For Immediate Release – November 16, 2006

GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance Announces New Board Vice-Chair

Toronto – Ann McGuire, a nine year trustee with Lakeridge Health in Durham has been named Board Vice-Chair of the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance announced Kirk Corkery, Chair of the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance.

“Ann comes to the Alliance with a wealth of experience in health care that includes front-line care, being a leader with a health care service provider and currently is an educator of health care providers”, said Corkery. “The Alliance is pleased to have Ann assume as Vice Chair  of the Board at a time when we’re more actively focusing on improving local access to hospital care in the GTA/905".

Ms. McGuire, a registered nurse, brings to the Alliance over 45 years of full time commitment to Ontario's health care system in both the acute care and long term care settings.  Ann has a masters of health science management and a certificate of leadership and management from the Canadian Military.  She was assistant director of nursing at Princess Margaret Hospital, director of nursing and administrator in the long  term care sector and was Chair, Continuous Learning Division, Durham College.  Ann is currently a professor in the Collaborative BSCN Program, University of Ontario Institute Of Technology and Durham College.  She is also Chair, of the Research Institute, Lakeridge Health and Chair of the Governance Committee, Lakeridge Health Board of Governors.

“The GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance is working hard to bring more timely and local access to hospital care to the three million residents living in the four regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York,” said McGuire. “Collaborating with other GTA/905 stakeholders and various levels of government, I look forward to working on behalf of GTA/905 residents and ensuring that health care resources and services in the GTA/905 keep pace with the rapid population growth in these regions”

The GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance is the collective voice of acute care and mental health hospitals across the GTA/905 region – from Oshawa to Burlington and north to Newmarket.  Alliance hospitals provide care in communities representing more than 25 per cent of Ontario’s population.  The GTA/905 area is the fastest growing region in Ontario, accounting for more than half of Ontario’s annual population growth.  The GTA/905 Alliance represents the more than three million residents in the region to ensure that they get better care close to home.

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For information contact:

Tariq Asmi, Executive Director

GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance

Cell: (416) 948-2033

Office: (416) 205-1331

Email:  tariq.asmi@gtahealthcare.com