Your Stories

Paul Rowan & Marcee Ruby: Art, Blues & Big Hearts

From creative studios to blues stages — and now to the heart of Georgian Bay’s hospital — Paul Rowan and Marcee Ruby bring compassion, artistry and community spirit to everything they do. Their gift to GBGH is helping ensure excellent, timely care is never far from home.  

Paul and Marcee first fell in love with Georgian Bay as seasonal residents and, over time, have transitioned to spending the bulk of their time in Tiny, Ontario.  Over the years, they have deepened their roots in the community supporting the Indigenous Gallery in Midland and Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). They are proud parents of two adult children, two grandchildren, and two dogs. The grandchildren have been spending summers here picking blueberries, tomatoes and attending camp… and just try getting them out of the water! 

Co-founder of Umbra, Paul now continues to inspire the next generation through speaking, mentoring, and global collaborations. On top of that, he is a gifted blues harmonica player who you will occasionally find singing and playing blues harmonica at venues here and in Colombia where he teaches in the winter months. Marcee is a lifelong creative, formerly an art director in advertising, and now devotes her time to painting. She connects deeply to the beauty that exists in her backyard and farther afield. Their creative lives are grounded in empathy, which shows up in how they give: thoughtfully, locally, and with a focus on the human touch in health care.  

For Marcee, two late night trips to GBGH with their toddler granddaughter were defining moments comprised of kind faces, swift care, and a warmth that’s rare in big-city hospitals. She still smiles remembering the Izzy Doll — a tiny handcrafted doll knit by a volunteer and offered by nurse E.T. — that turned a frightening night into a story of kindness their family will never forget.   

Paul’s experience at GBGH was just as meaningful. When he arrived at the hospital with chest pain, he was triaged and received an ultrasound within 45 minutes — a seamless, professional response that left him reassured and grateful.   

Guided by those experiences and by a belief in the power of community, Paul and Marcee have donated over $50,000 to We See You, GBGH Foundation’s campaign designated to fund important equipment that GBGH teams rely on every day. Their generosity reflects a simple truth they share often: local giving stretches further, strengthens care for neighbours, and helps families when it matters most.   

“I like to remind seasonal residents and winter visitors that we all have a vested interest in ensuring good health care for the people we love, and for those who care for us. Friends, family, gardeners, local farmers, business owners, service and maintenance workers, and many more will benefit from having excellent care close to home.” – Marcee Ruby

Paul & Jeannette Lenneard: Traditions and Care Close to Home

From summer crossings to Killarney to quiet evenings at their cottage in Tiny, the Lenneard family’s story is steeped in Georgian Bay tradition. Now, their generosity is helping ensure excellent care remains close to home for the families who cherish this place as much as they do.

For Paul & Jeannette Lenneard, Georgian Bay isn’t just a destination—it’s home. Paul has been a seasonal resident his entire life, and Jeannette has spent 42 summers here, a testament to the deep roots they’ve planted in this community.

Much of their time is spent at their cottage or out on the water aboard their boat with friends and family.

Paul and Jeannette are proud parents to two daughters, and grandparents to one grandson. Each summer, they carry forward a tradition that began for Paul back in 1969: a family voyage up to Killarney, shared with loved ones and friends. It’s a ritual that binds generations together and celebrates what matters most—time, together, in a place they love.

Guided by those values, the Lenneards have given $100,000 to We See You, the bold, community-driven effort to strengthen care “inside and out” at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). Their gift builds on a long-standing relationship with the hospital—their first donation to GBGH was made in 2011—and reflects their belief that families should have access to timely, compassionate care right here in North Simcoe.