The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) at Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is a newly established group of 12 community members dedicated to providing valuable input and guidance to our Supervisor, Eric Hanna. With a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, the CAC’s purpose is to ensure a shared vision for the future that both supports the hospital and the needs of the community.
John Nzioka
John is a seasoned professional in health technology with over 10 years of experience, currently serving as a Senior Business Systems Analyst in Ontario Health’s Digital Health Portfolio. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Informatics. John has developed a profound understanding of the Ontario healthcare system, as it relates to funding, legislative frameworks, and privacy regulations.
John and his family have lived in Alliston Since 2020, and understand the community’s growing need for comprehensive healthcare services. As more families move to the area and the local population ages, Alliston faces an increased demand for accessible, patient-centred care that can meet the needs of both new and longtime residents. John recognizes the need for long-term sustainable care initiatives in the community that will improve health outcomes and quality of life for all residents, and he’s eager to lend his expertise to support this vision.
Kirsten Buligan
Following employment in the military and the banking industry, Kirsten Buligan commenced her career in public service. Kirsten has been employed in public service for over 25 years and currently holds an executive leadership position.
In various leadership roles throughout her career, Kirsten demonstrated initiative and innovation specific to the development of programs in public safety and community relations. Her work in this area has involved collaboration and partnership-building with various sectors of the medical profession.
Kirsten's commitment to improving community services extends outside of her employment. This is demonstrated in her eight years of volunteering as a board member for a not-for-profit community agency. Being a resident of the local community for over 30 years Kirsten has developed a strong commitment to improving community well-being and looks forward to utilizing her experience to assist in the Community Advisory Council for Stevenson Memorial Hospital.
Margaret Bachle
Margaret has been a resident of Alliston, living in Briar Hill, since August 2018, and a volunteer at Matthews House since October 2018 until June 2022. She was also on the Hospice board from September 2021 until June 2022 when she became the Chief Executive Officer of Matthews House. During the pandemic, Margaret volunteered at the COVID clinics in Alliston and Bradford. In her role as CEO, she learned a lot about Alliston and the community, and the needs of its people especially as they relate to seniors, their families and caregivers, and those living with chronic illnesses.
She is a nurse and has held many nursing roles during her career (RN, BA, MBA, CHE). She retired after 23 years as Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Executive at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga Ontario. In addition to being responsible for nursing services, she was responsible for Materials Management, Physiotherapy, Psychology and Health Records and Quality Management. For the last 2 years, Margaret has been the Chief Executive Officer for Matthews House Hospice in Alliston Ontario. In addition, to the vice president role, she was also a surveyor for Accreditation Canada, leading surveys and delivering educational programs across Canada for about 20 years. As well as surveying hospitals in Canada, she also surveyed and gave educational presentations to hospitals in Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador and Brazil.
Richard Norcross
Mayor Richard Norcross is currently serving his seventh term on Council for the Town of New Tecumseth and has held a variety of positions in municipal politics for more than two decades. As an active member of our community of almost 44,000 Mayor Norcross is a long-time business owner with strong business acumen and leadership skills. As Mayor, he also represents New Tecumseth as a member of Simcoe County Council. He sits on the Simcoe Manor Redevelopment Committee, is Chair of the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport Board and past Chair of the Simcoe County Governance Committee. Mayor Norcross is passionate about community health and strives to understand and address the unique healthcare needs of our diverse populations to promote equitable access and outstanding community health care. Mayor Norcross is dedicated to the community that he serves and along with his wife Robin and two sons are proud to be long-time residents of New Tecumseth
Sylvia Biffis
Sylvia Biffis has proudly called Alliston home for over 55 years, bringing valuable insights into the community's healthcare needs. With over 30 years in the hospitality industry, she currently serves as the Director of Convention Sales at Nottawasaga Resort, where she is dedicated to excellence in customer service and stays updated on industry trends.
Sylvia is actively involved in her community, having served as Chair of the Simcoe County chapter of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) since 2013. She has co-chaired the Simcoe Hospitality Awards and contributed to initiatives supporting Georgian College’s Hospitality and Tourism program.
Additionally, she has been a Campaign Cabinet Chair for the SMH Foundation since 2016 and co-chaired a digital mammography campaign from 2009 to 2011. Sylvia also held key advisory roles in maternal and child health services at SMH.
She holds a BA in Economics from McGill University and a Business Administration degree from Concordia University, providing her with a strong foundation for her professional and community efforts.
Kaitlyn Cosgrove
Kaitlyn has been a dedicated resident of New Tecumseth for over 10 years. As a mother of young, busy children, she understands the importance of creating a supportive and thriving environment for families. With a Master’s degree from York University, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo, Kaitlyn’s professional journey spans over 10 years in urban planning. Kaitlyn’s professional experience in municipal planning and community engagement has given her a solid understanding of our community’s growth, population and healthcare needs. Kaitlyn’s commitment to the Community Advisory Council is driven by a passion for advocating for complete communities, accessible healthcare services and improving the overall well-being of our residents.
David Sadleir, Ph.D., P.Eng
David has lived in the area for 25 years and now resides in the Treetops community in Alliston. He holds BASc and MASc degrees in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto and a PhD in Operational Research from Lancaster University, England. In 2004, he was awarded a life membership in the Association of Professional Engineers and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGA). His workplace experience covers 50 plus years and 4 Canadian business sectors; oil, pulp and paper, software, and telecommunications; culminating in 5 years as a Vice President of the University of Toronto and subsequently, 3 years as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. During those employment years, David also served as a volunteer advisor in various government forums at provincial and national level and several higher education committees. After retiring to a rural property in Adjala, his community volunteer service included 9 years as a founding director and subsequent Vice President of Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF). David also served as a volunteer founding director of the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation (SFBLF) for 17 years including 14 years as President. He retired from SFBLF in 2022.
