Van Opstal 'digging in' to LHIN duties
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Lori Van Opstal’s ‘meeting’ binder is two inches thick.
And that’s just the tip of her South West Local Health Integration Network learning curve.
“I thought I had a pretty good handle on it,” laughed the newly-appointed South West Local Health Integration Network board member Monday morning inside the News office. “Over the last two weeks I have realized just how much I need to know.”
For the record, Van Opstal’s ‘travelling’ binder contained only information for her first meeting.
“The other three I have at home are huge.”
The Tillsonburg resident brings an impressive resume and varied life experience to the task. A competitive motocross racer born and raised in California (her family who owned the largest motorcycle dealership in North America), Van Opstal’s post-secondary education in computer science led to a career start as a systems analyst before a sharp 30-year turn into the staffing business. The last two decades balanced raising her 21-year-old son Nick with a focus on the transportation industry and building her own company developed prior to and independent of her husband of three-plus years, Ron Verspeeten.
Featured 12 consecutive times on Profit Magazine’s list of Top 100 Canadian Women Business Owners, Van Opstal chaired the Economic Development Advisory Committee (Cambridge), Canada’s Technology Triangle’s Ambassador Task Force, Fleet Safety Council Conference and Making Room Inc. (Cambridge Shelter Corp), Cambridge Kiwanis Village Non-Profit Housing and has been involved locally with junior achievement while serving for three years as a member of the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital board.
The sale of her business freed up time for Van Opstal, who turning 50 in August, was seeking for a productive outlet for her energy and experience, rather than a quiet retirement.
“I was looking for something important to do.”
En route to a TDMH board meeting, Van Opstal heard a radio interview featuring Tillsonburg Mayor John Lessif attributing a funding change to the fact there was no area representation on the South West LHIN board. Floating the idea of applying at the meeting, the response, paraphrased was: ‘People have tried, you won’t get in.’
“I thought, well, ‘I’ll give it my best effort.’”
Van Opstal applied at the end of July for one of two openings on the board, and in August, was granted “the most gruelling personal interview I had ever been in.”
She admittedly exited ‘feeling very small,’ but in her mind, if the interview had one pivotal point, it was an admission there was a mountain of knowledge she needed to gain, but also the fact “I am committed to gaining that knowledge.”
Van Opstal’s three-year appointment was official as of Wednesday, November 6, 2013, in conjunction with that of Wilfried Riecker of Port Stanley.
“Wilfried and Lori’s previous governance and professional backgrounds will be tremendous additions to our board as we address the many challenges the health system faces as we move forward,” said Jeff Low, Chair, South West LHIN Board of Directors in a press release. “The issues the LHIN board makes decisions on every month can have a major impact on the future of the health system and their experiences are well suited to help us with our mandate.”
Van Opstal is currently diving right into the feeling out process of joining a nine-member board which oversees a $2.2-billion budget providing health care for close to 1,000,000 people in the south west region.
“It’s bigger than I thought when I put my application in in July,” she admitted. “But the last few months I have learned just how big it is and I have a real appreciation for that.”
Van Opstal has been told the first year as a board member is basically one of learning.
“They weren’t kidding,” she said. “They weren’t kidding.”
Van Opstal has been doing her due diligence – facilitated in part by LHIN and ministry of health websites accessible to everyone, and discovered many layers as she peels back the ‘onion’ between first impressions and a deeper understanding.
“I enjoy digging in,” said Van Opstal, who during a nine-month project researching potential amalgamation for Cambridge, read an inch of paper per night.
She is excited about the prospect, rather than intimidated, and determined to move forward as an effective, contributing member of the process.
“I’ve never been shy at taking on challenges.”
Van Opstal believes exposure to both the American and Canadian (she came to Canada in 1988) health systems may provide a broader perspective.
“I hope that will be valuable and expect it will be.”
She does not have a particular vision of her role or contribution heading into the process, figuring she needs to first learn, while welcoming what she sees as a serious responsibility.
“I’m not forming any opinions until I’ve done all the work.
“I don’t really know,” she had admitted earlier in the conversation, “and that to me, is an inspiring challenge.”
Van Opstal believes in a strong, sustainable system, and the value of “giving rural Ontario another voice at the table.
“I think rural is the important thing because I do understand the difference between health care in a city and a rural location.”
Van Opstal appreciates support and advice received thus far from compatriots including Dave Corner of the TDMH Foundation, Duaine Nelson of the TDMH board and CEO Crystal Houze.
“I’m glad she has shared with me, her issues and concerns. I am taking these very seriously with me, to the LHIN.
“I’m glad I can be an access point for our community to the LHIN,” Van Opstal added in conclusion. “The more connection we have, the better it is for all of us.”