Chelsea Duchesne joined Carefor’s Finance team in 2015 where she focused primarily on Carefor’s Community Support Services, Hospice and Palliative care programs, providing support to operational decision making through interpretation of performance indicators and financial information. Throughout her time at Carefor, she has been involved in a number of business improvement initiatives, leading the way through business system transitions. Her focus always remains on standardizing processes and reducing inefficiencies.

Chelsea graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Ontario. Prior to joining Carefor, she worked with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP as an auditor, with primary focus on not-for-profit and charitable organizations. 

When not at work, Chelsea spends time at home with her husband and two young children who love to laugh. From summer days spent in the pool, to scattered trucks and Barbies across the house, they certainly keep her busy!  

Trevor Eggleton is Carefor’s Director of Communications, Marketing and Fundraising.   

Throughout Trevor’s career his focus has been on working with organizations which support people. He started in communications over 20 years ago with the Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society. Moving to Ottawa in 2010, he continued to work with Indigenous organizations by joining the First Nations Centre and then the National Aboriginal Health Organization. Trevor then followed his desire to work in International Development joining the Micronutrient Initiative (now Nutrition International) working in Canadian public engagement, then CUSO International as the Manager of Partnerships & Engagement, and then Acting Director of Communications & Marketing.

Trevor joined Carefor in 2019 seeking a desire to tell the stories of the impact of a community healthcare agency on people’s lives. In his time with Carefor, Trevor has been able to expand his team and his role moving from Manager to Senior Manager to Director. 

Prior to the start of his career, Trevor graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. He worked in education and travelled extensively visiting over 30 countries and living in four. Today, Trevor lives with his two daughters and keeps active in his community and in nature enjoying the lakes and trails of Eastern Ontario.

Jessica Peters is Carefor’s Director of Quality and Accreditation.   

She joined Carefor as a contractor in September of 2017, to support Leadership and staff as we headed into our April 2018 Accreditation Canada peer review.  We passed the review with exemplary standing, thanks to the hard work of management and staff, but also because of the support and expertise that Jessica brought to the table.

 Jessica has a Bachelor’s of Arts, Honours Degree from Queens University as well as a Master’s in Public Administration from Queens University.  She started her Career as a Coordinator of Communication/Accreditation at the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Society.  She moved on to Health Planning at the Southeastern Ontario District Health Council and in 2004, joined Accreditation Canada.  For thirteen years, Jessica supported Accreditation Canada first in research and development, then within the realms of quality, risk and evaluation, and finally managing the Accreditation Canada Learning Centre. 

 Jessica’s objective is to engage her leadership capabilities, health care and accreditation knowledge, and research and policy experience, to support the strategic and innovative delivery of quality health services.

Jason Samson is Carefor’s Director of Community Services and Hospice   

He joined Carefor as the Manager of the Cornwall Hospice in July 2013 to support the nursing, allied health and physician staff as well as lend support to the Volunteer base.  He has successfully mentored the staff and volunteers through 2 Accreditation processes in addition to expanding the Hospice’s community support programs.  In addition he has developed a referral and triage system inclusive of both a case management function as well as a rapid response nursing function.

Jason graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Nursing Science Baccalaureate program at the University of Ottawa and has also obtained a project management certificate and a black belt within the LEAN and Sigma Six program.  He started his career within the field of oncology, hematology and palliative care at the Ottawa Hospital as well as within the community as a palliative care consultant.  For the past 16 years Jason has been involved within healthcare administration in both the Hospital and Community sectors.

Mrs. Sharon Maye is the Director of Retirement Home Services.

Sharon and officially assumed the role on July 31, 2017, taking over for Mr. Steve Perry, who transitioned into the role of Carefor’s Chief Executive Officer on August 21, 2017.

As a result of her 10 years of management service with Carefor Pembroke-Renfrew County, Mrs. Maye has naturally assumed the next level of responsibility; site operations and the service delivery of assisted living, retirement care and specialized supportive housing at Carefor’s Civic Complex and Mackay Centre facilities in Pembroke, Ontario. Additional Renfrew County wide program operations.  Her oversight responsibility in the role of Director, will include leading a multidisciplinary team of staff and volunteers to deliver community based personal support & caregiver services, foot care clinics, community support services including non-urgent medical transportation.

