TADH Board of directors
We Welcome Your Feedback
The Board of Directors values public input as an important part of guiding decisions and enhancing care at the Timmins and District Hospital (TADH). Your feedback, whether suggestions, concerns, or ideas, is welcomed and appreciated in helping us provide better services to our community.
Sonal Zilka
Michelle Gervais
Connor Crawford
Mélanie Verreault
Treasurer / Acting Chair
Melanie has served on the Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) Board of Directors since 2019, acting as Treasurer since 2020 and as Acting Chair since January 2026. In these roles, she contributes to governance, financial oversight, and strategic leadership aligned with TADH’s commitment to quality care and community impact. Melanie brings extensive experience in leading complex initiatives, including coordinating the City of Timmins’ first Community Safety and Well-Being Plan in 2019 and spearheading the Honorary Naming Project, strengthening community engagement and inclusivity.
Melanie is the President of Trimeda Consulting Inc., where she leads strategic planning, leadership development, and organizational transformation initiatives across sectors. She previously served as President of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce (2020–2021) and was the inaugural Chair of the Community Advisory Board to end chronic homelessness (2021–present), helping establish its early direction and impact.
She holds a BA (Honours), MA, and MBA, along with multiple certifications in leadership and executive coaching.
Outside of her professional work, Melanie is deeply committed to community service, mentorship, and advancing inclusive leadership.
Luc Duval
Vice-President / Acting Chair
Luc has served on the Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) since 2021 and is presently on the Executive Board as 1st Vice -Chair. He is also the Chair of the Quality and Safety Committee since 2025.
Luc brings experience in management, fiscal accountability, long term planning, project management and people resources.
Luc is a retired professional engineer with 35 years of career achievements in Northern Ontario. His experiences spans over many sectors of the economy, from engineering consultant to senior project manager at the provincial level, to Director of Public Works and Engineering for the City of Timmins.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Waterloo and became a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario in 1992.
His volunteering passion has led him to be on several boards including the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, the Cochrane Board of Trade, Science Timmins, Porcupine Chapter of PEO and the Ontario Soccer Association.
In his personal time, Luc enjoys curling, golfing, biking, walking and spending time with family and friends. Travelling with his wife Lisa has been particularly fun as they enjoy cruising, Caribbean beaches and the lure of Europe.
Mike Baker
President / CEO
Dr. Doug Arnold
Chief of Staff
Dr. Doug Arnold is well known as a dynamic leader in the medical field, with a strong track record and team approach to driving organizational improvements and best practices. Serving as Chief of Staff since 2021, he has worked to implement change to improve the patient experience, as well as population health for the district. Prior positions at the hospital include President of the Medical Staff, President of the Hospitalists Care Group, and Medical Program Director for Family Medicine.
Besides working to ensure patients receive exemplary care while at the hospital, Dr. Arnold has also served the community in Timmins since 1991 through his private Family Medicine practice. Primarily now focused on Occupational Medicine, Dr. Arnold works as consulting physician for approximately 10 to 12 companies based in the Timmins area and other parts of Northeastern Ontario.
He holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Toronto and completed a Family Practice Residency with the University of Calgary. A life-long learner, Dr. Arnold has continued to seek out new certifications and qualifications including recently as an Associate of the Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine (2019), a Medical Review Officer (2019), and obtaining his Foundations in Occupational Medicine (2018-19).
Devoted to the community, he has volunteered his time as Lay Pastor with the First Baptist Church Timmins, the Timmins Marlins Swim Club and the Future Olympians Club. In addition, he has served as secretary Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine of the Ontario Medical Association.
Debbie Browne
Board Member
Debbie has served as a member of the TADH Board of Directors since 2019. She currently chairs the Governance Committee and serves on the Quality & Safety, Resource Planning & Utilization, and Executive Committees.
With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Debbie has held executive roles with Sun Life and London Life. In 2019, she joined Timmins Financial as Chief Operating Officer, where she provided strong leadership and operational expertise.
Debbie is committed to continuous learning, holding certificates in Advanced Supervisory Management, Coaching and Training and Conflict Resolution, and participates in educational programs through the Ontario Hospital Association.
Prior to her board role, Debbie was Chapter President for Advocis and actively contributed to several Chamber of Commerce committees.
Outside of work, Debbie enjoys exploring Northern Ontario with her husband and spending time outdoors. If you know her at all, you know she loves baking, especially with her grandchildren.
Yves Poitras
Board Member
Yves is an Educational Consultant and has served on the Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) Board of Directors since 2019, contributing to governance, strategic oversight, and community engagement in support of the hospital’s mission and long-term priorities.
Yves brings extensive leadership experience in education and organizational management, having led large and diverse teams with a focus on operational effectiveness, staff development, and continuous improvement. His leadership approach emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making to achieve measurable results.
