VANCOUVER, B.C. (October 7, 2026): Canuck Place Children’s Hospice today announced updates to the Board of Directors. Barry Macdonald and Barbra Mohan will serve as Board Co-Chairs. Macdonald brings extensive experience in governance, finance, and community service. Mohan was a member of the Canuck Place Family Advisory Council and was chair of the Quality Committee of the Board. Her expertise also extends in her role as a parent-partner with lived experience: her son Jasper received end-of-life care at Canuck Place. In addition, Board Director Elaine Sanders has been appointed Treasurer, P. John Landry will serve as Secretary, and Jill Donaldson will remain serving as Vice Chair.
Canuck Place also welcomes new Directors, Meagan Colenutt, Tim F. Manning, and Allison Muniak. Colenutt works in public health, is former chair of the Family Advisory Council, and is a parent-partner with lived experience. Manning has worked for 40 years in the financial services industry and brings decades of involvement in community organizations and boards. Muniak has extensive leadership experience in health-care quality, patient safety, and system improvements.
We are so grateful for the leadership and support of these individuals who share their skills in voluntary roles and ensure children and families in BC and the Yukon receive critical pediatric palliative care.”
Denise Praill, Canuck Place CEO
Canuck Place extends sincere thanks to outgoing Board Chair Rob Coard, Treasurer Tom Webster, and Director Markus Delves for their leadership, service, and insights to improving and expanding care for children and families.”
Denise Praill, Canuck Place CEO
Rob brought strategic insight and thoughtful leadership to his role as Board Chair. His commitment has also extended beyond the boardroom as a Canuck Place Connector Lead, championing community leaders who raise funds, advocate, and build awareness for Canuck Place care.”
Denise Praill, Canuck Place CEO
Webster brought more than 30 years of financial services experience to his role as Treasurer. His expertise in financial and investment management, strategy, and risk helped provide strong stewardship in support of Canuck Place’s mission. Delves joined the Board in 2019, contributing extensive experience in finance, governance, and the health-care sector, including as past Quality Committee Chair. An active member of the Abbotsford community, he brought valuable insight and a strong commitment to serving children and families.
Continuing in Director roles are: Tom Wong, Linda Cheung, Dr. Randeep Gill, and Tom Shepansky. Canuck Place is also grateful to committee advisory members, Jaxson Creasey and Chris Mullen for their contributions.
More information on the Board Directors:
Barry Macdonald, Canuck Place Board Co-Chair
Barry Macdonald is a corporate director and strategic advisor. He focuses on governance, business growth and innovation, international expansion, and accounting/finance in a variety of industries. He has chaired (and created) large boards for businesses, public institutions, member organizations, non-profits, foundations, and was elected chair of an international organization (Hong Kong Business Associations) with 32,000 worldwide members. Barry was 2018/19 Chair of the Board of the Chartered Professional Accountants of B.C. He led their board of 17 directors governing 35,000 members. Barry was on their leadership team that unified three accounting bodies in 2015, creating a new board and governance structure.
Barry retired in 2016 as a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, after a 34-year career with them. From 1990 to 1997, Barry was a partner in PwC's Hong Kong firm, their only partner from North America.
Barry is a Board Director of these companies; Truvera Mortgage Group (chair and past CEO), Founders Metals (a TSX-V listed gold exploration company), and Frontfundr (chair, a financial services technology business). He is past chair of EasyPark, a City of Vancouver company. Barry further serves on the Institute of Corporate Directors’ BC Chapter Executive Committee and earned their director’s designation.
Barry is passionate about community service. He chairs or serves on many non-profits, including a number of boards at Simon Fraser University (Executive Chair of the UniverCity Real Estate Trust, past chair of the Beedie Dean’s Advisory Board, past member of the Board of Governors, and past director of the SFU Foundation). He is on the board of the Vancouver International Film Festival. He also served on the Arts Umbrella Foundation board (as past chair).
Barry has enthusiastically raised funds, through participating in the Campaign Cabinets, for Simon Fraser University, Arts Umbrella, Vancouver International Film Festival and the new YMCA Coquitlam BC Building.
Barry was elected Fellowship by the CPA CA profession in 2005 and received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. In 2018, he received the SFU Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award.
Barbara Mohan, Canuck Place Board Co-Chair
Barbara Mohan became part of the Canuck Place family when her fifteen-year-old son Jasper received end-of-life care at Glen Brae Manor in 2013. Following his passing, Barbra served a six-year term on the Canuck Place Family Advisory Committee (FAC) and then a five-year term as the Canuck Place Family Advisory Liaison on the Board, before assuming her current role as Co-Chair. Barbra also served as the Quality Committee Chair from 2024-26. Barbra has a 25-year career in local government in Human Resources and Corporate Services. Her second career is as a film composer, music teacher, and string player. She enjoys speaking to health care and patient groups about the experience of rare childhood cancer, research, pediatric palliative care, and child loss.
Her educational background includes a degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria, an MBA from the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business, and degree in Composition for Film, Television and Video Gaming from the Berklee College of Music. She loves gardening and the outdoors, cycling, and sailing with her husband Stephen from their home on Vancouver Island.
Meagan Colenutt, Canuck Place Board Director
Meagan Colenutt is committed to strengthening compassionate, equitable, and family centered care in British Columbia, Meagan contributes family perspective, community insight, and mission aligned leadership to the Canuck Place Board. Meagan joined the Canuck Place family in 2018 when her daughter was supported in end-of-life care. Following the death of her daughter, Meagan served for six-years on the Canuck Place Family Advisory Committee (FAC), two of which she served as Committee Chair. She currently serves the Board as the FAC’s designated representative, providing a voice for the family experience and acting as a liaison between the two groups. A public health professional, Meagan brings a strong record of evidence informed decision making, cross sector collaboration, and strategic advisory work with clinicians, researchers, and community organizations. With extensive experience advancing child, youth, and family well-being across provincial health systems, Meagan has worked with the mental health programs at BC Children’s Hospital for more than 12 years, translating complex issues in mental health, substance use, and health promotion into accessible, actionable guidance for diverse audiences.
