Board and Staff
Gerry Bowler, Chair
Gerry is the President and owner of Bowler & Company CPA Professional Corporation, which includes a full time staff of 12 including 5 CPA’s and offers a full range of accounting and consulting services. Their main office is located in Markdale with a convenience office in Dundalk.
Gerry lives locally in the Municipality of Chatsworth. As a resident and business owner, Gerry realizes that having a hospital in the area makes strong financial sense. But the real reason he is committed to healthcare is because not having a functioning local hospital available to him, his family and his community is simply not an option.
Peggy Ferris, Secretary
Peggy was born and grew up in Grey County and was fortunate to work alongside her late husband Wayne in their Accounting firm. She lives on the farm where they raised their family of four. Peggy enjoys gardening, hiking and volunteering at our local school and hospital.
When asked to represent the Auxiliary on the Foundation Board, it seemed like the timing was just right. She has enjoyed working alongside the Board to see our new hospital completed and serving the health needs of our rural community.
"This is an exciting time for healthcare in our community." Peggy states. "A new hospital, while still working to secure our annual donation to Brightshores Health System means a great deal of work for this Foundation. I am ready to roll up my sleeves!" We welcome Peggy to the Board.
Bo Penny, Vice Chair
Bo is a Graduate Economist, with a Certified Supply Chaim Management Professional designation, and a Certified SAP professional.
Her work experience spans a variety fields across three continents from foreign trade, marketing, procurement and logistics, to IT and business consulting for various companies in healthcare, Hitech and automotive industries.
Bo expanded her passion for natural products into a thriving business when she founded Penny Lane Organics. Penny Lane was sold in 2016 when Bo decided it was time to retire.
As a mother of 3 grown children and dedicated Grandmother to 2 little girls, Bo and her husband Brian enjoys spending time with their family. In addition, Bo fills her days tending to their extensive gardens, hiking the Bruce trail and reading.
There have been numerous great causes over the years where Bo and her husband Brian have spent time volunteering with. In 2022 Bo became a valued member of the Centre Grey Health Services Foundation’s Board of Directors.
We welcome Bo to the Foundation.
Rob Fawcett, Treasurer
Rob has been a fixture in this area for his entire life.
He was born in the old Centre Grey Hospital and was raised in Flesherton.
Rob attended elementary and part of his secondary schooling right here in Markdale, then finished high school in Aurora. His education was completed at Humber College where he studied Funeral Services.
After working in and around the golden horseshoe at various funeral homes, Rob purchased businesses in Woodville and Coboconk in 1984. He later operated the family funeral home in Flesherton from 1990 – 2010.
In 2000, Rob established Georgian Bay Cremation Services in Flesherton, the only crematorium in north central Ontario, which he operated until 2022. He continues to work as a consultant in the bereavement sector in Ontario, specializing in alkaline hydrolysis, also known as Aquamation.
Rob was an integral member of the “Together In Care” campaign, which funded the new Markdale Hospital. He is keenly aware of the importance of local and regional healthcare to our entire community.
Rob lives in Markdale with his spouse Nancy Sinclair. He spends a great deal of his time with his 6 children and enjoys dotting on his 10 grandchildren.
Please join me in welcoming Rob to our Board.
Penny Pedlar Director
No Stranger to the area. Penny has lived in the Grey Highlands area for 50 years.
She worked as a Registered Nurse for the first 25 and a Nurse Practitioner for the past 25. Penny has a long history with Markdale Hospital and Brightshores, working and teaching at various sites. Penny recently retired from the South East Grey Community Health Centre, where she still acts as an advisor.
She has sat on the Board for HOPE Grey-Bruce.
Penny enjoys spending time with her 3 children and 6 grandchildren. Her hobbies include knitting, reading, sewing, and she enjoys traveling.
Penny brings a wealth of knowledge to the Centre Grey Health Services Foundation Board. We are thrilled to have her as a member.
