Linda Cheung, Tom Shepansky, and Dr. Randeep Gill also join as new Directors
Vancouver, B.C. (October 29, 2024): Canuck Place Children’s Hospice Society has elected Robert Coard as Board Chair, and three new Board Directors, Linda Cheung, Tom Shepansky, and Dr. Randeep Gill.
Former Board Chair, Suzanne Steenburgh, will continue to sit as a Director and Past Chair, Barry Macdonald will begin serving as Vice Chair & Secretary, and Jill Donaldson will serve as Vice Chair. Canuck Place is also grateful for the leadership contributions of Director John DeLucchi who ended his final term.
Directors continuing their roles include Tom Webster, Teresa Budd, Barbra Mohan, Bob Smart (former chair), Markus T. Delves, and Tom Wong. Canuck Place is also grateful to committee advisory members, Elaine Sanders, Jaxson Creasey, Craig Thompson, and Allison Muniak for their contributions.
We are so pleased to have an exceptional leader like Robert Coard step into the role of Board Chair, and also the expertise of Barry Macdonald as Vice Chair & Secretary, and Jill Donaldson as Vice Chair,” says Denise Praill, CEO of Canuck Place. “We would also like to thank Suzanne Steenburgh for her time served as Board Chair, and are thrilled to welcome our new Board Directors, Linda, Tom, and Randeep. Our Canuck Place Children’s Hospice Society Board of Directors are individuals who work hard to bring Canuck Place’s mission, vision, and values to fruition. They join us in caring for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families across B.C. and the Yukon. From the entire team at Canuck Place, we thank them for their volunteer contributions to the leadership of providing pediatric palliative care.”
Denise, Praill, Canuck Place CEO
More information on the Board Chair and new board members:
Robert Coard, Canuck Place Board Chair
Robert Coard is Partner in the Vancouver office of PwC Canada. He is also the People Experience Leader for the Canadian Assurance practice where his focus is on delivering an exceptional experience for over 2,300 Partners and staff in the Assurance practice. Robert has advised many companies on significant transactions and assisted others in achieving growth through acquisition and in capital markets. He spent two years seconded to the London, UK office of PwC. His past voluntary involvement has included extensive service to The Canadian Cancer Society, The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Crofton House School, and the Neil Squire Society. Robert served as Vice Chair of the Canuck Place Board of Directors prior to his current role. Robert is also a Canuck Place Connector Lead. He champions a group of dedicated community leaders who have pledged their support and are helping to lead the Canuck Place Connectors Program, a multi-year initiative to raise funds, advocate, educate, and support Canuck Place care.
Linda Cheung, Board Director
Linda Cheung, RN, MSN, CRM, Director, Standards & Guidance – British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives is a nurse who is currently the Director of Standards and Guidance at the BC College of Nurses and Midwives. She has worked in nursing regulation since 2018 which extended to include midwives in 2020. Linda is passionate about quality care and patient safety. This drives her pursuit for excellence in providing regulatory guidance for nursing and midwifery standards of practice as a way to protect the public. Previously, Linda held roles as Director, Risk Management, Quality and Safety Leader, and Program Coordinator with the Provincial Health Services Authority. During this time, she completed a Lean Leader certification. Linda has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as a Master’s in Nursing from the University of British Columbia. She has a Certified Risk Management designation from the Global Risk Management Institute through the University of Toronto. This has allowed Linda to pursue a fulfilling career in various nursing leadership roles in quality, safety, and risk management.
Tom Shepansky, Canuck Place Board Director
Tom Shepansky is one of the founders of Rethink, Canada’s leading independent creative agency. Over the past twenty-five years, Rethink has consistently been one of the top creative agencies in the country. This past year, the agency was named the leading global independent agency. Tom has transitioned his role at Rethink and is now governing the business as the Chair of the Board or Trustees. Outside of his work at Rethink, Tom serves on the Nicola Wealth Board and is a special advisor to Fulmer and Co. He is also an active investor in companies where he finds like-minded Founders with shared values. For over two decades, Tom has been actively involved in the local community and is the past Board Chair of Vancouver Foundation and Vice Chair of St. Paul’s Foundation. Beyond his board roles, Tom has recently volunteered as a strategic advisor to: Canuck Place, Fraser Health Authority, United Way BC, Chinatown Foundation, The Choose Again Society, and The Disability Without Poverty Movement. Tom was named a top 40 under 40 by BIV and was most recently honoured as a Marketing Hall of Legend by the Toronto AMA. Tom splits his time between North Vancouver and Salt Spring Island. He can be found with his wife Roxanne hiking the trails, cycling with friends or playing his bass guitar with his band TwoPointOh.
Dr. Randeep Gill, Board Director
Dr. Randeep Gill is a dedicated Emergency Medicine physician at Surrey Memorial Hospital and a Clinical Instructor at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is a passionate healthcare advocate committed to improving access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. Dr. Gill has been at the forefront of advocating for immunization accessibility, ensuring that those in need receive vital vaccines and preventive care. His efforts to address funding inequities in the healthcare system have led to significant improvements, enabling underfunded communities to access essential medical resources. In addition to his advocacy work, Dr. Gill spearheaded a grassroots movement focused on healthcare equity, mobilizing local communities and healthcare professionals to push for systemic change. His leadership has secured critical healthcare infrastructure, bringing essential services to underserved areas. For the past ten years, Dr. Gill has served as a director of the Surrey Hospitals Foundation, where his fundraising efforts have further supported these initiatives and driven positive outcomes for community health. His ongoing dedication to healthcare equity reflects his deep commitment to creating a fair and accessible healthcare system for all.
For a complete list of Canuck Place’s Board of Directors, please visit https://www.canuckplace.org/about-us/our-team/.
About Canuck Place:
Canuck Place Children's Hospice is BC and the Yukon's pediatric palliative care provider. Over 920 children living with life-threatening illnesses and families from five provincial health regions receive Canuck Place inpatient and community care (in home/in hospital). Canuck Place operates 10 patient beds and 8 family suites through two hospices in Vancouver and Abbotsford. Services include in-hospice medical respite and family support, pain and symptom management, a provincial 24-Hour Clinical Care Line, music and recreation therapy, education and art, grief, loss, and bereavement counselling, as well as end-of-life care. With donors, research initiatives, our talented team, patient family partners, and over 330 volunteers, we care for children with short lives and the families who love them. canuckplace.org
Canuck Place Children's Hospice is BC and the Yukon's pediatric palliative care provider. Over 920 children living with life-threatening illnesses and families from five provincial health regions receive Canuck Place inpatient and community care (in home/in hospital). Canuck Place operates 10 patient beds and 8 family suites through two hospices in Vancouver and Abbotsford. Services include in-hospice medical respite and family support, pain and symptom management, a provincial 24-Hour Clinical Care Line, music and recreation therapy, education and art, grief, loss, and bereavement counselling, as well as end-of-life care. With donors, research initiatives, our talented team, patient family partners, and over 330 volunteers, we care for children with short lives and the families who love them. canuckplace.org
