Category: News

February 21, 2024 – The Board of Directors of the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation (JBHF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashley Davidson as the Foundation’s next President & CEO. Ashley was selected after a comprehensive search and selection process which was anchored in the principles of equity and inclusion to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all applicants, and included a strong slate of external candidates.

“The Board is very excited about this appointment. Ashley is dynamic, capable, and passionate about our Foundation and our community,” said Leon Denbok, Chair of the Board. “We truly believe we’ve found the right person to lead our organization to achieve our ambitious goals and continue the organizational vision to inspire investment in Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH), ensuring exceptional healthcare for our community.”

Ashley will commence her new role as President & CEO on February 22, 2024. She joined the Foundation in 2012 and has since held progressively senior roles, serving as the Chief Development Officer since 2019.

Prior to coming to JBHF, Ashley spent eight years as a professional fundraiser for Trillium Health Partners Foundation in Mississauga, and for the Gardiner Museum in Toronto. She has held the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation since 2020, and is a Board member with Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Horseshoe Chapter.

 “Every day I am inspired by the incredible generosity of our donors and their steadfast dedication to helping ensure our community has the very best healthcare, close to home,” said Ashley. “Exciting things are happening at JBH, and I am thrilled to continue working alongside our exceptional board, hospital and Foundation team to help realize all that is possible when vision and philanthropy intersect.”

Ashley takes the helm at a pivotal time for JBHF, and will provide leadership of the For All Minds campaign for the Redevelopment & Expansion of the Mental Health & Addictions unit at the Joseph Brant Hospital. She will also support the development of a new strategic plan for the Foundation, working with the Board to develop the focus and objectives of the Foundation.  

A graduate of Western University, Ashley completed a Bachelor of Arts in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies. She also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management from Sheridan College.

Burlington, ON – Michael and Laura Paletta have announced a transformational gift of $5M to the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation`s $20M For All MindsCampaign in support of the redevelopment and expansion of the Mental Health & Addictions unit at Joseph Brant Hospital.

“Our family has felt firsthand the impact of mental illness, and understands the value of innovative and lifesaving care,” said Michael. “Laura and I firmly believe that this campaign has the ability to transform lives and help make Joseph Brant Hospital a world-class provider of mental health and addictions care right here in Burlington.”

This gift recognizes an urgent and growing need to redevelop JBH’s Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) program space to create therapeutic facilities that ensure a dignified, respectful, person-centred experience.

The three core elements of the redevelopment project include a relocation and expansion of the Inpatient Mental Health and Addictions Unit with the addition of a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), a relocation of some of the Outpatient Mental Health Unit, and the addition of a new Child and Youth Mental Health Day Hospital.

“We are truly honoured and grateful to have received this gift. Michael and Laura’s support, passion and commitment to improving mental health and addictions care in our community is inspiring,” said Anissa Hilborn, Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation President & CEO. “In recognition of this transformational gift, once complete the new unit will be named the Michael & Laura Paletta Mental Health & Addictions Unit.”

Mental illness affects all Canadians at some time either through their own experience, or that of a family member, friend or colleague. In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health illness, and by age 40, about 50% of the population will have had or being living with a mental illness.

JBH has a vision to build a modern, person-centred facility that is purposefully designed to instill hope and support healing, and that is consistent with the program philosophy to provide the safest and most dignified care to patients.

For more information about the For All Minds campaign, please visit jbhfoundation.ca.

The JBH Foundation has been nominated for a Burlington Post Reader’s Choice award in the non-profit/Foundation sector for the third year in a row. A special thank you goes to the members of the community that nominated us!

Voting is now open on the Burlington Post website and will be until February 20, 2023.

It truly is an honour to be nominated and should you wish to vote, please see important information/instructions below.

How to vote:

1)    Click here: https://www.insidehalton.com/readerschoice-burlington/categories/professional-services/subcategories/non-profit-foundations

2)    Click on vote beside Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation 

3)    You’ll need to sign in (if you have a Torstar Account) or register (which is free)

4)    Once registered/logged in, your vote will be tallied.

The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation and Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation are saddened by the passing of Teresa Longo and are incredibly thankful for the impact of the family’s generosity.

Mrs. Longo has a long history with Joseph Brant Hospital including annual holiday visits with Longo’s staff and the Halton Regional Police. During these visits, Mrs. Longo would bring gifts for patients who are in the hospital over the holidays, in addition to a donation to support the hospital’s urgent priorities.

Mrs. Longo’s husband Joseph, co-founder of Longo’s, passed away at JBH in 2008, and a room in the Palliative Care Unit was named in his honour.

In 2015, The Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation made a $500,000 matching gift challenge towards the Our New Era Campaign, in support of the redevelopment and expansion project.

It is truly an honour and privilege to have known Teresa and called her a friend. Her annual visits were a highlight of our holiday season and we will truly miss her smile, sense of humour, and the joy she brought to our hospital and our patients during the holiday season.

