Steering Committee
The purpose of the Kids Come First Steering Committee is to oversee the achievement of the strategic priorities set at the all member annual meeting and facilitate the implementation of projects and collaborative initiatives in an efficient manner across the Kids Come First.
| Name | Organization | Steering Committee Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Vera Etches | CHEO | Co-chair of Steering Committee |
| Christopher Vallee | Youth Partner | Co-chair of Steering Committee & Youth Partner |
| Natasha Baechler | Youth Partner | Youth Partner |
| (Vacant) | Urban Community Health Centre sector | |
| Sarah Sark | ConnectWell Community Health | Rural Community Health Centre sector |
| Patti Smith | Renfrew Country District Health Unit | Rural Public Health Unit sector |
| Sabine Mersmann | Pembroke Regional Hospital | Regional Surgical Pediatric Program sector |
| Dr. Hilary Myron | Pediatrician | Pediatrician sector |
| Dr. Kelley Zwicker | CHEO | Division of Community Pediatrics sector |
| Chinyere Opia | Family Partner | Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Indigeneity sector |
| Michelle Crogie | PLEO | Family Partner sector |
| (Vacant) | Primary Care Physician | Primary Care Physician sector |
| Lyne Martineau | Centre de santé communautaire de l'Estrie | Francophone sector |
| Nahal Yazdani | Roger Neilson Children's Hospice | Palliative Care sector |
| Matthew Minnings | SE Health | Home & Community Care sector |
| Mary Donaghy | Ottawa Catholic School Board | Ottawa Child & Youth Initiative sector |
|
Carole Sinclair |
Rideauwood Addictions & Family Services | Addictions & Substance Use Health sector |
| Christie Kopczyk | Youth Services Bureau | Mental Health sector |
| Marie-Claude Turcotte | Ottawa Public Health | Urban Public Health Unit sector |
| Darlene Rose | Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program (CMNRP) | Maternal and Newborn sector |
| Frédéric Beauchemin | Hawkesbury & District General Hospital | Community Hospitals sector |
Last updated: 2026-09-22