Celebrating International Women's Day 2026
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the women in our lives and to acknowledge the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide.
Here at Lakeridge Health Foundation, 70 per cent of our team is female, and both senior volunteer roles of Chair and Vice-Chair are women. This International Women’s Day we’re highlighting how our Chair of the Board, Carol Lynde, is helping us support our community.
Carol is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Bridgehouse Asset Managers. She has 35 years of experience in the finance industry and is the past Chair of The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC). Carol is an accomplished leader and has used her knowledge and skillset to present across Canada and internationally about the impact of mental health and financial advice.
Raised in Oshawa, Carol returned to the region with her husband, John, in 2016.
“I was excited to move back home,” Carol shared. “When John and I came back, I wanted an opportunity to help the community, and a friend recommended Lakeridge Health Foundation. I have always been interested in health care, and it felt like a good option to help support locally.”
In 2019, Carol joined Lakeridge Health Foundation’s Board of Directors. She served as Vice-Chair beginning in 2021 and was named Chair in June 2024. It has been an opportunity for her to support the hospital that has been part of so many milestones for her family.
“I was born at the Oshawa Hospital, two of my three children were born in Oshawa, and I had a serious car accident where I spent four weeks in the hospital and received excellent care. I can’t say enough about how well we were treated.”
Carol has also seen firsthand how exciting advancements like the introduction of the da Vinci Surgical System and the new PET-CT at the Oshawa Hospital have helped change patient care throughout Durham Region and beyond.
Education is also an important focus for Carol. She’s particularly interested in the Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program and the establishment of a Clinical Teaching Unit at the Oshawa Hospital.
“When John and I moved back to Oshawa, we did not have a family doctor. We understood how important it is to have a primary caregiver,” Carol recalls. “Today, working with the Foundation and Lakeridge Health, we are finding ways to support an increased number of family physicians in our community. If we can support these emerging physicians, and that helps them decide to settle in our region, that would be amazing. Especially given the significant population growth that’s expected in Durham Region.”
Carol and John chose to step forward with a personal gift supporting the Clinical Teaching Unit. Students and teachers now have a dedicated, purpose-built environment.
The new space is already making a difference for medical learners at Lakeridge Health. It allows students to gain hands-on learning directly from a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals, right on site at the Hospital, including family physicians, internists nurse practitioners and physician assistants. to
Carol explains. “My understanding is that this is a model of education in health care that is ground-breaking, and to see it in action, it really is amazing.”
In the years to come, Lakeridge Health can increase the number of medical learners in the Queen’s–Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program to over 130 spots. If even half remain in the region to practice, it could mean over 82,000 more people in Durham Region gain access to a family physician. Our Foundation is incredibly fortunate to be led by a Board comprised of 15 dedicated, forward-thinking people, including six women who have generously dedicated their time and effort to our cause.
“It’s very satisfying to work with such an engaged group of Board Members,” Carol explains. “We have individuals with different experiences and outlooks. But what’s most satisfying for me is how passionate our Board is about our community and the level of discussion, questions and alignment that results.”
“Great health care close to home is so important,” she continues, “and if I’m able to assist, even in a small way, I feel that this is a vital mission to support.”
Lakeridge Health Foundation is grateful for Carol’s leadership and the guidance provided by the women who lead our Board and organization, and strive for the best health care throughout Durham Region.