Winnipeg CEO announces retirement date

WINNIPEG – Winnipeg Regional Health Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Arlene Wilgosh (pictured) has informed the Board of Directors of her decision to retire effective March 22, 2015. Ms. Wilgosh’s retirement will bring to a close a lifetime commitment to healthcare ranging from frontline care to senior administrative roles at both the regional and provincial levels.

“Arlene has been a strong leader, and her achievements will have a lasting positive impact on healthcare in the Winnipeg region,” said Dr. Jerry Gray, chair of the Board.

“Arlene has skillfully managed the organization through an incredibly challenging fiscal environment, and has worked tirelessly to build a regional culture of collaboration and inclusion,” said Dr. Gray. “On behalf of the Board, we are very grateful for her innumerable contributions and distinguished service as our president and chief executive officer, and look forward to her continued service until her retirement in early 2015.”

“I am very privileged to lead a wonderful and talented leadership team at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority,” Ms. Wilgosh said. “Together, we have accomplished a lot, and I look forward to continue working with the Board and my senior management team over the coming months as the organization prepares itself for transition.”

The Board of Directors will undertake a recruitment process to choose Ms. Wilgosh’s successor which will consider both internal and external candidates for the position.

Ms. Wilgosh was hired as President and Chief Executive Officer on March 22, 2010 – the first woman and nurse in this position. She was only the second Chief Executive Officer in the history of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA).

Born and raised in Minnedosa, Manitoba, Ms. Wilgosh started her healthcare career in Winnipeg as a staff nurse at the Health Sciences Centre. She has held various nursing and nurse leadership roles in acute care and long-term care sectors in both urban and rural settings. For five years prior to joining the WRHA, Ms. Wilgosh held the position of Deputy Minister of Health for the Province of Manitoba – once again, the first woman and first nurse to hold this position.

The WRHA is responsible for co-ordinating and delivering health services, and promoting well-being within the Winnipeg and Churchill geographical areas. With approximately 28,000 people working within the region and an annual operating budget of nearly $2.6 billion, it is the largest health authority in Manitoba.

The health authority serves residents of the city of Winnipeg as well as the northern community of Churchill, and the rural municipalities of East and West St. Paul, representing a total population of over 700,000. The health authority also provides support and specialty referral services to nearly half a million Manitobans who live beyond these boundaries, as well as residents of northwestern Ontario and Nunavut.