Sharon completed her Bachelor of Nursing as well as a Masters of Health Studies through Athabasca University. 

Bill Chwedchuk is Carefor’s Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and VP Corporate Services.

Bill joined Carefor in 2013 and provides strategic and operational leadership for Finance and Administration, Information Technology and Facilities. He has achieved business and organizational success through a “Lean” leadership approach, acquiring a deep understanding of stakeholder requirements, selecting innovative solutions, and engaging staff at all levels in system change and process improvement initiatives. He has distinguished himself through a passion for hands on leadership and a drive to implement effective solutions for growth and sustainability.

Bill has 25+ years of financial, operational and strategic leadership across a diverse range of sectors including health care services, technology and manufacturing.  He completed a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree at Queens University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Ontario. 

In his spare time, he likes to travel, ski, and spend time with the family at a cottage in the Gatineau hills.

With more than 20 years experience in community based healthcare, Steve Perry is the Chief Executive Officer of Carefor Health & Community Services, a not-for-profit home health care and community support services organization that offers a diverse basket of services across Eastern Ontario. 

Comprised of a multidisciplinary team of 1,500 dedicated staff, Carefor delivers services that include nursing (in home and clinics), therapies, personal support services, adult day programs, assisted living, retirement home and respite care, specialized supportive housing, palliative care and residential hospice, non-urgent medical transportation, meals programs and many others.

Steve assumed a lead role in a number of integration projects at the organizational and program levels including the amalgamation of three not for profit organizations to create Carefor, the establishment of a regional collaborative involving more than 20 agencies coordinating non urgent medical transportation and the acquisition and repurposing of vacant institutional facilities to establish vibrant, new, client-focused 24/7 residential care services. 

In addition to his experience leading the delivery of community based healthcare, Steve has been a member of the federal and provincial public service and has also been employed in the construction, manufacturing and financial services industries.

At a governance level, Steve has served as a volunteer board member in the not for profit community and primary health care sectors, and he has been actively involved with a number of associations and regional committees fulfilling the roles of Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer during these various assignments.

With a BA from the University of Ottawa and an EMBA from the University of Fredericton, Steve has also studied with the Telfer School of Management, Athabasca University and Algonquin College.

Married with two children, Steve and his family cherish spending as much time together as possible travelling, spending summers at their cottage, participating in family related sports and activities or just being together at home.

Samir Shandal has over 12 years of experience in the financial industry providing management and oversight of the finance functions within a leading asset management firm, public technology company, and auditing experience with a Big 4 accounting firm.

Samir is currently a partner with KPMG, a global leader in delivering audit, tax, and financial advisory services. Designated as a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant, Samir also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Ottawa.

Joining as a Carefor Associate Member in 2021 serving on the Finance & Risk Management (FinRM) Committee, Samir became a Board Director in 2022 and continues to serve on the FinRM Committee.

Krystal Kehoe MacLeod PhD is a Research Fellow with the Centre for Research in Integrated Care at the University of New Brunswick. 

Krystal is a health policy and health care services researcher with a focus on equity and social justice. Her current research studies are looking at barriers to care for older adults from historically marginalized groups with high emergency department use and exploring care transitions for adults with complex care needs. Krystal’s recent publications include articles on the use of equitable integrated care programs to reduce fragmentation in home care and the implications of independent contracting arrangements on the home care workforce.

Krystal’s research and teaching are informed by her experience as a health policy analyst with the Ontario Government and the Government of New South Wales, Australia.

Krystal serves as a member on the Ottawa Regional Council.

Mrs. Nancy O’Dea practiced as a registered nurse in critical care for 30 years before pursuing a successful career as a realtor in luxury real estate in 2005.

She earned a master’s degree in counselling psychology, which led her into a career in supporting individuals living with mental health and addictions. She is now the Past Chair of Women for Mental Health at the Royal Hospital, where she played a vital role in engaging women around events focused on the Royal Ottawa Hospital and the hospital’s critical campaign to raise awareness regarding mental illness, reduce stigma, educate, and raise much-needed dollars for research as well as for programs in the community.

Mrs. O’Dea joined Carefor as an Associate Member of the Ottawa Regional Council in August 2020, and joined the Carefor Board of Directors in June 2021. Nancy currently chairs the Ottawa Regional Council and also sits on the Governance Committee.