Your Impact

Ryan Finch is deeply committed to making transformational change to mental health care. His drive to stand up for mental health is fueled by personal experiences and what he sees happening in the community - and he’s in it for the long term. In June 2023, he took his decade-long support of mental...

Ask the farming Heeman family about their giving philosophy and the response is fittingly down to earth – both literally and figuratively. “The community is a lot like a plant – if you nurture it, invest in it and care for it, it will thrive and prosper,” says Will Heeman. Sitting around the table...

Tarra Smith, an RPN in the Veterans Care unit at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute, didn’t expect a “whole lot” from her single entry into the staff lottery. She had heard in the past about a few coworkers who’d won Whole Lotto Love, and decided to sign herself up through payroll deduction. “I looked...

Growing up, Natasha Smids loved sports and animals. A natural athlete, she played everything from soccer and badminton to rugby and basketball. And with more than one pet at home and surrounded by farms, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian technician specializing in large animals. And so, once...

Working as a nurse for more than 35 years, Jeannette Lydestad, RN, has taken many opportunities to further her education. “Learning new things always keeps your mind active and young,” she says. Recently, Jeannette realized her family needed the security of a full-time role – something not available...

Ken Fleet’s motto was ‘sing your song’. Whether he was teaching choral and instrumental students at Medway High School, conducting the Amabile Boys and Men’s Choirs, or preparing for national competitions – music fueled his soul. A local music legend and a beloved husband, father, grandpa and...

If there’s one word to describe the 2024 Breakfast of Champions, it’s this one: awesome. An excited crowd of close to 1,200 people woke up early and came together at RBC Place London on Tuesday, May 7 for this year’s event. It was a high-energy morning spent celebrating people making a difference in...

“We have world-class breast care here, and it’s because of the people – and the technology,” says Dr. Sarah Knowles, surgical Oncologist and Interim Medical Director. And every year, 23,000 patients walk the 281 steps from the front door of St. Joseph’s Hospital to the breast care program. They...