2025 40 Under 40 Winners

Kate led the North Bay and Area Community Foundation as its first Executive Director, where she helped the organization deliver more than $5 million in regional impact and establish over twenty new funds, securing its sustainability and growth and contributed significantly to a $4.3 million fundraising initiative for the hospital’s Nuclear Medicine Department, equipping it with two advanced SPECT/CT machines that greatly improved diagnostic capabilities. 

In her role as Regional Lead for the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, Kate guided the administration of a $60 million federal investment, ensuring equitable access and impact across Northern Ontario. Kate’s leadership in community philanthropy was recognized when the North Bay and Area Community Foundation was named Not-For-Profit of the Year by the local Chamber of Commerce in 2017. 

She chaired the Marketing and Promotions Sub-Committee for AHP’s Convene Canada 2024 and will continue to contribute as a committee member in 2025, demonstrating her commitment to advancing healthcare philanthropy at the national level. 

After spending more than a decade leading our local community foundation, I realized how deeply interconnected healthcare is with the overall wellbeing of our region. Much of our efforts and support were concentrated on front-line social services and community organizations and I saw first-hand how access to quality healthcare was a recurring factor in community wellness. Healthcare philanthropy felt like a natural transition for me; a way to continue supporting the people and community that I care so deeply for, while focusing on something that touches every family.

I, like everyone I know, have a personal relationship with our hospital. I’ve experienced some of my life’s most joyful moments here, and some of the most devastating. I’m endlessly inspired by the people who provide exceptional care to our community, and I carry a profound respect for the work they do every day. My career in healthcare philanthropy is a way that I can have an impact and help ensure that healthcare is available, close to home, when we need it most. That’s especially important to me as someone who is passionate about strengthening access and closing service gaps in northern and rural communities.

One defining moment in my career was earning my CFRE. After years of working in the philanthropic sector, achieving that designation felt both deeply rewarding and affirming. I felt a renewed confidence in my expertise and I was proud to reach this prestigious milestone. I was also grateful that our Foundation supported my pursuit, and actively prioritized professional development and growth. In the non-profit sector, where the urgency of the mission often takes precedence, professional development can sometimes be overlooked. Having that support meant a great deal to me.

My greatest passion is helping people make meaningful contributions to the place they call home. Whether it’s helping a family honour a loved one or working with donors to bring essential medical equipment to our hospital, I find so much meaning in aligning people’s values with tangible community impact. It’s in those shared goals and relationships that real change happens.

Take your time and savour the journey. The heart of building meaningful relationships lies in the quiet conversations, the unexpected moments of connection, and the privilege of being invited into someone’s story. Listening and sharing those stories grounds us, builds trust and inspires generosity. The small moments often lead to the biggest impact.