Board of Directors
The St. Joseph’s Hospice Board of Directors is comprised of volunteer leaders from the community. This diverse group is committed to ensuring Hospice delivers compassionate care to those we serve, while fostering the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
Paul Hogan
Paul Hogan currently serves as Chair of the Board (2022). Paul is a retired businessperson with experience in businesses both large and small. He was President of a publicly traded Financial Services Corporation and owner of a small, specialized construction company. He has been a long-time volunteer in London helping to support education, children services and healthcare. "It's important to give what and where we can. By giving we grow ourselves and our communities."
Corrie Gicante
A member of the Board since Sept. 2018, Corrie serves as Vice-Chair(2021) and Chair of the Care and Quality Committee (2019).
Corrie’s teaching and administrative roles (1971-2008) included Secondary School Principal, Staff Development Officer, Superintendent of Education and Acting Director, London District Catholic School Board. As Co-ordinator of O.C.S.O.A. Mentor-Coaching Program (2008-2015) for newly appointed Superintendents, she facilitated workshops at local and provincial levels on the Ontario Leadership Framework for 21st Century Leading/ Learning.
During her Hospice volunteer experience, co- facilitating the Teen-to-Teen Bereavement Program (2012-17) and as client visitor (2019), she witnessed dedicated staff and volunteers providing exceptional compassionate care and comfort. Previous volunteer work included United Way of London–Middlesex (Member of Cabinet and Leadership Committee Campaign), mentoring Emerging Leaders and since 2006, she remains connected to her “Little” Sister (Big Sisters of London). A member of St. Michael’s Church since 1983, Corrie, is a Eucharistic Minister and Past Chair of Pastoral Council leading its Strategic Planning. She continues to mentor Ivey MBA students enrolled in the Transformational Leadership Course focusing on character development.
Corrie holds a M.Ed. (Western), a B.Ed. (Queen’s) and Honours B.A. (McMaster). Selected C.P.C.O. Principal of the Year (2003), one of London’s “Women on the Move “(LFP 2005), she received an Ontario Volunteer Service Award (2010) and the B.E. Nelligan Award of Merit (2016) for “outstanding contribution to Catholic education in Ontario”.
Corrie and husband Carmen enjoy spending time with their 5 grandchildren and exploring the world.
Marcin Weryk
Marcin Weryk is the Chief Financial Officer at Harrison Pensa, responsible for overseeing the financial operations and long term strategic financial planning of the organization.
Marcin joined Harrison Pensa from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) where he was a senior manager in their assurance practice. His clients included public, private and multi-national companies located throughout Southwestern Ontario. His breadth of experience with advising clients on complex accounting matters, including financial reporting, strategic planning, and tax planning considerations provides him with a unique background to manage the firm’s financial matters.
In January 2020, Marcin joined the Finance, Property & Human Resources Committee and was appointed to the Board of Directors in March 2020.
Richard Corneil
Richard is the CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care Society and is the Society’s representative on the Board of Directors.
Prior to joining the Society, he enjoyed several years in academia in both Alberta and Ontario, first as a professor and then as a senior executive.
Richard has made many significant contributions in the areas of Catholic health care mission integration and leadership training, and he currently serves as the Chair of the Ontario Sponsor Group as well as Vice Chair of the Governing Council of the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada.
Richard also serves on the boards of St. Joseph’s Health Care (London), St. Joseph’s Hospice, Sarnia-Lambton, the Hospice of Elgin, Brescia University College and the Mother St. Anne Lachance Society.
Richard is passionate about professional development and enjoys running, fishing, cooking and spending time at the beach. He and his wife Bridget are the proud parents of five children.
Shawn McConville
Shawn started in the Canadian Financial Services industry in 1987 as an Investment Advisor and for the past 30 years he has held several executive and senior leadership roles throughout the industry.
He is native to London and returned from Toronto 10 years ago with his wife Beverly and their three sons to lead CIBC Wood Gundy in Southwestern Ontario as the Managing Director and District Branch Manager. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Shawn also holds a Securities Industry Association (SIA) Diploma from the prestigious Wharton School of Finance.
He is an avid skier, cyclist, enjoys boating and sailing and is very passionate about family. Shawn is also a strong advocate for his local community, has a long list of philanthropic service including being on the boards of St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre, and King’s University College, to name but a few.
John Hebden
John is a partner at Bigger Picture Solutions. BPS works with leaders – from fortune 100’s to smaller privately held firms – to identify and achieve their strategic priorities. Prior to consulting he held a number of executive roles at Amway, Apple Computer and the Blackburn Media Group.
John is a native of London and has enjoyed serving on several local Boards – including: Blackburn Media Group, Youth For Christ, London Regional Children’s Museum, Pathways Skill Development, St Joseph Hospital and JMP Solutions.
