Roundtable Discussion
The Commitment of Healthcare Partners in Manitoba: A Pathway to Access
Véronique Soucy and Lise Richard
Tuesday, November 8, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (EST)
This roundtable discussion will draw on the successes and lessons learned from connections with partners that can shape the transformation of healthcare systems and policies. We’ll look at one approach to partnership in particular that has resulted in better integration of French-language services in Manitoba, with a view to expanding access.
With participation from:
- Annie Bédard, General Director, Santé en français (Manitoba)
- Rachel Ferguson, French Language Services Executive Lead and Chief Operating Officer at Victoria Hospital, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
- Daniel Boucher, General Director, Société de la francophonie manitobaine
- Denis Fortier, French Language Services Manager and Vice-President Medical Services, Southern Health – Santé Sud
- Joel Lafond, Provincial Lead, Francophone Health, Shared Health – Soins communs
Annie Bédard
General Director, Santé en français (Manitoba)
Annie Bédard is the executive director of Santé en français (Manitoba). Because she loves exploring different fields, she has also served as executive director for Radio communautaire du Manitoba and worked at the Women’s Enterprise Centre in Winnipeg, where she was responsible for marketing and communications. Ms. Bédard has developed and shared her knowledge by volunteering with various boards of directors within the Francophone communities of Manitoba and Canada. She holds a master’s degree in communications and technology from the University of Alberta and a bachelor’s degree in food science from McGill University.
Rachel Ferguson
French Language Services Executive Lead and Chief Operating Officer at Victoria Hospital, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Rachel Ferguson has over 14 years’ experience in healthcare leadership. She is a CPA
who has a strong passion for quality patient care, and building capacity and confidence in
healthcare leaders. As the COO of the Victoria Hospital, she is responsible for balancing
strategic decisions and financial management with a team focused approach to
leadership. Prior to becoming the COO of Victoria Hospital, Rachel was the Chief
Administrative Officer for HSC and Grace Hospital where she was responsible for the
overall financial management strategies of the hospitals. As a key member of the
Executive Teams she provided Leadership in the development and deployment of the
strategic and operating plans.
“As a leader I believe in staying true to your values and focusing on people. Building
trust, showing compassion, promoting teamwork and inclusion creates a healthy
environment which allows staff to do their best work. I feel privileged to lead and serve
the Victoria Hospital team; I am very proud of the care we provide and the respect we
have for each other.””
Daniel Boucher
General Director, Société de la francophonie manitobaine
Daniel Boucher is a native of Manitoba and has worked in the community sector for over 30 years. He worked at the office of the Manitoba’s environment minister, later becoming marketing director for the Fédération des caisses populaires du Manitoba.
In 1991, Mr. Boucher was hired as a political advocate at the Société franco-manitobaine, now known as the Société de la francophonie manitobaine (SFM).
He became the executive director of SFM in 1994. Under his leadership, the SFM revised its mandate and structure, strengthening its role as an authoritative voice for the Franco-Manitoban community. In 1997, he became the CEO of the SFM.
Under his leadership, the SFM has continued its key role in making the province flourish. It is seen as a model across the country when it comes to minority rights. Mr. Boucher plays a pivotal role when it comes to priority issues facing the Francophone community, especially regarding settling newcomers in communities. The creation of Accueil francophone, an initiative of SFM under Mr. Boucher’s direction, stands a model for Francophone immigration in Canada.
Mr. Boucher is one of the three founding members of the Centre de santé Saint-Boniface. From March 2000 to March 2015, he sat on the board of the Forks North Portage Partnership. He also sat on the finance committee and chaired the heritage advisory committee at The Forks. He was part of The Forks Foundation’s first board of directors. He has served on the boards of the St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, the national organization French for the Future, and the first Manitoba Immigration Council. He completed his Master of Public Administration in 2007. In 2013, Daniel Boucher was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2021, he received the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in recognition of his many years of exceptional leadership, commitment, and dedication to public administration in the province of Manitoba.
Denis Fortier
French Language Services Manager and Vice-President Medical Services, Southern Health – Santé Sud
Dr. Denis Fortier is chief medical officer and vice-president of medical services with Southern Health-Santé Sud. He is also a member of the management team of Soins Communs Manitoba as chair of the Manitoba Clinical Leadership Council. A retired GP, he performed the full range of care roles as a rural physician working at the Centre de santé Notre-Dame in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, where he has lived and worked for over 35 years.
Dr. Fortier plays an important role in developing French-language health services across the province and serves on a number of committees in his pursuit of this mission. He is also an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and holds the Canadian Certified Physician Executive (CCPE) credential.
Despite his busy schedule, Dr. Fortier enjoys spending time with his wife, his three wonderful daughters, and his six (soon to be seven) grandchildren, who make him very proud.
