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The Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation is pleased to welcome Perry Esler as Interim Chief Executive Officer, beginning May 4, 2026.

Perry joins the Foundation with more than 28 years of experience in philanthropy and healthcare fundraising, bringing a thoughtful, strategic, and community focused approach to leadership. Most recently, he served as President & CEO of the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation, where he strengthened donor engagement and helped advance meaningful impact in support of patient care.

Throughout his career, Perry has led high performing teams, built strong relationships with donors and volunteers, and supported growth in funding for patient care and clinical research. His experience also includes national leadership as CEO of Defeat Duchenne Canada, where he helped expand the organization’s reach in research, advocacy, and family support.

As Nicole Kraftscik steps away from her role to focus on her health, Foundation Board Chair Joe Rooney shared both his confidence and gratitude in welcoming Perry to guide the organization during this time.

“Nicole and Perry have known one another as peers and colleagues in the healthcare philanthropy sector for several years. Nicole has shared how deeply honoured she is that Perry is stepping in to lead the Foundation and has expressed her full confidence in his ability to keep the organization strong and moving forward. That confidence reflects not only Perry’s experience, but also the strong Foundation team and Board that support this work every day.”

Inspired by the power of generosity and connection, Perry is eager to work alongside donors, volunteers, staff, and the Board of Directors as the Foundation continues its mission — supporting excellent care close to home.

The GBGH Foundation team warmly welcomes Perry and looks forward to the leadership, experience, and care he brings as we continue this important work together.



Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is celebrating the success of its 6th annual Kickstart Your Heart campaign, which raised $151,299 in support of critical laboratory equipment at GBGH. The two‑week campaign ran from February 1–20, 2026, rallying donors and local businesses across North Simcoe. 

 

This year’s success was amplified by the generosity of three matching gift donors – Conrad & Donna Huber, Steve & Brenda, and Doug Lamon – whose leadership inspired the community to give and helped maximize the impact of every donation. 

“The Kickstart Your Heart campaign was first inspired by local philanthropists Conrad and Donna Huber in 2021,” says Robyn Kaczanowski, community giving officer, GBGH Foundation. “Their love for each other and for this community brought the idea to life, and six years later, it continues to bring people together around a shared goal — supporting excellent care close to home.” 

Funds raised through the 2026 campaign are being invested into GBGH’s Laboratory, helping to fund essential equipment across the lab, including a new laboratory refrigerator and freezer, as well as a urinalysis analyzer used to process patient samples. These upgrades support the lab’s ability to handle high testing volumes efficiently and safely. 

“We were very excited to be part of the Kickstart Your Heart campaign, bringing awareness to the lab, as we’re often a hidden‑away department that no one sees,” says Jen Stewart, senior medical laboratory technologist at GBGH. “We’re an integral part of the hospital care team, and we’re so grateful to receive support through initiatives like this.” 

The campaign once again received strong support from local media partners Pure Country 106 and Bounce Radio 104.1, who promoted Kickstart Your Heart on‑air and online. As part of the campaign, the stations hosted a Heart Balloon Selfie Contest, encouraging community members to visit and support participating businesses. 

This year, 18 local business partners took part, collectively raising an additional $7,561 for the campaign through creative promotions and community‑driven fundraising. 

“Our business and media partners play such an important role in the success of Kickstart Your Heart,” says Robyn Blanchet, key relationships officer, GBGH Foundation. “Their enthusiasm and creativity help turn a fundraising campaign into a community celebration.” 

Now in its sixth year, Kickstart Your Heart continues to demonstrate the power of community giving — ensuring GBGH’s healthcare teams have the tools they need to deliver timely, high‑quality care for patients today and into the future.

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Jeff Holloway, Director

Jeff works at RBC Dominion Securities in Midland and joined RBC Wealth Management in 2014. In his current role, Jeff provides wealth management solutions to business owners, executives, professionals, and retirees.

Prior to working at RBC, Jeff was a partner at a leadership consulting firm and was a vice president at a Fortune 500 consulting company. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) while working for a multinational audit, tax, and consulting firm, he was the Controller at the National Hockey League Players’ Association.

Jeff was born in Kitchener-Waterloo and spent most of his childhood living in Owen Sound.  He moved to the Midland area full-time in 2019. He graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honors degree in Mathematics (Computer Science). Jeff also holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation and the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation.

Jeff is very supportive of many worthwhile causes in our local community. Currently, he is the Treasurer for the Quest Art School and Gallery in Midland.