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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HALTON HILLS, ONTARIO, July 7, 2026 – North Halton Hospice, formerly Townsend-Smith Foundation, an organization working toward building the first hospice care facility in North Halton, has appointed seven new Board Directors. The new leaders bring extensive expertise and experience in healthcare, governance, finance, community leadership, strategic planning and communications and are eager to serve North Halton Hospice.
The new directors were officially sworn in during the Annual General Meeting that took place at Norval United Church in Georgetown, ON on June 25, 2026.
“We are delighted to welcome Janette S. Panhuis, Ken Jacobsen, Dr. Merna Wassef, Rick Menassa, Wahid Wafa, Mide Seyi-Ajayi, and David Silvestro to our Board,” said Ty Shattuck, Board Chair, North Halton Hospice. “Their diverse expertise and commitment to compassionate end-of-life care will guide us as we work toward making residential hospice care a reality for North Halton residents.”
Janette S. Panhuis, MBA
Janette Panhuis brings extensive healthcare leadership and governance experience to North Halton Hospice. A former Chief Operating Officer of the Population Health Research Institute, Janette has also served in senior leadership roles across healthcare, pharmaceutical, and research sectors. Her governance experience includes serving as Past Chair of Bethell Hospice and as a Board Director with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.
Ken Jacobsen, BA, CPA, CMA
Ken Jacobsen is a seasoned finance and business leader with more than 30 years of experience in accounting, financial management, and organizational leadership. He brings extensive expertise in financial oversight, strategic planning, risk management, and governance, complemented by previous board service with the Milton Public Library and the Community Foundation of Halton North.
Dr. Merna Wassef, MBChB, CCFP (PC)
Dr. Merna Wassef is a palliative care physician with experience providing hospice, hospital, and community-based palliative care throughout Halton and the Greater Toronto Area. In addition to her clinical and academic appointments with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, and the University of Toronto, Dr. Wassef has demonstrated leadership in hospice care, education, quality improvement, and provincial palliative care initiatives.
Rick Menassa, CPCA
Rick Menassa is an entrepreneur and healthcare leader with extensive experience in home care, elder care, and digital health innovation. As Founder and CEO of Health Espresso and Co-Founder of iCARE Home Health, Rick is committed to improving access to coordinated, patient-centred care. He also brings governance and fundraising experience through his service on several nonprofit boards such as the Willow Foundation, Senior Life Enhancement Centres, and the Brain Injury Society of Toronto.
Wahid Wafa
Wahid Wafa is a senior nonprofit and humanitarian leader with more than 25 years of experience leading complex programs, partnerships, and organizational transformation initiatives in Canada and internationally. Most recently, he provided strategic oversight of large-scale global programs at Save the Children Canada. A longtime Milton resident, Wahid brings extensive expertise in strategy, partnerships, fundraising, and community development.
Mide Seyi-Ajayi, RN, MBA
Mide Seyi-Ajayi is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than 16 years of leadership experience across hospital and seniors’ care settings. Currently serving as Executive Director of Apotex Long-Term Care at Baycrest, Mide is recognized for advancing innovative, person-centred models of care and leading complex healthcare organizations. He brings extensive expertise in healthcare operations, quality improvement, and strategic leadership.
David Silvestro
David Silvestro is a public affairs and communications professional with extensive experience in healthcare, stakeholder engagement, government relations, and strategic communications. In his current role with Hamilton Health Sciences, he supports major healthcare infrastructure initiatives, including the redevelopment of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. David also brings valuable hospice experience, having supported the development and opening of Margaret’s Place Hospice while working with St. Joseph’s Villa and Foundation.
North Halton Hospice extends its sincere appreciation to all community members who expressed interest in serving the organization and looks forward to working alongside its new Board members as the organization continues to grow and advance its mission of providing compassionate hospice palliative care services to residents across North Halton.
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About North Halton Hospice:
North Halton Hospice is the next chapter of the Townsend Smith Foundation, carrying forward a long-standing commitment to bringing compassionate, end-of-life care closer to home. What began as a vision inspired by the Townsend and Smith families has grown into a community-driven effort to create North Halton’s first residential hospice.
At our core, we care about dignity, comfort, and support. Hospice care focuses on quality of life, ensuring individuals can spend their final days in a peaceful, caring environment, surrounded by loved ones. We believe no one should have to leave their community to receive this level of care.
Today, North Halton Hospice continues this work with a clear purpose: to build a place where individuals and families are supported through some of life’s most difficult moments, and where compassionate care is always close to home.
For more information about North Halton Hospice, please visit www.northhaltonhospice.ca