President’s Message

BITTERSWEET MOMENTS

THE WORD THAT COMES to mind as I write my first president’s message is bittersweet.

Having just wrapped up the CHES National conference in Toronto — our first in-person event since 2019 — I am filled with bittersweet memories. The conference was particularly exciting as CHES hosted the 2022 International Federation of Healthcare Engineering (IFHE) Congress. With 130 vendor booths and 35 technical, plenary and keynote sessions, there were plenty of opportunities to connect and learn for the 838 registrants. The response from 135 international attendees from 26 foreign countries continues to roll in. Under the guidance of then-Ontario chapter chair Jim McArthur, and with the support and hard work of CHES members, IFHE leaders and Events & Management Plus Inc. staff, the conference was skillfully planned and executed. I won’t soon forget Marcel Dionne and the experiences at the Hockey Hall of Fame, physician and international hockey legend Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, astronaut and healthcare leader Dr. David Williams, and the gala banquet at the Liberty Grand with Family Feud and its special guest host. (Was that really Roger Holliss under the bald cap?)

Another bittersweet memory comes from changes on the CHES National executive. After the pandemic prolonged terms for all board members (to three years from two), we extended gratitude to outgoing immediate past president Preston Kostura and treasurer Kate Butler at our annual general meeting. As an Alberta chapter leader and chair, as well as conference chair, and CHES National vice-president, president and past president, Preston has given selflessly to the organization for years. Kate took over as treasurer in September 2019, and quickly CHES moved, like all organizations, into an unknown and uncharted financial period due to the pandemic. Kate reviewed regular CHES operations, the 2021 virtual conference and 2022 IFHE Congress to ensure fiscal prudence while maximizing member value. Esteemed leader Roger Holliss has moved into the role of immediate past president. A huge thank you to Roger for steering CHES through the pandemic, ensuring the organization’s mission and vision were never lost, and remaining focused on building member expertise through stronger relationships with partner groups like the Canadian College of Health Leaders, Infection Prevention and Control Canada and CSA Group. Elections have seen new executive members added to the board for the 2022-2024 term. Reynold Peters, who has served as Manitoba chapter chair for many years and just completed a term as CHES National secretary, was elected to the role of treasurer. New to the board is Jim McArthur in the role of vice-president. Jim most recently served as Ontario chapter chair and led the planning committee for this year’s IFHE congress/CHES National conference. Another addition is Beth Hall, who was elected to the role of secretary. While we welcome new faces and say goodbye to others, I take comfort in knowing those who left the executive team (there are some new chapter chairs, too) are still part of the CHES family.

Also bittersweet, executive director Donna Dennison is retiring in January. Donna has been with Events & Management Plus since 1998, which marks the beginning of CHES’s relationship with the company that manages our organization and conference. She became executive director in 2011, and has touched every committee, conference, election process, bylaw revision, website development, policy creation (and rewrite), form, membership application and renewal associated with CHES. Donna is the face of our great organization. She has served passionately, capably and faithfully (beyond her role), and has been key to supporting the leadership of four past presidents. While she will be sorely missed, we couldn’t be happier for Donna as she moves into the next phase of her life.

I am thrilled to have stepped into the role of president for the next two years. I look forward to continuing to work with Roger and now Jim, as we continue to build member expertise and enhance the patient care environment.

Craig B. Doerksen CHES National president

EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FROM CHES

Members of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society can earn free continuing education units (CEU) by reading the Fall 2022 issue of Canadian Healthcare Facilities and passing a quiz based on articles in the issue. Once you’ve read the issue from cover to cover, simply go online to www.surveymonkey.com/r/XRGY9R3 to take the quiz. CHES members who pass the quiz will be able to claim one contact hour (0.1 CEU) on their CanHCC or CCHFM certificate renewals.