Meagan holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Community Development from the University of British Columbia and a Masters of Public Health from Cardiff University in Wales. She loves growing flowers and veggies in her garden, camping, and exploring the outdoors with her husband and their two living children.
Allison Muniak, Canuck Place Board Director
Allison Muniak is an Executive Director at Health Quality BC (HQBC) and leads the Human Factors and Administrative Burdens portfolio. A Human Factors Specialist by training, her passion is to build quality health care systems and sustainable solutions with an emphasis on partnerships, collaboration, and advancing system improvements. Her experience in health care leadership is considerable and includes a rare blend of psychology, engineering, quality, safety, and human factors on strategy planning, teamwork and communication development, and successful project implementation. Allie joined Health Quality BC in March 2023 after 14 years with Vancouver Coastal Health; from her most previous role as Executive Director for Quality & Patient Safety and Infection Prevention & Control where she led quality improvement and assurance, patient safety, patient experience, clinical risk management, quality data analytics, medical quality and physician leadership, and infection prevention and control. Allie is also a principal of Intunuity Solutions Inc., a boutique consultancy for Human Factors and process improvement. Since 2008, Allie has provided Human Factors support to almost every health authority in BC. With Allie’s strong understanding of the operational realities in health care, along with her experience in provincial, national and international partnerships and networks, she is well positioned to support governance and Board activities for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.
Allie received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Calgary and a Master of Applied Science (in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering) from the University of Toronto. She is a faculty member for HQBC’s Quality Academy, has guest lectured at various universities and organizations globally, and completed her Chief Quality Officer Training with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in 2022.
Allie enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys exploring trails throughout the Vancouver area, golfing, and cooking for friends and family.
Tim F. Manning, Canuck Place Board Director
Tim F. Manning is a retired Executive Officer of RBC Royal Bank with over 40 years in the financial services industry. Tim is currently, an Independent Member of Concert Income Properties LLP; Governor of The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade; a member of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Athletic Foundation; and a member of the BC ICD Advisory Committee. He previously served as Chair of the B.C. Provincial Health Services Authority; Chair Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission BC; Chair of the B.C. Emergency Health Services; and Chair BC Chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors. For his active role in the community Tim received the Order of B.C. in 2017; the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal and the H.E. Miskiman National Leadership Award – Junior Achievement of Canada in 2013 and Mississauga Sports Council - Volunteer of the Year 1995.
Over the years, Tim has been actively involved in many local community organizations and boards. These organizations include, Junior Achievement of British Columbia, United Way, 24 Hour Relay for The Kids, Boat for Hope & Variety, Advisory Committee to Variety the Children’s Charity, Nomination committee for the BC Business Laureates Hall of Fame, Justice Institute of British Columbia Foundation, Vancouver Economic Development Commission, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, and Fraser River Discovery Centre.
Tim was also active in hockey having served as the National Chair of Hockey Canada’s Initiation Program, a former Board Chair and Director of the Hockey Canada Foundation until 2011, a Director of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, President of the Mississauga Erindale, Minor Hockey Association and a member of the Mississauga Hockey League Hall of Fame.
Tim and his wife, Shirley, live in Kelowna. They have three sons and seven grandchildren. Born in Montreal, Tim and family have lived in four different provinces in Canada. They enjoy many outdoor activities including hiking, downhill or cross-country skiing, cycling, swimming, running, and kayaking.
For a complete list of Canuck Place’s Board of Directors, please visit https://www.canuckplace.org/about-us/our-team/.
About Canuck Place Children's Hospice:
Canuck Place is a centre of excellence for children’s palliative care. Children with serious illnesses and their families receive specialist-led, family-centred care in BC and the Yukon. A comprehensive program focused on improving quality of life is accessible for over 1,035 children and families addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Canuck Place offers pediatric advance care planning, provincial 24-Hour Clinical Care Line, pain and symptom management, family support and respite, end-of-life, grief, loss, and bereavement care. Patient families are supported in hospitals and homes, and through two hospices located in Vancouver and Abbotsford with 10 patient beds and 8 family suites. Program services include nursing and physician care, psychosocial and spiritual care, education, music therapy, and recreation therapy. With a talented team, over 350 volunteers, the Canuck Place Research Initiative, knowledge and training programs for healthcare providers, and patient-family partners, we improve care for children with short lives and the families who love them. Canuck Place is a registered charity: #133867523 RR 0001. canuckplace.org
Canuck Place is a centre of excellence for children’s palliative care. Children with serious illnesses and their families receive specialist-led, family-centred care in BC and the Yukon. A comprehensive program focused on improving quality of life is accessible for over 1,035 children and families addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Canuck Place offers pediatric advance care planning, provincial 24-Hour Clinical Care Line, pain and symptom management, family support and respite, end-of-life, grief, loss, and bereavement care. Patient families are supported in hospitals and homes, and through two hospices located in Vancouver and Abbotsford with 10 patient beds and 8 family suites. Program services include nursing and physician care, psychosocial and spiritual care, education, music therapy, and recreation therapy. With a talented team, over 350 volunteers, the Canuck Place Research Initiative, knowledge and training programs for healthcare providers, and patient-family partners, we improve care for children with short lives and the families who love them. Canuck Place is a registered charity: #133867523 RR 0001. canuckplace.org
