Links2Care is governed by a 7 member volunteer Board of Directors. The Board has broad representation from different sectors, including the private, government and non-profit sectors, and collectively represents a wide range of specific skills and expertise. The Board provides leadership and sets strategic priorities for Links2Care.
Board meetings are held monthly, alternating between the Oakville and Georgetown Administration offices of Links2Care.
2009 Board of Directors
Rick Byers (Board Chair)
Rick served on the board of Halton Helping Hands since 2001, bringing valuable experience and history from one of the predecessor organizations of Links2Care.
Rick currently works for Borealis Infrastructure, a division of the OMERS pension plan. Prior to this he worked in the financial industry for many years and has volunteered extensively in the community, in both financial and non-financial roles.
Jeannie Collins-Ardern (Vice Chair)
Jeannie Collins-Ardern, MA, CFA, FRM, FLMI, hBA, served on the board of Halton Helping Hands since 2005, serving as well on the Transition Team leading up to the amalgamation with Halton Hills Community Support & Information to become Links2Care in July 2006.
Jeannie is a long-time employee of the Canadian financial services industry, for the last 10 years as a Vice President of MFC Global Investment Management (a Manulife Company). Prior to that she was a Vice President at BMO Nesbitt Burns and an Officer at the Bank of Canada.
Jeannie has been a resident of Oakville for 16 years, and is an active member of three area Quilting Guilds, having served on the Executive in various positions and on numerous committees. In addition she is actively involved in several Toronto-area and national Capital Markets associations and Industry groups. She also acts as a consultant to the CFA Institute.
Jeannie's hobbies include travel, quilting and other arts, training her dogs, swimming, reading and gardening. While wholeheartedly supporting all of the various programs offered by Links2Care, those aimed at enabling individuals to live independently in their own homes are of particular interest to her.
Maureen McCallister (Treasurer)
Maureen is recently retired from the Ontario Government after 30 years which included 15 years in the long-term care sector. She is enjoying working part-time as a long-term care consultant, leaving more time to pursue other interests. Maureen looks forward to more involvement in the community and serving as a Board member and wishes to bring her experiences in government programs and finance to assist Links2 Care to better service the community.
Maureen is a resident of Oakville and a member of the Oakville Power Boat Club.
Bev Heim-Myers (Board Secretary)
Bev has lived in Burlington all of her life and is one of the newer Directors on the Board of Links2Care.
Bev has over 20 years experience in the financial sector, was a partner in a successful sales and marketing company and over the last 5 years has worked in senior management positions with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Volunteerism is important to Bev including being a service club member of Soroptimist International for six years and a director for 3 of those years. Bev has been involved in many other volunteer commitments over the years but one of the most satisfying was a student/seniors visitation program that Bev created to provide opportunities for positive interactions between public school students in Halton schools and seniors in local senior’s residences.
Leisure time for Bev includes time at the cottage with family and friends.
Assumpta Michaels
Bio coming soon.
Linda Gordon
Bio coming soon.
Christopher Brown (Past Chair)
Chris Brown served on the board of Halton Helping Hands since 1999, and as it's Chair for the 3 years leading up to amalgamation with Halton Hills Community Support & Information to become Links2Care in July 2006. Chris retired from the Royal Bank in 1998 after a 39 year career. Married to Rachel, they have 3 sons and 4 grandchildren.
Chris has been actively involved in the communities in which he has lived through the Canada Jaycees, who awarded him a senatorship (life membership) for his service to the organization and the community. He subsequently became, and is still active as a member and committee volunteer of the Chamber of Commerce. Chris is also a long term blood donor and has exceeded the 50 donation level.
He is proud to serve on the board of Links2Care and support the work of the dedicated staff and many volunteers who provide much needed programs and services to local communities within the region.
Click here to view the Links2Care 2008-2009 Annual Report