Maison McCulloch Hospice has a new permanent executive director.
The palliative care centre’s board of directors approved the appointment of Gaston Lavigne as the new ED on Jan. 13 and Lavigne officially moved into his new role on Jan. 27.
“Gaston has been a senior executive in the health care field for numerous years in Northern Ontario. His leadership, education and direct patient care in both hospitals and long-term care facilities will be of great benefit to Maison McCulloch Hospice,” said board chair David Farrow.
“He is well prepared to assume this role and we look forward to working with him. As executive director, he will lead the transition into the new expansion that is slated to open in late spring of 2020 and is committed to ensuring that resident, client and family care continues to be our primary focus.”
The bilingual Lavigne, a Greater Sudbury resident, served most recently as president and CEO of the North Shore Health Network (NSHN) in Blind River. He also served as associate dean of nursing at Cambrian College. Over his career, Lavigne also served as chief nursing executive and director of clinical services for Blind River District Health Centre and as professor in the health sciences programs at Collège Boréal’s Sudbury campus.
“I welcome the opportunity to lead Maison McCulloch Hospice, building on its rich tradition of excellence in palliative care,” said Lavigne. “I am committed to continuing the culture of client-centred care at Maison McCulloch Hospice working collaboratively with all community stakeholders.”
Lavigne takes over in a permanent role from Lyle Foreshew, the hospice’s director of care who served as interim ED following the departure of Léo Therrien from the executive director’s role in May 2019. Therrien is now the executive director Place des Arts, which is currently undergoing construction in downtown Sudbury.
