Westaway Leaves KMHC to Head Up First Nations Health Across Ontario
Written by Paul Graif on 26 January 2023
After three and a half years as the Executive Director of the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC), and having steered the KMHC through the pandemic, Lisa Westaway is leaving her job. Westaway will become the Ontario Regional Executive Officer of the First Nation & Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada. She let her staff know this morning:
“Honestly, I think it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. You know, I’ve switched positions in my lifetime, I’ve done a few different things and this was one of the harder ones. We’re in a really good place, we have an awesome team and you know, that doesn’t change whether I’m here or not.”
Frankie McComber, the Chair of the Board at the KMHC, told K1037 News:
“It’s going to affect the hospital in a serious way, I think it’s important to just say thank you to Lisa and her family for all they’ve done for the last three and a half years, not only just for the hospital but for our community. Through COVID I was able to see her first hand do the work and she always gave One hundred percent. During the pandemic she probably gave 120-130 percent. So, all that time is just greatly appreciated.”
Commissioner of Public Safety Lloyd Phillips telling K1037 News that he could not have headed up the special COVID-19 Task Force without Westaway’s support, guidance and leadership:
“The success of the Task Force is largely with her contribution, my success, the Task Force’s success, the community’s success is also her success. I honestly believe we wouldn’t be as successful if it wasn’t for her leadership and knowledge to help guide us through some tough times.”
Westaway begins her new job on April 3rd.
