Brian Neal

Vice Chair

Brian grew up on the Peninsula. He and his extended family still reside in North Saanich. The family strongly values and appreciates the benefits of having a vibrant community hospital in our neighbourhood.

Brian is committed to the support of all local healthcare providers and finding the resources needed for those caring individuals to serve us all. As an active grandfather, Brian is well aware just how important it is for all families to have a strong local hospital and healthcare providers motivated to call our peninsula home.

As a retired lawyer and judge, Brian has had extensive experience in most areas of law working primarily in BC, but also across Canada and most recently, in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. He has also volunteered to provide training to judges and lawyers in many countries with respect to democratic processes, judicial responsibilities, ethics and international human rights law.

Elaine Hughesman

Treasurer

Elaine is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a partner with Hughesman Morris Liversedge, CPAs, a full-service accounting firm in beautiful Sidney by the Sea. She has served as Treasurer on the SPHHF board since 2016. She also currently serves as Treasurer of the Saanich Peninsula Community Foundation, and is a past Treasurer of the Resthaven Foundation and the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

Elaine grew up in Cordova Bay and was always drawn to Sidney while growing up. She moved to Sidney while going to university and has been happily in place ever since.

Having worked with clients and colleagues of all ages she often hears the gratitude that people have for the Saanich Peninsula Hospital. Elaine is passionate about helping to keep our community hospital one that both residents and hospital staff are proud of. With her financial background and acumen she helps to keep the finances in place and ensure donor money is being used responsibly.

Wayne Helgason

Secretary

Wayne is a dedicated grandfather who moved to the Saanich Peninsula from Manitoba, with his wife Margaret, in 2011.

Wayne is the former CEO of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg. In 2016 he was recruited to serve as a special adviser to the Canadian Minister of Employment and Social Development (ESDC). In addition to serving on the United Way of Canada’s National Board he previously held three elected terms as President of the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) and was subsequently elected President of the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg.

In 1989, as Executive Director of Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, the largest non-profit, Indigenous-led child welfare agency in Manitoba, Wayne chaired the new corporation in the acquisition and management of the abandoned, but magnificent, CP railway station in Winnipeg. It has now been turned into the very successful Neeginan Centre for Indigenous health, social services, education, training and related commercial enterprises. Locally, Wayne has served as Band Manager and Public Works Manager of Tsawout First Nation.

Wayne is a status member of Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation in central Manitoba. He is currently an active Tsawout community resident and proud to have served on the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation for the past 7 years.

Barbara Menzies

Director

Barb was born and raised in Atlantic Canada but has lived in beautiful North Saanich for the past 43 years. She worked as an educator on the Saanich Peninsula for 35 years.

As a SPHHF director, Barb brings her past experience in governance and analytical decision making, both as a Saanich School Board trustee and, currently, from her role on the North Saanich municipal Board of Variance.

Over the years Barb has been profoundly grateful for the service and professional care offered at SPH. Three generations of her family have experienced the timely care and convenience offered by the Emergency and Acute Care units. Barb’s first husband Doug passed away in Palliative Care in 2004, when the TLC of the staff and volunteers made all the difference. Recently, Barb trained as a Palliative Care volunteer and now supports the staff, patients and family members in the same unit.

Barb’s personal experiences at SPH motivated her to “pay it forward” by serving as a Foundation director. She’s grateful for the generous donors who have enabled us to make a crucial difference in continuing to maintain and expand these vital healthcare services and facilities in our community. Barb says she is “dedicated to using my time, energy and expertise to help the Foundation Board accomplish these goals, now and in the future.”

Denise Tidman

Director

Denise has been the Executive Director at Norgarden and The Peninsula for the past 28 years, which up until recently were family owned and operated Independent and Assisted Living communities. With 125 residents and 75 staff she wears many hats and has learned to adapt to all types of situations. Significant amongst her contributions is her ability to create a positive, self-aware working culture, that in turn leads to an exceptional experience for residents of the two communities.