Prior to his consulting role, Yves held progressively senior positions in the education sector as a teacher, principal, and system leader, working with learners from early childhood through postsecondary education. These roles provided significant experience in administration, human resources, and strategic implementation.
Yves holds academic qualifications in education and leadership and has completed professional development in governance and organizational performance.
Yves has served on several boards and committees, including the Minister of Education’s Principal Reference Group, Ontario Catholic Faith Education Office, Le Centre Culturel La Ronde, Caisse Alliance, the Timmins Police Service Principals’ Committee, and the Fondation Jean-François-Aubé.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, he values family life and remains committed to community involvement and volunteer service in the Timmins region where he was born and raised.
Peter Politis
Board Member
While operating a management Consulting practise, Peter is undertaking a third term as Cochrane’s Mayor. He is a change agent and community builder, whose life’s work is built upon the type of critical thinking and transformational leadership that effectively challenges conventional thinking, to discover opportunity where least expected.
As a leading advocate for the North and its way of life, he has driven important regional issues such as the reinstatement of the spring bear hunt; massive savings in policing costs across the region; spent three days in a tent drawing attention to homelessness; and stopping the divestment of the ONTC, among many others.
As a management consultant by trade, Peter has decades of experience and training in prestigious institutions such as the Harvard School of Business, in key disciplines such as negotiations, facilitation, people management, business and strategic planning, project management, brainstorming, corporate training, and risk management. He has specialized in Indigenous and municipal affairs for several decades. His enabling approach and trademark flare for innovation consistently helps break barriers while pioneering breakthrough agreements and sustainable partnerships between government, industry, municipality, and the Indigenous community across Canada.
He was recognized for his creative accomplishments by being nominated for the Premier’s Award for most outstanding college graduate in Ontario under the business category and received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his volunteer commitment to his community and Canada.
Benoit Melançon
Board Member
Benoit has been a member of the TADH Board of Director for four years and is an interim member of the Executive Committee and member of the Board Quality and Safety Committee.
During his tenure on the Board, Benoit supported leadership through the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and the approval of the Emergency Department expansion, strengthening care continuity and future capacity.
Benoit brings over 35 years of leadership experience in the forestry and mining sectors across Northern Ontario, holding senior operational roles with responsibility for large-scale projects, workforce management, and environmental and safety performance.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management, complemented by extensive experience in project management, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.
Benoit has been actively involved in community and industry initiatives, having served as Chairman of the College Boréal Millwright Apprenticeship Program, Co-Chair of the Mattagami River Enhancement Committee, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Benoit is actively engaged in the community, including coaching ringette and hockey. He is an avid runner with a passion for long-distance endurance activities and enjoys travelling and discovering new cultures. He is committed to ongoing personal development and the growth of his consulting practice.
Sue Perras
Board Member
Sue has served as a member of the TADH Board of Directors for over 15 years and is also a member of the Governance Committee. Sue represents and is the voice of the outlying municipalities served by TADH.
Sue is retired from a 37-year career with the Royal Bank of Canada. She was a municipal Councillor for 16 years and was Mayor of the Municipality of Smooth Rock Falls. She presently sits on the Northeast Public Health Unit and the Police Boards. She is an active member of her community and a strong voice for the smaller municipalities of the Northern corridor.
Sue and her husband love to travel and to spend time at their trailer during the summer months. They also enjoy time with their two children and four grandsons.
Cameron Grant
Board Member
Yves Raymond
Board Member
Jessica Gervais
Board Member
Jessica has been a member of the TADH Board of Directors since 2023 and serves on the Board Quality & Safety Committee and the Indigenous Advisory Committee, bringing a strong community focus and diverse professional experience to her role.
She is the Broker of Record and owner of Timmins Royal LePage Northern Realty Leaders. With more than 12 years as a realtor, Jessica also previously held a mortgage broker licence and owned the local Mortgage Centre office, providing her with well-rounded expertise in real estate and financial services.
Prior to joining the Board, Jessica supported several successful fundraising initiatives as part of the Hospital Foundation’s Organizing Committee and served on the Board of Misiway Community Health Centre. She holds a Social Worker designation from Cambrian College and further specialized in Gerontology through Laurentian University.
Jessica is deeply committed to community service, leading initiatives such as the annual food and toy drives and supporting organizations across the district. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, and relaxing.
Jaimie Roach
Board Member
Jaimie is the Director of Human Resources and Operations at Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services, where he supports the organization through strategic leadership in HR, operations, and service delivery. With more than 20 years of experience in human resources and consulting, Jamie is known for his practical, steady approach to leadership and his ability to guide teams through change.
Beyond his professional role, Jamie has a long-standing commitment to his community. He is an active member of the Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA), having previously served as Chair, and is a past President of Timmins Minor Hockey. He also served as Chair of The Living Space, Timmins’ emergency homeless shelter, supporting individuals experiencing housing instability.
