Become the
at Dufferin Area Family Health Team!

We need your help to:

  • Represent patients to provide feedback and ideas for initiatives that enhance services.
  • Work together to advance patient-centred care.
  • Create a venue for communication between patients and their health care team.

This may be an opportunity for you!
We are recruiting for our Patient Advisory Council. The Council advises and makes recommendations on matters that impact all patients of the Dufferin Area Family Health Team.

Your commitment:

  • Attend three evening meetings per year (at minimum)
  • Be a voice for families and patients
  • Enhance patient experiences

Join Us!

If you are interested in joining please call 519-938-8802 ext. 314

Application Form

You can also click here for the application form which can be printed and faxed to the DAFHT.

Meet Our PAC!

Our PAC is comprised of patients and Dufferin Area Family Health Team staff and providers.

John Graham

John is a retired business owner who has lived in the community for more than 20 years. His  business, STAT Employment Services, helped unemployed individuals obtain the government funding they needed to go back to school and train for new careers. He is married, has three children and enjoys long walks with his beloved dog. 

Peter Gardhouse

Peter grew up on the family farm in Dufferin County, and now works with his family there. With a small number of related coworkers all working together in a mentally and physically strenuous job, it is critically important to know that adequate healthcare is available locally. In particular, he is motivated to help make access to care easier and more intuitive to navigate.

Lynda Cranston

Lynda has over 30 years experience as a writer and editor in the healthcare field. For the past 24 years, she has worked as a senior medical writer for a non-profit foundation dedicated to the continuing education needs of family physicians across Canada. Her work centres on bridging the gap between current and best practice to help clinicians improve patient care and outcomes. She strongly believes in advocating for patients and ensuring their voices are heard and heeded.

Charlene Gould

Charlene has been a Registered nurse for over 30 years with a wide range of work experience including hospital (Labour and Delivery), intensive care, occupational health and now for the past 8 years Primary Care with the DAFHT. Charlene has experience in the healthcare system as a provider, patient and caregiver. She is truly passionate about patients receiving compassionate and quality care at each and every encounter within the healthcare system.

Marcia Werkhoven

Marcia has worked for DAFHT as the Administrative Team Lead for the past five years and has been Secretary of the Patient Advisory Council for the past two years. Marcia likes helping people and has enjoyed being involved in the PAC in order to help make patient care better for everyone.

Heidi Vanderhorst

Heidi has lived in Dufferin County for the past 26 years and has worked in the community’s health care system for the past 18 years. She is the Program Manager at the DAFHT and co-leads the Hills of Headwaters Ontario Health Team’s Community Wellness Council. She is a strong advocate for ensuring that the patient’s voice is heard and represented in the community.

Liz Luce

Liz has been a member of the health care community in Dufferin since moving from the big city to Orangeville in 1996 and has never looked back!  After eleven years providing outpatient nutrition counselling at the Headwaters Health Care Centre, she was fortunate enough to become part of a new community-based diabetes program in Shelburne, which is now part of DAFHT.  She has learned a great deal from the patients she works with and enjoys supporting them in their journey with diabetes. As a member of the  DAFHT Patient Advisory Committee, she hopes to advocate for those patients, as well as provide feedback as an allied health team member.

Connie Matts

Chris McCoy