BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gwen Brown, Board Chair

I was very pleased to join the Valley Manor Board of Directors in January, 2024.  My family have had a cottage in the area for over 65 years and I became a permanent resident in 1990.  The beauty of this community has been a draw since early childhood. 

I have had a varied career in health care including front line nursing and management roles across various sectors.  This cross-continuum experience has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the Ontario healthcare system including long term care.  Within the last 30 years, my roles have focused on knowledge translation, transformational change, integration initiatives, implementation of best practices and the development of strategic partnerships.  Leading interdisciplinary, provincial project groups has given me insight into working with dynamic, diverse partnerships to achieve shared goals.  I have also had the pleasure of leading community consultations and patient advisory groups enabling a greater understanding of and response to identified needs and successes.

My education has included Bachelor degrees in Arts and Education and a Masters in Integrated Studies. 

Outside of the healthcare field, I have had an ongoing interest in supporting the community I live in through various volunteer positions including membership on the Executive for my lake association, the Killaloe Curling Club and, when my children were young, the local school parent advisory council and the Killaloe Library Board.  I very much look forward to working with, learning from and contributing to the Valley Manor Board of Directors. 

Cathy Borutski, Board Vic-Chair

I eagerly joined the Valley Manor Board of Directors in June 2024. Having been in the healthcare industry for my entire working career I began in acute care and moved into Long-Term Care and Retirement. The last 28 years have been working in senior care, much of that time as a General Manager.

 There is nothing more satisfying than helping our seniors settle and thrive in their new living environment as this transition can be difficult to both the senior themselves as well as their loved ones.

In May of 2023, my husband and I moved to the Ottawa Valley from Southern Ontario to be closer to family and the transition has been amazing.  We have two adult children Joel and Kendra.

 In my spare time I enjoy gardening, baking, and running. I am honoured to be part of the Board of Directors at the Valley Manor and look forward to supporting the homes mission, vision, and values.

Liz Polatynski, Secretary/Treasurer

 I joined the Board in February. I have been in the nursing profession for 50 years starting as a daughter of St Michael's Hospital in Toronto where I developed my interest and commitment to serving vulnerable communities including the urban poor, inner city population, underhoused and homeless and those with persistent serious mental health issues including addictions.

I started as a front line staff nurse and worked for the next 35 years in various positions including critical care, education, and Clinical Leader Manager. I developed an interest in the role of Nurse Practitioner as a means of extending service to vulnerable populations; I have a Masters Degree in Advanced Clinical Nursing Practice; I have practiced for the last 17 years in primary care and as a hospitalist at CAMH for 10 years.

Having retired and moved to Barry s Bay to the family cottage, I volunteered at the Madawaska Palliative Care Hospice and eventually was hired as an NP at the Madawaska Valley Family Health Team. It was my profound honour and pleasure to establish the NP practice with the support of the Board of Directors in order to provide access to care for the members of the community who did not have a primary care provider. Our aim was to provide service to the most vulnerable members of the community . I am currently a locum covering the NP practice.

It is my great pleasure to have been selected as a member of the Board of Directors to assist with the governance of VM; I believe in the strategic vision of caring for the caregivers and look forward to supporting Valley Manor as they step forward into the future.