I wish to inform members of the BC Care Providers Association and EngAge BC that after almost eight years successfully leading our organization, CEO Daniel Fontaine will be leaving our organization to take on a new role as CEO for the Métis Nation British Columbia.
During his tenure, Daniel has taken our organization to completely new heights. When he first started, BCCPA had only two staff and a small office at the corner of Broadway and Granville. Today, there are 13 full-time staff and a series of popular programs and initiatives that he implemented.
Few can argue that one of Daniel’s legacies will be the instrumental role he played in establishing both SafeCare BC and EngAge BC. These new entities have strengthened workplace safety and have provided an integrated voice for both the care and seniors living sector under one roof.
I also wish to note that over the past two months Daniel has provided exemplary leadership and has been a strong voice during the current COVID-19 pandemic. I’m sure all our members join me in thanking him for his commitment, dedication and tireless service guiding us through these most challenging times.
While we are extremely disappointed to lose Daniel as part of our BC Care and EngAge BC family, we know being given the opportunity to focus on his Métis heritage and work within that community is an opportunity of a lifetime for him. No doubt he will do amazing things for the Métis Nation and we genuinely wish him all the best with this new chapter of his life.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that Mike Klassen, who currently serves in the role of Vice-President, Public Affairs, will take over as Acting CEO on Monday, May 25th. I trust that our entire membership will welcome Mike into his new role and will provide him all the support he needs to be successful.
In the coming weeks, the Board of Directors will provide more information regarding a process to permanently fill the CEO position later this year.
Once again, we wish Daniel all the best in his new role and welcome him to stay engaged with our sector as we know he is a passionate advocate for the delivery of quality seniors care in B.C.
Special Statement from Daniel Fontaine, CEO
It is with a heavy heart that I wish to inform BCCPA and EngAge BC members that I will be resigning as the CEO for the BC Care Providers Association and EngAge BC. On May 25th, I’ll be taking over as the CEO for the Métis Nation British Columbia.
Over the last eight years, it has been an honour and privilege to have worked with our members and the entire Board of Directors to accomplish so much for our sector and the thousands of seniors you serve each day.
Looking back over the years, I’m so proud of the many accomplishments we achieved as a team. They include setting up SafeCare BC, re-imagining our annual conference and launching EngAge BC.
I’m also particularly honoured to have played a role in building strong, collaborative and effective relationships with B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, Deputy Minister Stephen Brown, and the senior leadership at the Ministry of Health as well as our regional health authorities.
I was also blessed and fortunate to have assembled and recruited some of the best and brightest talent in B.C. to our organization. The skills, abilities and competencies of the BCCPA and EngAge BC teams is difficult to capture in words. So all I can say is…thank you! Thank you for everything you have done to advocate that vulnerable seniors in B.C. receive the quality care they not only want, but so rightly deserve.
To all our frontline seniors care providers – who during this COVID pandemic are known otherwise as health care heroes – you have my utmost respect. While this pandemic has been devastating for countless families around the world, the one silver lining is it has helped to shine a light on the amazing work you do.
While the timing of my departure is not perfect, I know we have worked hard as an organization over the last few years to focus on succession planning. Now all those meetings, plans and concepts will be put to the test. I am 100% confident that Mike Klassen and our staff are completely up to the challenge and will continue to do an exemplary job.
As a Métis, I’m honoured to be given this amazing opportunity to play a leadership role within my community. The Métis people are at a historic crossroads in B.C. and I’m looking forward to bringing my skills, knowledge and background to help them achieve their identified goals and objectives over the coming years.
I wish everyone the best and look forward to maintaining contact with as many of you as possible into the future!
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BCCPA is hosting regional Zoom town hall meetings with the CEO and president for members happening Thursday, April 30th. Invitations will be emailed to members in advance.