On a personal level, John and his wife Yvonne are blessed to have their children and 5 grandkids reside here in London – which gives them the opportunity to do what they love best!
Lynne Cram
Lynne was born and raised in London and returned to London full-time in 1999 after living in the Caribbean for 8 years. She is a graduate of University of Guelph and spent most of her professional life in hotel management.
Lynne has been actively involved in the community serving on the Boards of Goodwill Industries (15 years), Kings University College (13 Years), Big Sisters and the Grand Theatre and was a public member of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (6 years). Lynne is also involved in Joan’s Place as an active fundraiser, which will provide accommodation for homeless mothers and their children. In 2017, Lynne received the “Woman of Excellence Award” for her commitment to her community.
Lynne loves spending time with her 3 children and their families, which currently includes 4 grandchildren. She is enjoying introducing them to her favourite activities including skiing, hiking, and traveling.
Marc Lacoursière
Marc Lacoursière is the President and owner of The Achievement Centre (TAC), a national organization of business coaches providing help in strategic planning, business growth, leadership development, employee engagement, and transition planning for over 35 years.
Prior to joining TAC in 2008, Marc held leadership positions in small, medium, and global companies. He graduated with an Executive MBA from the Richard Ivey Business School as an Ivey Scholar.
Marc currently serves, and has served, on many not-for-profit boards focused on business policy, newcomer immigration, and community support for people with permanent disabilities.
He resides in London with his wife Jennifer who is also active in TAC; they have two grown children. When not building TAC, he enjoys sailing with his family and friends.
Maureen O’Halloran
Maureen has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Western University. She worked in the public sector for the first 20 years of her career and made the decision to change her career path 12 years ago, obtaining a Social Service Worker Diploma from Fanshawe College, which paved the way for many employment opportunities in the non-profit sector.
Maureen has a personal connection to Hospice, as her mother was a resident in 2014. Due to the compassionate care her mother received, she is passionate about supporting Hospice. She has been a member of the Care and Quality Committee since 2018. She is extremely honoured and excited in her new role as a Board of Director.
Maureen is a proud Mom to her grown son, and enjoys time in nature, physical fitness, and travelling.
Vince MacDonald, Ph.D.
Vince is very involved in the community. He’s a Retired Director of Education of the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board. He served as Superintendent of Education and Principal for the London District Catholic School Board and currently serves as an Instructor at Western University. Vince has served the community on several boards.
Vince holds many awards and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto.
“I have the deepest respect for the grace that is shared by St. Joseph’s Hospice with all persons. I have personally witnessed the compassion of hospice care with my mother and mother-in-law and I know the value that loved ones place on the holistic and inclusive embrace of St. Joseph’s Hospice. I am honoured to have the privilege to serve St. Joseph’s Hospice in a community of excellence,” Vince shares.
Cassandra DeMelo
Cassandra is a criminal defence lawyer, with over a decade of experience in this area. She founder her own firm, DeMelo Heathcote, and continues to provide compassionate and judgement-free representation to those charged with criminal offences. She is completing her PhD at Western Law, where she focuses on drug reform. She co-authored “Law and Mental Health in Canada: Cases and Materials”, and is a visiting lecturer at Western Law for a course that focuses on the intersection of mental health issues and the law. She is also on the executive of a number of legal organizations, including President of the London Criminal Lawyers' Association.
Cassandra joins the Board of Directors in 2023, but is no stranger to St. Joseph's Hospice. Her grandmother was a patient at Hospice in 2017, where Cassandra was able to see and experience the dignity and care that is offered to patients through the work done here. She began working as a Committee Member for the Handbags for Hospice event the following year, and has been a part of that even since. She is delighted to be able to give back further, and hopes to make further contributions to the work of Hospice.
On a personal note, Cassandra enjoys spending time with her large family, including her husband and daughter. She is an avid traveller, a former competitive dancer, and loves a good meal with friends.
Sarah Martens
Sarah has practiced in the area of professional regulation since her Call to the Bar in 2013, including regularly assisting physicians in responding to complaints to, and investigations conducted by, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, assisting physicians through the process of quality assurance reviews, and representing physicians at the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board. In addition, her practice has included assisting physicians with disputes regarding hospital privileges and providing advice to physicians regarding various mandatory reporting obligations.
Sarah has been with Lerners LLP since 2011 as a Student, Lawyer, and now Partner since 2019. She is a member of the Advocates' Society, Ontario Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, and Middlesex Law Association.
She has been part of the Red Shoe Society, as well as on multiple St. Joseph's Hospice Committees such as Four Elements for Hospice, Bites & Bubbles, and Hike for Hospice.
Outside of the office, Sarah enjoys cardio kickboxing, volleyball, and travelling.