Terri Dowling- Director
Terri Dowling is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 17 years of experience as a sonographer at Brightshores Health System, including 12 years at the Owen Sound site and the past 5 years at Markdale Hospital. Having lived near McCullough Lake in the Williamsford area for the past 16 years, Terri brings both professional expertise and a strong sense of community connection to her role on the Centre Grey Health Services Foundation Board. She is passionate about enhancing the patient experience at the hospital and ensuring that every individual receives compassionate, high-quality care. As a staff representative on the Board, Terri aims to foster a stronger relationship between hospital staff and the Foundation, encouraging her colleagues to contribute to initiatives that directly support patient care and community well-being.
Outside of her professional life, Terri enjoys spending time outdoors, especially near the water. She loves kayaking, knitting, crocheting, and caring for her animals—particularly her beloved dogs.
Sheila Rose- Director
Simon Dearden- Director
Cathy Watson- Director
Reuben McCallum, Executive Director
Reuben has deep ties to the area and a commitment to community dating way back to his preschool days upstairs at the OLD Flesherton Library and now sits as a director on various Boards serving nonprofit organizations within Grey Highlands. He is passionate about community development and has a keen interest in the nonprofit sector and philanthropy. A recent graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management program, Reuben has raised funds and contributed to modernizing, building and rebranding organizations to enhance community impact.
He deeply values the collective effort behind community milestones like the new Markdale Hospital and recognizes the enduring commitment to local healthcare excellence. Reuben looks forward to bringing his unique perspective and experience to the foundation.
Lynn Horlor, Financial Officer
After over 30 years in various senior Finance roles with the Town of Oakville, then followed by 3 years as CEO of the Oakville Public Library, Lynn and her husband Tom retired and moved to Thornbury in December 2018. They have always loved the area and along with their two children, have been Beaver Valley Ski Club members for 25 years.
Lynn was looking for an opportunity to utilize her financial and organizational skills and to give back to the community on a part-time basis. The opportunity to work for the Centre Grey Health Services Foundation was a perfect fit, and Lynn came on board in December 2020.
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Amber Ebert, Philanthropy Officer
Amber Ebert is an experienced nonprofit leader with a background in arts management, community engagement, and organizational development. Amber has a deep passion for building strong, resilient communities through inclusive programming and thoughtful engagement. Her work has spanned project coordination, public consultation, volunteer development, and event design—always with a focus on meaningful connection and impact.
As a skilled facilitator, Amber has guided community planning sessions and cross-sector forums, helping groups navigate complexity, find common ground, and take action. Her strength lies in translating big ideas into practical strategies while maintaining a people-first approach.
Now serving as the Philanthropy Officer, Amber brings this wealth of experience to her work in supporting rural healthcare through donor engagement and storytelling.
Willard VanderPloeg, Charitable Giving Advisor
Willard promotes legacy giving to Centre Grey Hospital and assists donors in planning will bequests and other special gifts in support of Centre Grey Hospital and other GBHS hospitals in Meaford, Owen Sound, Southampton, Wiarton and Lions Head.
He has more than 25 years’ experience in the charitable sector and in estate and gift planning. Willard has a BA in Business Administration from McMaster University and Redeemer College. He is a long time member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
If you have been thinking about making a special gift to support your Hospital, Willard is available to help you. Call him at 519.376.2121 ext. 2736 or email wvanderploeg@cghsfoundation.com
Contact info:
Willard VanderPloeg, Charitable Giving Advisor
1800 8th Street East, Owen Sound, ON N4K 6M9
T: 519.
376.2121 x2736 M: 519.270.9177
E: wvanderploeg@gbhs.on.ca
Ann Ford, Brightshores Health System CEO & President,
Brightshores Health System is a large regional health centre with six hospitals, a wellness and recovery centre, and an office of research and innovation serving the Grey Bruce region as part of an integrated rural health system.
Anne has over 30 years of executive leadership in healthcare. Her most recent role was as Executive Vice President Corporate Services and Integrated Health Systems at William Osler Health System. Ann has held a number of executive leadership positions at Osler that have included oversight for redevelopment, operations, facilities and information technology. Ann's experience in large project development and implementation working with provincial, healthcare partners and community stakeholders within both urban and rural communities will be a great asset to Brightshores Health System as we implement our strategic plan and priorities.