John Pappain
John Pappain and his wife, Florence, downsized their home in Brampton approximately three years ago and purchased a property in the Briar Hill Golf Community. In an effort to gain insight into the Tecumseth political and business landscape, John joined Probus and actively participated in several political campaigns during the last election, including those for Mayor Norcross, MPP Brian Saunderson, and Councillor Alan Masters. He currently serves on Brian's Board of Directors.
With substantial experience in the hospital sector, John was elected to the Peel Memorial Hospital Board of Directors (now the Wm. Osler Hospital Group) for 13 years, serving as Chairman for three of those years. His experience in Hamilton included being elected to the Board of Governors of the Bay Area Health Trust, affiliated with the Hamilton Health Sciences Group, which comprises five hospitals and McMaster University. During his tenure, he played a key role in successfully completing three large electrical co-generation power plants at McMaster, Henderson, and General Hospitals.
John’s community involvement spans over 25 years, during which he was elected to the Peel Region Land Division and Brampton Committee of Adjustment, served on the Sheridan College Board of Directors, and participated in the Royal College of Dental Surgeons. Professionally, he was the Founder, President, and CEO of the Peel Resource Recovery Power Generation Facility located in Brampton for over 30 years. Although he retired approximately five years ago, he continues to work part-time as a Project Consultant.
John has closely followed the issues at Stevenson and has read the complete Investigation Report. He looks forward to leveraging his hospital governance experience to support the Supervisor and provide valuable consultation and feedback.
Jeffrey Verheyen
Department Manager, Safety & Medical, Honda of Canada Mfg.
Jeff Verheyen has been a dedicated member of the Alliston community for 28 years, building a diversified career at Honda of Canada Manufacturing (HCM). Beginning in the Stamping Department, Jeff’s roles have spanned environmental management, administration, new model development, supply chain projects, and procurement. Currently, he serves as the Department Manager for Safety & Medical, a position he assumed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This challenging period offered him valuable insights into HCM’s contributions to public health and its relationship with Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH).
HCM has embraced ambitious plans for growth, including the construction of two new factories in Alliston, reinforcing Honda's commitment to a sustainable future in the community. Bringing a wealth of experience in problem-solving and continuous improvement, Jeff is enthusiastic about contributing to the Community Advisory Council to support SMH in advancing its mission of sustainable healthcare delivery.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Toronto and has strong ties to the Alliston community through family who call the area home. Beyond his professional life, Jeff enjoys outdoor activities with his family, particularly competitive mountain biking and cross-country skiing with his teenage sons. He also dedicates time to volunteer work, serving on the board of directors for his children’s cross-country ski racing team.
Brian Snell
Brian Snell has called the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio home since 2002. He resides with his wife, Patti, and their family on their farm, Adjala Acres. Together, they founded Adjala Acres as a thriving livestock and cash crop operation. Over the years, the business has expanded to include Adjala Acres Commodities, a cash crop and grain storage operation, which they now operate in partnership with their son, Brandon. Additionally, Brian and Patti opened a small storefront business on their farm alongside their daughter called Adjala Acres Star Market, where they sell their own farm-raised beef.
With a lifelong career in agriculture, Brian grew up working on a family dairy farm in Caledon. He holds an Associate Diploma in Agriculture and has a broad range of experience, including 13 years as a licensed realtor in the Peel Region, Simcoe County and surrounding areas. In addition, Brian founded and operated a thriving excavation and septic business for many years.
Currently semi-retired, Brian brings a wealth of experience in self-employment, business management, real estate, and community engagement. His deep connection to the rural community and his expertise in negotiation and people management will be invaluable to the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Community Advisory Council.
Jocelyn Cox
Jocelyn Cox is a mother, chiropractor, business owner, and active member of her community. As the owner of Tottenham Chiropractic, she is committed to providing evidence-based care that helps her patients achieve optimal health and wellness. She has many years of experience in research and working with students in healthcare through the UHN interprofessional education program.
Outside of her professional life, Jocelyn is a proud spouse and mother of three young children, balancing the demands of family life with her professional pursuits. She is a passionate advocate for active health as a key to maintaining both physical and mental health. Having grown up in Tottenham, and now providing care to South Simcoe, she is eager to contribute to the hospital advisory board with insights that bridge patient experience, clinical care and alternative approaches to health.
Bill Blendick
Bill and his wife Darlene have been residents in our catchment area since 2002, having built their home in the Adjala Tosorontio area. Both are active in volunteering within the community mainly focused on both Stevenson Memorial Hospital and Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Bill completed his education at the University of Toronto, initially in architecture, then focusing on advertising and marketing. His professional path includes joining the T. Eaton family working in retail, national commodity manager and then moving to the furniture manufacturing sector.
Bill worked with Sealy Canada (now Tempur-Sealy Canada) directing national accounts in the retail environment. Not fulfilled to only have the public sleep on their product in their homes, Bill then set his goal to develop the contract division and go after hotel sector business.
He is currently owner and president of a company that provides guest room furniture to the hotel industry, globally.
When not working, Bill enjoys time on their boat on Georgian Bay, their home in Phoenix and getting together with family including their 11 grandchildren.
