Since 1949, the Canadian Healthcare Association has recognized excellence in health leadership through its Award for Distinguished Service. The Award recognizes outstanding contributions or achievements in furthering progress and governance in the health sector; consistent and noteworthy service and leadership, particularly at the national level; personal efforts to assist and advance the efficiency and performance of Canadian organizations; personal efforts to foster public policy and legislation related to heath care; and furtherance of public policy and legislation related to health care.

Throughout her career, Louise Jones has occupied progressively responsible positions in the health care field with Eastern Health and its predecessor legacy boards. She has been a Nurse, a Nurse Educator, an Assistant Executive Director, Vice President – Adult Acute Health Care, Chief Operating Officer Adult Acute Care (St. John's) and latterly, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer with the Eastern Health Regional Health Authority in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). She is currently Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Eastern Health.

Ms. Jones holds a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, a Masters in Business Administration Degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is a Nursing Fellow of the Wharton School of Management, University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Jones is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Services Executives, a recipient of the Award of Excellence of the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador and has served as a regional surveyor with the Canadian Council of Health Services Accreditation. She is a Past-President of the Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses and is currently a Board Member of the Centre for Applied Health Research Centre – NL. She has also served on various health and other related committees as Chair or Co-Chair of the NL Provincial Nursing Management Information Systems Committee, the Provincial Wound Management Committee of NL and the Nursing Care Partnership Research Review Committee – Canadian Nurses Foundation. She is currently a member of the Nursing Leadership Council of NL, a member of the Health Services Utilization Committee of the Health Council of Canada and of the EXTRA Advisory Committee of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.

The Marion Stephenson Award was established by the former Canadian Association for Community Care which integrated with the Canadian Healthcare Association in 2006. The award is named for Marion Stephenson, the first recipient, in recognition of her contribution to community care education and her long-standing commitment to the former Canadian Association for Community Care. Ms. Stephenson also enjoyed an eighteen year distinguished career with the Canadian Healthcare Association in its education department.

The Marion Stephenson Award recognizes outstanding contributions or achievements to community care, demonstrable long-standing impact on the sector, contribution to research, policy development, administration, program and service delivery, and direct service within the sector.

Elizabeth Ross grew up in Ottawa and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto in 1971. After working in Ontario for several years, she moved to Kaslo, British Columbia in 1975. Since then, Ms. Ross has spent 30 years working as a rural Community Health Nurse with expertise in the areas of Immunization, Maternal Child Health, Communicable Disease, Community Development and Sexual Health.

Ms. Ross has taught Prenatal Classes and Sexual Health Education in schools for years and worked to establish the Options for Sexual Health Clinic in Kaslo in 2003, where she continues to work as the relief Supervisor. She has participated on many community committees including as Chair of the local Perinatal Committee since it's inception in 1988 and for the past 6 years has practiced as part of a Primary Health Team. In April 2009 she travelled to Africa as part of the One Person Project and has held fundraising events to assist with the purchase of equipment for the Hospital in Kahama, Tanzania, since her return.

In May 2008, Ms. Ross was nominated by her peers and received the BC Ministry of Health Outstanding Service to Nursing in BC Award. She has 2 grown children and in her spare time, she enjoys walking, scrapbooking, reading and travel.

"Elizabeth Ross's dedication to the well-being of her community and to the people of Tanzania embodies the heart of this national honour. Louise Jones's continued leadership in the delivery of health services for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and her contributions to the national body of health research exemplifies the sprit of the Award for Distinguished Service," said Larry Hogue, CHA Board Chair. "CHA is proud to recognize Louise Jones and Elizabeth Ross for their outstanding contributions to the health of Canadians."

Who We Are

The Canadian Healthcare Association (CHA) has been an active champion of Canada's health system for more than 75 years. We are the only federation of provincial and territorial health associations and organizations representing the breadth of the health system.

Our Vision

CHA is the recognized champion for a sustainable and accountable quality health system that provides access to a continuum of comparable services throughout Canada, while upholding a strong, publicly-funded system as an essential, foundational component of this system.

Our Mission

CHA is a leader in developing, and advocating for, health policy solutions that meet the needs of Canadians.