Photo caption: Marc Varin, Chair of Providence Care's Board of Directors, has served on the organization's Board for nearly seven years, including the last two as Board Chair.
By: Jonna Semple-Kloke, Strategic Communications Advisor, Providence Care
As Chair of Providence Care's Board of Directors, Marc Varin has been helping guide the organization for nearly seven years, including the last two as Board Chair.
"I've always believed in giving back. Growing up in a small community, I saw firsthand how people volunteering their time could make a real difference. Every board meeting reminds me of the incredible work happening across the organization and the difference it makes in people's lives. It's rewarding to know that, in some small way, I'm helping contribute to that work."
Continuing the legacy of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, Providence Care is a Catholic health care organization serving people across southeastern Ontario through specialized care in aging, mental health, palliative and hospice care, complex care and rehabilitation. The organization includes Providence Care Hospital, Providence Transitional Care Centre, Providence Manor long-term care home, Providence Care Hospice, AB Smith Homestead House and more than 20 community programs and services.
"The more I learned about Providence Care, the more I realized how much happens beyond a hospital," says Marc. "No matter the program or location, the common thread is helping people live better lives."
Providence Care's Board of Directors is comprised of 16 members, including 12 voting Directors and four organizational leaders. Together, they bring expertise in finance, law, governance, education, health care and community service and guide the organization's strategic direction to meet community needs.
"The board is always looking forward," explains Providence Care President and CEO Cathy Szabo. "They ask what difference a decision will make in the lives of people in our community — not just today, but years from now."
Meeting regularly throughout the year, the Board reviews organizational priorities, monitors quality and financial performance, and provides oversight on major decisions that will shape Providence Care's future.
"We have a golden rule in our governance model: the Board shall not allow the CEO to be uninformed, and the CEO shall not allow the Board to be uninformed," says Director, Governance, Corporate Secretary and Privacy Officer Chandra Davies. "It truly is a collaborative partnership."
Providence Care senior leaders bring the Board proposals, opportunities and challenges for discussion.
"We always want to fully understand how proposals fit within our mission and the needs of the community," says Marc. "It's healthy to have different perspectives around the table because those conversations help us make better decisions."
"The board provides the guardrails for the organization," says Cathy. "They ensure we're staying true to our mission, spending public dollars responsibly and looking ahead to what our community will need next."
During Marc's time on the Board, Providence Care has expanded hospice care, opening Kingston's first hospice house; advanced construction on the redevelopment of Providence Manor long-term care home; and launched the Helix Innovation and Research Wet Lab through a $3 million FedDev Ontario investment secured in partnership with Kingston Economic Development Corporation.
Most recently, the Board approved Providence Commons, an ambitious project that will transform the original Providence Manor long-term care home building into an affordable housing and community space. This project extends Providence Care's mission beyond traditional health care and into the broader social determinants of health.
"Providence Commons challenged us to think differently about health care," says Marc. "The more we learned, the clearer it became that housing, health and community wellbeing are all connected."
"At its core, Providence Commons is about responding to an unmet need in our community," says Cathy. "That's what the Sisters of Providence did, and it's what continues to guide us today.
When faced with some of the organization's most significant decisions, Directors often return to a simple question: What would the Sisters' do?
"Every decision comes back to helping people and responding to community needs," says Marc." That was the Sisters' mission, and it's still our mission today."
As Providence Care continues to evolve, the Board's role remains focused on balancing innovation with stewardship, ensuring the organization remains responsive to changing community needs while staying grounded in the mission that has guided it since 1861.