Conferences & Training CentreA message from Marymound Board Chair Rémi Gosselin
As Marymound’s Board Chair, it was with mixed feelings that I recently announced that our Chief Executive Officer, Jay Rodgers, was appointed as the new Deputy Minister of the Department of Families for the Province of Manitoba.
Jay is highly regarded as a leader in the child welfare sector as well as an experienced and competent public administrator. During his tenure at Marymound, Jay accomplished many tasks by spending endless hours leading Marymound through a period of change with the departure of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd as well as the modernization of Marymound’s administrative practices.
His leadership, professionalism, integrity and vision impressed the Board of Directors immensely, and we deem ourselves honoured to have had Jay as our Chief Executive Officer.
Together with his executive team, Jay worked tirelessly over the past two years on revisiting our core values with the establishment of ‘The Marymound Way’, developing and implementing our five-year strategic and operational plans, strengthening our internal controls, supporting the successful opening of our Mental Health Complex Needs Centre, shepherding our capital campaign to renovate theE.P. Leacock Estate, and championing the development of a more culturally proficient organization.
Personally, I have enjoyed our working relationship while closely following his progress throughout his two years of service with us and, by far, what impresses me the most is his Good Shepherd heart, and his commitment to providing the best care possible to the children and youth at Marymound. He truly embodies the Sisters of the Good Shepherd’s legacy of compassion and healing, and I believe that he will take these values and experiences with him as the takes on his new role as Deputy Minister.
To ensure the transition at Marymound, the Board of Directors worked with the Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba and appointed Ben Van Haute as Interim Chief Executive Officer for a three to six-month period.
Ben has been a leader in the social services sector with 22 years of management experience as a senior director. He previously served as the Director of Child Welfare for the Government of Manitoba. With the support of the Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba, the Board of Directors has commenced a process to select a permanent Chief Executive Officer.
As I reflect on the period of transition that we face, I think of St. Mary Euphrasia who reminded us: “Don’t panic at the prospect of the obstacles, difficulties and struggles you are bound to meet with.” With this in mind, we as Good Shepherds must continue to approach each challenge with optimism, and recognize that with each challenge comes opportunity.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to express our desire to maintain a positive working relationship with the new Deputy Minister of Families, the Minister of Families, Scott Fielding, and the Province of Manitoba, to ensure that Marymound is considered a valuable resource while continuing to contribute and partner with the government by addressing unmet needs in the community.
While I’m sad to see him leave, I’d like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Jay for this well-deserved appointment, and I look forward to our new working relationship.