Board of Directors

Tom moved to Thunder Bay in 2003 and built a long career with the City of Thunder Bay, where he worked in a managerial role for many years. As a caregiver to his wife, Sandra, Tom brings a strong, lived understanding of the critical role respite plays in supporting caregivers and families.

A longtime member of the Wesway community, Tom joined the Board of Directors as a way to give back to an organization that has supported his family. Now retired, Tom looks forward to spending more time with Sandra and remaining actively engaged in the community.

Heather joined the Wesway Board of Directors following her retirement from a long and dedicated career in health care. She is deeply passionate about the importance of caring for caregivers and strongly advocates for the continued support and expansion of respite services across the region.

Heather lives just outside of Thunder Bay, where she enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors with her husband, Alan, and their golden retriever, Ollie.

Liisa is a former Chartered Professional Accountant with extensive financial management experience in the health care system. She spent the majority of her 31year career working in health care, including fifteen years with Ontario Health prior to retiring in 2021. Through this work, Liisa developed a strong understanding of Ontario’s health care system across all sectors, with a particular focus and interest in seniors’ services.

Liisa’s areas of expertise include contract and performance management, as well as prioritysetting within complex health care environments. Shaped by both her professional and personal experiences, Liisa strongly believes in the critical role communitybased services, such as Wesway, play in supporting people to remain at home and in preventing or delaying admissions to hospital and longterm care settings.

Nancy has worked in Human Resources within the natural resources and energy sectors across Northwestern Ontario. She also brings valuable governance experience, having served on several boards in the health sector over the past number of years.

Nancy believes strongly in the work Wesway does and is proud to contribute to the organization through her role on the Board of Directors.

Verna brings extensive experience from a career in customer service, including serving in a teamlead role. She was actively involved in modernizing and streamlining work processes through participation in key organizational groups and contributed to planning for the organization’s longterm success.

Through both professional and personal experience, Verna understands the pressures faced by caregivers and recognizes the vital role respite services play in supporting individuals and families. A resident of Thunder Bay, she is proud to give back to the community she calls home.

Karen DeGagne brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in health care, mental health, and community services across Northwestern Ontario. She is passionate about supporting caregivers and families, both professionally and personally. As the primary caregiver for her sister, Yvette, who has developmental disabilities, Karen understands the invaluable role respite services play in helping families thrive. Recently retired, she is enjoying spending more time with her family while continuing to give back to the community through her service on the Wesway Board.