Windsor, ON: Today, following an over 30-year career in the healthcare field, including over seven years as President and CEO of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Janice Kaffer announced her plan to retire no later than March 31, 2022. This announcement comes after Kaffer provided notice to the HDGH Board of Directors. Hospital Board Chair, Brian Payne explained, “On behalf of the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Board of Directors, it is with mixed emotions to announce that on September 29, 2021, the HDGH Board of Directors accepted the retirement notice for our President and CEO, Janice Kaffer.”

Over the last seven years, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare has been blessed to be led by Janice. Janice is a leader who is driven by the values and mission of HDGH, by the need to ensure patients receive the best possible care and by the overwhelming focus on doing the right thing. Payne expressed his sincere gratitude for Kaffer, “Janice is the epitome of a true leader. As many of you know Janice’s work did not stop when she walked out of the doors of 1453 Prince Road. Janice has been an advocate, a voice for social justice, and she has never shied away from standing up for our community's most vulnerable. Her commitment to the safety of our patients, our staff, physicians and visitors through this COVID-19 pandemic has been paramount. She has led our organization through unchartered waters and done it steadfastly with a calm resilience that has been reassuring to us all. Janice’s ability to connect with staff, patients, and our community is to be commended.”

Kaffer says this announcement is bittersweet for her. “I will be ever grateful to have had the opportunity to lead the team here at HDGH over the past seven years as CEO. I have grown as a person, as a leader and as a friend because of the relationships I’ve built and the work I’ve been blessed to be able to do. I look forward to not being a full-time leader and instead perhaps find new and creative ways to serve our community in the future on a more relaxed basis.”

With this announcement, the West end community hospital Board of Directors, recognized the importance of recruiting an individual who is committed to the mission, vision and strategic plan of the hospital. HDGH has been serving the Windsor-Essex community since 1888 and their plan to continue to do so is unwavering. As a faith-based organization, the hospital's commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of the Windsor-Essex community through the delivery of patient-centred, value-based care is the driving force. For these reasons, choosing a leader following Janice’s departure who carried many of the same attributes was vitally important. Immediately following Janice’s notice, Janice, along with the Board of Directors, reviewed and deliberated the already developed CEO succession plan. “As such, it is with absolute pleasure and great confidence that I announce that Bill Marra has accepted the role of President and CEO beginning no later than April 1, 2022,” explains Payne.

Marra has been with the organization for over 10 years, his commitment to HDGH, the hospital’s mission and vision, as well as the Windsor Essex community is one of Bill’s greatest strengths. A true Windsorite, Bill has built his career and raised his family here in this community and he knows it well. Bill has been a vital member of the executive team for seven years and played a vital role in assisting in the COVID-19 response. The appointment of Bill as HDGH’s President and CEO will allow the work of HDGH to continue uninterrupted. Through this transition, HDGH remains committed to living the mission and values of the organization.

“I feel humbled and honoured to be offered this tremendous opportunity to work with and lead an organization that I care for very deeply” states Marra. “I look forward to continuing my working relationship with Janice as we transition responsibilities over the next few months. As I reflect on my time as an employee in my teens, as a board member 20 years ago and now in the role that I have accepted, I feel absolutely blessed and I look forward to working with our entire HDGH and our partners across Windsor-Essex as we continue the legacy and mission of our founders!”

Today, members of the media are invited to attend a virtual press conference at 1 p.m. Those interested in attending should email Nicole Crozier to receive log-in details.