We share our heartfelt condolences with the Longo family and everyone that knew her at this time.

Anissa Hilborn                                                                       Eric Vandewall                       
President & CEO                                                                    President & CEO
Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation                                        Joseph Brant Hospital

Alinea Group Holdings Inc. (formerly the Paletta Group of Companies) has joined the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation’s More Than Just a Business campaign as the lead donor as we look to raise $100,000 in 100 days.

Alinea will match all corporate donations made up to $100,000 in total and is challenging businesses across Burlington to be more than just a business.

“With a new name and under new leadership, inspired by the example of our parents, my brother Michael and I are delighted to help the Joseph Brant Hospital improve the health and wellbeing of Burlington’s residents,” said Paul Paletta, President, Alinea  Group Holdings Inc. “Our new corporate identity is based on a commitment to create and serve our community. This donation is a powerful demonstration of that commitment and we urge other companies to join us in contributing to a healthier tomorrow.”

Taking place during Join the J month, the campaign is inviting corporate Burlington to show their customers, employees and friends they are doing more for our community and recognizing those corporate partners who have Joined the J.

“We are grateful to Alinea for their support of local healthcare and their matching challenge to corporate Burlington,” said Anissa Hilborn, President of the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation. “This gift is a wonderful demonstration of leadership from our corporate community and we invite businesses across Burlington to join us and show they are more than just a business so we can continue to be there for our community in the moments that matter.“

For more information and to get involved with the More Than Just a Business Campaign, please visit jbhfoundation.ca/corporate-giving.

The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is honoured to announce an official charitable partnership with the Burlington Soccer Club (BSC) and the Bayhawks League 1 team.

The BSC is committed to supporting the community with the ultimate goal of ensuring we are developing well-rounded young people who understand the importance of giving back to the community.

“As the Club continues to celebrate its 60^th Anniversary year, we are ecstatic to announce a new partnership with the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation,” said Amal Chauhan, Executive Director, BSC. “We want to encourage the community to work together and support each other through this venture, with a specific focus on youth and adolescent mental health initiatives and the great work the Hospital is doing in this space.”

This BSC Strategic Plan places an emphasis on Community engagement, and the club strives to support the Burlington community through recreational and competitive sports

The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation inspires investment in Joseph Brant Hospital ensuring exceptional healthcare for our community.

The partnership features the JBH Foundation logo on our Men and Women League 1 Ontario jerseys, and includes a Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation promotional day on June 12 in support of Youth & Adolescent Mental Health Initiatives at JBH.

For more information on Burlington Soccer Club League 1 teams, please visit https://burlingtonsoccer.com/bayhawks/league-1/. 

Once again this spring, you can show your support for Joseph Brant Hospital and the incredibly dedicated healthcare workers how much you support them with a We Love Our Hospital lawn sign.

Simply request your sign below and you will receive contactless delivery within 5 business days.

For the second consecutive year, the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation won a Burlington Post Reader’s Choice Award in the non-profit/Foundation sector, taking home Gold. A special thank you goes to the members of the community that voted us!

Congrats to the winners in our category, and all the winners. For a complete list, please visit https://www.insidehalton.com/readerschoice-burlington.

On March 8th, Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation celebrated International Women’s Day with our 4th annual Women in Leadership & Philanthropy Virtual Panel Discussion.  The insightful discussion showcased the power of women’s voices through their actions as leaders and philanthropists in our community.

To watch the discussion visit the link here.

Featured Speakers included: 
Opening Remarks: Anna Iacobelli, Senior Vice-President, Metro West Region of TD Bank Group
Words of Welcome: Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor, City of Burlington
Moderator: Anissa Hilborn, President, Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation

Panelists

• Barbara Elliot, Professional Sales and Marketing Director, Johnson & Johnson
• Claire Gillies, EVP & President, Consumer, Bell
• Lisa Marcuzzi, Vice President General Counsel, Chief Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• Karen Roche, Fire Chief, City of Burlington Fire Department

Closing Remarks: Dr. Ian Preyra, Chief of Staff, Joseph Brant Hospital

Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.

The 2022 theme for Black History Month is “February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day,” which focuses on recognizing the daily contributions that Black Canadians make to Canada.

The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is proud to celebrate and recognize Ancilla Ho-Young and her contributions to Joseph Brant Hospital and the Burlington community.

Ancilla worked at JBH for over 45 years, including her last 10 years as Charge Nurse for Nina’s Place.

 “It was the best job I ever had,” she said. It was difficult but it was satisfying.”

Since her retirement in 2016, Ancilla has remained active in the community as the president of the Burlington Caribbean Connection.

She feels that Black History Month is a start, but wishes the accomplishments of black Canadians and people of colour were a deeper part of Canadian history.

“I feel it is important that people know that Canada has had many black and people of colour who have made incredible contributions,” she said. “The history is important – diversity, equity and inclusion is important.”