About

James Thompson

PRESIDENT

Jim was born and raised in Sherbrooke. In 1989, he started his business, Williams Recognition, which celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in 2019. Past President Charles Ross asked Jim to sit on the Foundation Board. Upon joining the Board and visiting the Home, it became apparent to Jim that the Wales is a very good organization under the direction of Brendalee Piironen. When offered the position of President of the Board, he accepted without hesitation.

Barbara Verhoef

VICE-PRESIDENT

Of Dutch origin and the second of nine children, Barbara was born and raised in the Eastern Townships and graduated from the HEC in Administration in the early 70s. After working for CIBC for seventeen years, she operated her own businesses until her retirement in 2013. She continues to do translations and interpretations and is currently writing a book on cognitive disorder while studying Literature at the university level. She is mainly involved with the Wales Home Foundation because her father lives at the Home, as did her mother until her death. Both were happy to be here, and her father enjoys his home. Barbara is proud to be part of a multi-awarded healthcare facility, where the English-speaking community is prioritized, and the employees work jointly with administration for their residents’ welfare.

Brendalee Piironen

SECRETARY-TREASURER
bpiironen@waleshome.ca

819-826-3266, extension 247

Born and raised in the Eastern Townships of Québec, Brendalee has always had a passion for working with the elderly. From the ages of seventeen to nineteen, while studying at Champlain College Lennoxville, she worked as a student caregiver at the Wales Home. She then studied Psychology at York University. While there, she worked for a private Jewish organization which supports developmentally challenged adults. After her studies, Brendalee returned to the Wales Home as the Activity Coordinator. In 2006, she was promoted to the position of Director of Resident Services and, in 2007, to Director of Operations/Acting CEO. In 2008, Brendalee obtained her Certificate in Long-Term Care Management through the Canadian Health Care Association and her Administrator’s Certificate for “not-for-profit long-term care” from the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors; Brendalee was the first person from the province of Québec to be certified through this program. In 2011, Brendalee was appointed Executive Director of the Wales Home. She is the first female as well as the youngest Director of the Wales Home since its inception in 1921.

Shirley Billing

MEMBER

Shirley was born in Ottawa and moved to Danville when she was five years old. She attended ADSHS and later became a CNA. She worked at the Sherbrooke Hospital for thirty-five years before retiring in 1996. Shirley has two married sons and two grandchildren who live in Ontario. She became interested in the Wales Home when her uncle was a resident and was so impressed with the care he received that she became a proud Foundation Board Member.

Norman Carson

MEMBER

Norman has lived in this area all his life and is currently the Quebec Sales Manager for Select Sires Genervations Inc. He is a fifth-generation family member in the area, and his family has always been involved with the Wales Home. His grandmother spent the last ten years of her life at the Wales, and at one point, many of her siblings lived there also. Their time here fostered Norman’s commitment and dedication for the Wales Home and makes him want to give back to the community that gave them so much.

Marcien Gaudet

MEMBER

Marcien “Marc” Gaudet was born and raised in Saskatchewan, where he attended university, obtaining his Engineering degree in 1962, and where he practiced as a Professional Engineering Consultant, mostly for technical design of major commercial and institutional buildings. His progressive practice had a strong focus on energy conservation, environmental responsibility, value engineering, sustainable design principles, and effective processes for building renewal, including more recent concepts such as net zero energy involving superior performance building envelopes, geo-exchange, and solar energy. His outstanding 1,200 projects have earned him recognition as an expert in his field and he received accolades such as the Award of Excellence by the Alberta Association of Consulting Engineers. In 2012, he retired to the Eastern Townships and was invited to join the board of the Wales Home Foundation. He also serves on the Wales Home Executive Committee and the CHSLD board and chairs the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He strongly supports the essential drive for sustainable funding, the profound transformations required for the Wales Home’s second century of existence, and the effective renewal of infrastructure, including such initiatives as the Front-of-House expansion, the CHSLD expansion and renovation, the comprehensive renewal of Shaw/Manning Wings, and the forward planning for further innovations that will contribute to the effective delivery of superior quality care for residents at a reduced cost.

Angus Goodfellow

MEMBER

Angus was born in Sherbrooke and grew up on a farm north of Richmond. He was educated at Kingsley Consolidated School, St. Francis High School, Sir George Williams College, and Concordia University, before moving to Montreal to start a career at the Montreal City & District Savings Bank, now known as the Laurentian Bank of Canada. He married Reta Cummings of Sawyerville in 1964, and the pair have two sons. Reta and Angus have been residents of the Wales Home since March 2018, after which Angus was invited to join the Foundation Board.

Sean McKenna

MEMBER