imaging for screening, early diagnosis and minimally invasive therapies. They learned about the unique health challenges of Northwestern Ontario and how, through culturally sensitive approaches, researchers and health care providers are addressing the needs of the people of the region.

The tour was capped off with a stop at the region’s first and only cyclotron facility, part of a national network, designed to provide Canadians with a stable supply of medical isotopes when the nuclear reactor at Chalk River shuts down in 2017. The cyclotron and radio-pharmacy also provides a new research platform for area scientists and is part of the sustainability plan for TBRRI.

Participants for this year’s conference include:

Chad Molesky, Merchandising Manager, Viterra
Owen Barnhill, Senior Director Finance, Eastlink
Anaïs Berzi, General Director / Directrice Generale, Mingus, Software
Jesse Brown, Executive Director, YouthCO
Yvonne Doolittle, Regional Superintendent, Government of the Northwest Territories
Dawn Hardy, Local President, Union of Tax Employees
Justin Heskes, Manager Business Development, ATCO Energy
Joshua Kutryk, Team Lead, Department of National Defense
Daniel Légère, President, CUPE
Christine Campbell, General Director / Directrice Generale, Department of Foreign Affairs
Bob Peldjak, Aerospace Control Operator, Department of National Defense
Ryan Schmidt, Business Developer, TransAlta
Christine Sorensen, Vice President, BC Nurses Union
Roxanne Vallevand, Executive Director, Kwanlin Dün First Nations
Crystal Warner, Case Management Officer, Immigration Refugee Board of Canada
Stéphanie Michaud, Program Deputy Director / Directrice Adjointd de programmes, Federal Government of Canada

The Canadian leadership conferences began in 1983 as a means to help build Canada. They involve a unique process of examination, debate and discovery designed to broaden perspectives and enhance the leadership qualities of members.

To learn more about the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, visit http://www.leadershipcanada.ca/