New co-presidency for Ottawa East and interim management of Archipel OHT

Dear Partners,



The Executive Committee is pleased to share some good news that will ensure an optimal transition and the smooth running of our OHT following the departure of Elizabeth Tanguay on April 4^th. The first relates to the co-presidency of the Executive Committee and the second to the appointment of the interim management. You will also receive an update on the recruitment process. 

The Executive Committee is delighted to announce the appointment of Martine Whissel as Co-President of the Archipel Executive Committee for Ottawa East. Representing the primary care sector on the Executive Committee, Martine is the Executive Director of the Eastern Ottawa Community Family Health Team, which serves 9,100 patients in both official languages. A proud member of the OHT since its inception, Martine was not only involved in the initial application process but was also the OHT's first manager. From 2019 to 2021, she was responsible for overseeing and implementing the first steps in the formation of the Ottawa East OHT. 

Through her wise leadership, the OHT was able to build a solid foundation that was essential to the success of the expansion mandate given by the Ontario Ministry of Health in 2021. She was a member of the temporary committee which included members from both the Ottawa East and Prescott-Russell teams. 

The committee's mandate was to revise the Collaborative Decision-Making Agreement in order to establish the bylaws for the new, expanded OHT. Martine also participated in the collaborative process to create the new brand image that led to the creation of Archipel. The new expanded OHT identity was launched at the Signature Event in March 2023, which officially marked the end of the merger process. Finally, her multidisciplinary and bilingual primary care team has always been very involved in the OHT's groups and committees. Several projects have been piloted thanks to her team, such as the COPD screening project, reconsolidation therapy and the postnatal wellness clinic.

Holding a master’s degree in health administration from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, Martine has worked in research for over 11 years and has experience in data analysis as well as a keen eye for quality improvement. Passionate about teamwork and collaboration, she has been working with francophone organisations providing health and community services to the people of Ottawa since 2015. Committed to improving access to a continuum of French-language health services, she sits on the Francophone Advisory Committee of the Alliance for Healthy Communities, in addition to her involvement on the Board of Directors of the Réseau des services de santé en français de l'Est de l'Ontario. Martine is driven by a vision of collaboration that enables community members to receive exemplary care and services in the language of their choice, and to facilitate transitions that focus on their goals and needs. 

We congratulate Martine on her continued commitment to the OHT. Her diverse areas of expertise will be particularly needed to support the OHT in its primary care mandate. Her appointment as bi-regional co-chair Archipel's was a natural fit.

The Executive Committee is proud to announce the appointment of Marie-Lou Meawasige as Interim Director, as of April 7^th, 2025.

This appointment is part of the transition plan put in place following the announcement of the departure of Elizabeth Tanguay, whose leadership and dedication have shaped the past four years. Her commitment to including the voice of users, strengthening equity between regions and growing our network of partners has strategically positioned Archipel for the future.

A key member of the Transformation Office team since 2022, Marie-Lou Meawasige has extensive experience in team and change management, stakeholder engagement and healthcare planning. With a commitment to equity and accessibility of care, she has played a key role in coordinating our initiatives and strengthening cross-sector collaboration.