The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) is announcing the resignation of CAO Catherine Matheson.
Matheson is also the CEO of the Nipissing District Housing Corporation (NDHC). During her four-year tenure, Catherine has navigated both organizations through the unprecedented situation of the pandemic. Matheson is leaving the DNSSAB/NDHC to join the City of Mississauga as interim commissioner for health and human services.
"We have benefited greatly from her years of experience and her network across the province," according to a news release issued by DNSSAB. "Matheson has greatly advanced the organization, and we wish her all the best."
Under Matheson's leadership, organizational achievements include the implementation of a new national childcare program, a 20-year DNSSAB strategic plan, and the creation of 60 transitional housing units and a low-barrier shelter at Northern Pines. To increase access to affordable housing, she guided the successful acquisition of the MacKay Homes and partnered with the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services Corporation, making land available for their future development of 60 affordable housing units on Brookes Street in North Bay.
“Catherine has advanced this organization in many ways, and her dedication, hard work, experience, expertise, and leadership have guided Board members and staff to the successful organization we are today,” says DNSSAB Board Chair Mark King. “Her vision and determination carried many complex projects to completion. It has been a great pleasure working with her, and she will be greatly missed.”
The DNSSAB housing reserve was strengthened for future leveraging in housing development by implementing a hybrid workforce model and a reduced corporate footprint, and two foundational studies are now underway for homelessness and housing development across the district. Through study and negotiation, DNSSAB transitioned to direct delivery in paramedic services enabling more integration at the community service level in programs such as Community Paramedicine. Perhaps the most innovative solution was the collaboration with North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) to host the Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACTT) and mobile Rapid Access Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinics at Northern Pines. Administratively, the Board governance process was streamlined to take on a policy focus.
“I am pleased to say that the Board of the DNSSAB/NDHC and staff are viewed as leaders in service delivery, innovation, and program development across the province, and I thank the Boards for their continuous support, which has been the backbone of a great four years,” says Matheson. “I would like to acknowledge the staff for their resilience and hard work during the challenging times of the pandemic and for being innovative leaders in health and social service delivery in the North.”
“North Bay and the DNSSAB have been fortunate these past four years to benefit from Catherine’s previous Provincial experience in social services management and the strong working relationships she has maintained, to our benefit, with other levels of Government,” says Chris Mayne, NDHC Board Chair. “Individuals of Catherine’s experience and ability are rare and bring significant and long-term benefits to our community social services.”