Jamie currently serves as Chair of the Timmins and District Hospital Foundation and is a board member of the Timmins Symphony Orchestra. His work—both professionally and in the community—reflects a strong belief in service, collaboration, and contributing to the well-being of Northern communities.
Joan Ludwig
Vice President of Clinical & Chief Nursing Executive
With close to two decades in health care leadership, Joan Ludwig brings a passion for patient care and nursing education to her role as Vice President of Clinical, Chief Nursing Executive – a role she has held since 2011. Her leadership at the hospital dates back to 2007, when she took on the position of Director of Clinical Services.
Joan is committed to improving the health of Northerners, having been raised and educated in the Northeast. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BScN) in Nursing from Laurentian University and a Master of Education from Nipissing University. In addition, Joan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), from the Australian Institute of Business. Originally from Sudbury, she and her husband Ed moved to Timmins in 1996, where they have raised their two sons. She has advocated for access to nursing education across the Northeast, having taught nursing at Laurentian University in their distance education program and locally at Northern College.
Joan continues to be active in nursing and health care education, as the Chair of the Health Sciences Program Advisory Committee, at Northern College.
In addition to her role as a nursing professor, Joan has held health care leadership roles and occupational health roles in the community setting.
Oana White
Board Member
Oana has served on the Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) Board of Directors since 2024. A lawyer called to the Ontario Bar in 2017, she brings extensive legal, governance, and community leadership experience to the Board.
Oana currently serves as Manager at the Association des Juristes d’Expression Française de l’Ontario (AJEFO), where she oversees the daily operations, staff, and budget of the Ontario Legal Information Centre. In this role, she leads initiatives that improve access to legal information in French and develops partnerships with community organizations while delivering public legal education and training.
Prior to joining AJEFO, Oana was a Staff Lawyer at Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services, where she managed programs, supervised multidisciplinary teams, and provided legal services in family, child protection, and criminal law. She has also practiced as an associate lawyer in Northeastern Ontario and taught at Northern College.
Oana holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and is currently completing a Master of Business Administration at Carleton University.
Outside of her professional work, she is actively involved in community governance and professional organizations. As a person living with cancer, Oana brings a unique perspective to the Board with her lived experience.
TADH Board of Directors
700 Ross Avenue East
Timmins, ON P4N 8P2
Email: boardofdirectors@tadh.com
Board Policies
- Policy on Board Policies
- Rules of Order for Hospital Meetings
- Orientation Program
- Roles and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
- Code of Conduct
- Conflict of Interest
- Board Accountability Statement
- Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
- Board Education and Attendance at Conference
- Board and Committee Meeting Attendance
- Board Performance and Effectiveness Evaluation
- Engagement of Legal or Other Services by Board Committees or Individual Directors
- Presentations or Delegations at Board Meetings
- Release of Information/Communications
- CEO Recruitment, Selection, Compensation & Performance Appraisal
- Chief of Staff Recruitment, Selection, Compensation & Performance Appraisal
- Respectful Workplace (Board Members & Credentialed Professional Staff)
- Integration
- Public Disclosure of Governance Processes
- Board of Directors’ Annual Declaration Form
- Device Policy
- Ransomware
- Board Peer Mentorship Program
Join the TADH Board of Directors
The Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) is dedicated to improving the health of Northerners by collaborating with all stakeholders to advance the quality of care, education, and health promotion.
Guided by our Strategic Plan, we aim to build a responsive health care system that meets the needs of our patients and communities while maintaining our reputation as a leading and innovative health centre.
Board Member Recruitment
The Board of Directors welcomes skilled and community-minded individuals to join us as voluntary members, contributing to our mission of advancing health care in our region. Board members are expected to dedicate approximately 10–15 hours per month to hospital business, including attending regular board and committee meetings.
Who We’re Looking For
We are seeking individuals who live in the communities served by the hospital and who bring experience or expertise in:
- Legal
- Financial
- Governance
- Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black or racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, or from other equity-deserving groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Why Join Our Board?
As a Board member, you will:
- Help guide strategic decisions that shape health care delivery.
- Support high-quality, patient-centered care.
- Contribute to improving health outcomes for people across the region.
- Make a lasting difference in the communities served by TADH.
How to Apply
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Please review and/or submit the following found on www.tadh.com.
- Application Form
- Skills Matrix
- Director Duties and Responsibilities
All applications will be acknowledged and handled confidentially. Check this page or follow us on social media for the latest updates on recruitment opportunities.
Inquiries & Applications
TADH Board of Directors
700 Ross Avenue East
Timmins, ON P4N 8P2
Telephone:705-360-6050
Email: boardofdirectors@tadh.com