Ontario's hospitals are guided by a unique governance model that relies on community members volunteering their time, expertise, and lived experience to serve on local hospital boards. To celebrate the incredible work of these individuals, this Why I Serve series profiles hospital board members from across the province, exploring why they chose to serve, what they have learned along the way, the impact of local leadership, and the rewards of contributing to an organization that plays a pivotal role in their community. 

In this issue, we spoke with Colin Lynch about his recent appointment as Board Chair of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Sunnybrook) and asked him to reflect on his governance journey, what this new role means to him, and why serving continues to matter. 

What first inspired you to join your local hospital board? 

I have served on several community, non-profit, and government boards, and I have seen the meaningful and positive impact that strong governance can have on communities. That is especially true at Sunnybrook, where staff and volunteers accomplish extraordinary things every day. For me, that impact is deeply personal. My daughter was born in Sunnybrook’s NICU weighing just two pounds, and a close friend received care after a sudden, life-threatening incident that transformed a heartbreaking “days to live” prognosis into several more precious years. 

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your governance journey so far? 

The most rewarding aspect has been having a front-row seat to a remarkable organization doing remarkable things to help patients. Whether sleeping under desks during a February snowstorm so they could be available to serve patients the next day or partnering with the armed forces to create surge capacity in our parking lot during COVID, Sunnybrookers display extraordinary commitment.  

I have seen Sunnybrook respond to traumatic incidents in our city and province, while also sharing its expertise in some of the world’s most challenging environments, including war zones. It is extraordinary that Sunnybrook does all of this while caring for more than one million patients each year and playing an essential role in our local Toronto communities. 

As a newly appointed board chair, what excites you most about this new chapter of leadership? 

I am excited by the opportunity to help this organization aspire to accomplish even more. We are at an extraordinary moment in Sunnybrook’s history. Our integration with Vibrant extends our historic expansion into primary and community-based care, while ambitious goals and progress in areas ranging from clinical trials to brain sciences are helping make our vision to “reinvent the future of health care” a reality. The launch of our $1 billion campaign, together with the potential to embark on a new critical care centre, reflects Sunnybrook’s commitment to continue serving our province by “making the impossible, possible.” 

What unique perspective do you bring to the role that may shape your approach as chair? 

I bring a range of perspectives to the role. I am a child from Scarborough who spent considerable time in the health care system. As the son of immigrants who came to Canada with very little financially, I know that my own health care experiences could have bankrupted my family in another country or another era. As a member of the Black community, I co-founded the Black Opportunity Fund to help advance equality of opportunity across Canada. Professionally, I am an investment executive responsible for overseeing $43 billion in investments around the world on behalf of tens of thousands of pensioners and other beneficiaries. 

I am also a committed community member with experience across the public sector, housing, education, and the arts. I chair the Toronto Investment Board, which oversees $10 billion in investments for the City of Toronto; served as acting Chair of Toronto Community Housing Corporation, home to 110,000 people; am a Trustee Emeritus and former Councillor of Queen’s University; and have served on the boards of organizations including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Empire Club of Canada. 

Those perspectives matter because hospitals do not exist in isolation. They are influenced by – and have an influence on – many other parts of society. Economic conditions, housing, education, and the arts all intersect with health and well-being. Understanding those connections helps shape how I think about Sunnybrook’s role, responsibilities, and potential impact. 

Hospitals play a vital role in the communities they serve. What does it mean to you to help lead an organization with such a significant impact on people's lives? 

It simply means the world to me. To play any role in an organization that helps 1.2​ million patients each year across our city, province, and country – many of whom come to Sunnybrook at the most critical moments of their lives – is an immense privilege. That privilege is even more meaningful at an organization with Sunnybrook’s 80-year track record of excellence and service to Toronto, Ontario, and Canada. 

How has serving on the board changed your perspective on health care?  

Serving on the board has given me a renewed appreciation for the people who make our health care system work. While there are always opportunities to improve, many of us can take the system for granted. Board service has deepened my respect for the volunteers, staff, physicians, and leaders who deliver exceptional outcomes every day. The patience, fortitude, stamina, and creativity required across so many roles in the hospital are inspiring – not only within Sunnybrook, but for broader society. 

What advice would you offer to someone who is considering joining a hospital board? 

If you are offered the opportunity, join! Hospitals are significant, complex, and unique organizations, and serving on a hospital board provides an exceptional opportunity to contribute meaningfully to your community. Some people think of board service as something to pursue later in life.  My advice – don't wait! It is deeply rewarding to have an impact at every stage of life – and you may learn lessons that prove valuable in many other areas as well.​​