Niagara Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Charlie Rate as Niagara Health Board Chair, effective June 23, 2026.
Rate has served as Board Vice Chair since 2023 and brings extensive leadership experience, including expertise in engineering, construction, project management and infrastructure operations. His appointment comes as Niagara Health continues its work to transform hospital care across the region.
“During my time on the Board, I have developed a deep appreciation for the compassion and resilience of Niagara Health teams,” says Rate. “As Chair, I look forward to working with my fellow Board members to provide strong governance and strategic direction as Niagara Health continues to modernize the hospital system to deliver high-quality care in Niagara.”
Marylee O’Neill, who is concluding her service on the Board, has served as Chair for the past three years. During this time, she played a critical leadership role in advancing several key initiatives, including the relaunch of the Strategic Plan, implementation of the new Health Information System, the ongoing construction of the new South Niagara Hospital and the achievement of Accreditation with Exemplary Standing.
“It has been an honour to serve as Board Chair and be part of Niagara Health’s many accomplishments over the past eight years,” says O’Neill. “Seeing the extraordinary talent within Niagara Health has been an incredible experience. A special thank you to my Board my colleagues for their outstanding support and dedication to their volunteer roles. I look forward to watching the organization continue to thrive and serve the Niagara Region.”
The Board also welcomed three new community leaders to the Board. They are:
Lora Tisi, Niagara Health Board Member
Lora Tisi has more than 35 years of experience as a Senior International Retailer. She has led teams in business and profit growth, most recently as President of the RW&CO Brand for Reitmans Canada Limited.
Currently, Tisi is exploring her mixed-race Delaware Nation, Moravian of the Thames Indigenous Ancestry, creating change, hope, unity and self determination for First Nations, mentoring Indigenous Brands and serving as Chair for both the Indigenous Advanced Education Skills Council and Niagara College.
”I’m excited to be joining the Niagara Health Board, and look forward to working with their remarkable leadership team, building on excellent foundations of quality care, for the deserving people of Niagara,” Tisi said.
Patrick Harris, Niagara Health Board Member
Patrick Harris resides in Fort Erie and is the President of Rubicon Strategy Inc., a national public affairs firm specializing in government relations and strategic communications. In addition to managing the operations and finances of the firm, Harris advises a diverse group of organizations on their strategic relationship with the public sector and their advocacy positioning. Prior to Rubicon, Harris worked in numerous roles at the Ontario Legislature and on Parliament Hill.
“Healthcare is a foundational element of strong communities. I am honoured to join the Board of Niagara Health and to contribute to an organization that helps so many throughout the Niagara region. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members and the team at Niagara Health to deliver world-class healthcare services to residents and ensure that they continue to receive the exceptional care they deserve,” Harris said.
Norm Col is a retired Partner with Deloitte LLP, with more than 40 years of professional experience specializing in tax services for multinational companies operating in Canada. During his time at Deloitte, he managed a team of tax professionals responsible for structuring international projects, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Col is currently an independent consultant providing advisory services to private companies and trusts.
Col is Past Chair of Bay Area Health Trust. He has also served as the Chair of the Hamilton Health Sciences Board of Directors.
“We recently moved back to the Niagara Region after some 48-plus years and I was looking for a way to get reconnected and make a contribution to the community. Having previously served as Chair of a large hospital, the Niagara Health Board was a natural fit,” he said.
The full list of volunteer Board members and their backgrounds can be found on our website here.