Denise has an extensive background in marketing, development and health care administration. She was an active and vocal member of the BC Senior Living Association Board and was instrumental in helping to develop the Seal of Approval program, a ‘best practices’ designation. Denise was also Chair of the Central Saanich Advisory Planning Commission from 2014-2020 which allowed her to contribute in a small way to the wonderful community she has lived in for 54 years. Denise is an avid horsewoman, spending most of her free time pursuing her dream. She is supported fully in her endeavors by her husband Steve and daughter Sydney.

Mel Sangha

Director

Mel has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from UVIC, a Master of Business Administration from UBC and a Masters of International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management. He worked for over 30 years in private sector business management where he enjoyed developing and directing strategic corporate change, as well as organizing large corporate start-ups, creating significant positive impact on the company’s and employees’ success.

Mel and his wife have lived on the peninsula since 2009. He previously volunteered at the Sidney and North Saanich Memorial Park Society (Mary Winspear) for  six years.

Mel volunteered to serve on the SPHHF Board because he believes the medical and other services that Saanich Peninsula Hospital provides are essential to the welfare of peninsula residents. His goal is to see SPH operate as a place of excellence providing superior medical and other care to patients and the families that support them. He also wants it to be a place that offers meaningful and valued employment for all staff including the Foundation, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, admin, housekeeping, etc.

Ted Daly

Director

Now retired, Ted worked for 35 years in labour relations in the health care field. Ted has also experienced the healthcare system as the caregiver to his mom and his wife as they went through their end-of-life journeys.

Ted moved to Sidney in 1988 from the mainland, and then to North Saanich in 1999 and Central Saanich in 2016. His ‘tour of the Peninsula’ means he has lived in all the municipalities that the Saanich Peninsula Hospital serves. Ted has a deep commitment to civic duty having served on the Town of Sidney council for nine years, and North Saanich council for 12 years including six as Mayor. He participated in the Peninsula Recreation Commission for over twenty years, including five as Chair.

Ted was also President of Sidney Little league and led the fundraising and subsequent building of the ‘Field of Dreams’, he’s proud that a diamond is now called the Joanne and Ted Daly Field. He’s passionate about being involved in his community and sharing is skills and resources to make the Peninsula a better place for all: young, old and in-between.

Eric Falkenberg-Poetz

Director

Eric is a Bachelor of Commerce graduate of the University of Alberta. His previous career with some of the top Chartered Accountant firms in the world provides him with a wealth of tax and business expertise. He holds both the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FSCI) designations.

Eric joined the SPHHF Board as he is very passionate about helping his community. He has previously served on the Saanich Inlet Protection Society board as President for years. In his career, Eric provides vision and leadership and brings those same skills to the SPHHF Board, helping with creating policy and making decisions for the long term for the hospital and the community.

Eric and his wife Melinda love to travel and enjoy the great outdoors, or spending time with family and great friends. A life-long passion for learning and helping others keeps him busy with reading, courses and volunteering.

Mike Dalton

Director

Born and raised in the Interior, Mike moved to Victoria in the early 1990’s. He and his active family have enjoyed calling the Peninsula home for the past 15 years. In 2022, a mountain bike accident caused an unexpected visit to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, where Mike witnessed firsthand how amazing the staff were. The visit also revealed how under resourced the hospital was and the need for upgrades and improvements to the aging facility. As a builder and the President of Città Construction Ltd., whose head office is in Saanichton, he felt he could help. From his personal experience, he knows how important it is to have an adequately resourced hospital to serve the residents and families on the Peninsula. Through this, his commitment was fostered to support the local health care community, and Saanich Peninsula Hospital to secure the necessary resources, so they can continue to provide excellent care.

Mike is a journeyman carpenter, has a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Royal Roads University, and currently serves as the President of the Victoria Residential Builders Association. When not working, Mike can be found running the trails in Dean Park or camping and skiing with his family.