Toronto, Ontario – The OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance (OLHI) announces the departure of longstanding Board members, Dr. Janice MacKinnon and Claude Garcia and the appointment of two new Directors, Charlene Butler and Mary Nemeth, effective following OLHI’s Annual General Meeting held on September 16, 2025.
Dr. MacKinnon was appointed to the Board as an Independent Director in 2005 and was elected chair in 2011. Janice stepped down as chair in April of this year and is succeeded by Dan Levert.*
Dr. MacKinnon has had a distinguished career in academics, public policy and in government serving as a cabinet minister in Saskatchewan for a decade. She currently serves on several boards including the University of Alberta Board of Governors and is a professor of fiscal policy at the University of Saskatchewan. She helped steer OLHI through a period of significant change and introduced important governance changes.
Mr. Garcia joined the Board in 2006 and served as an Industry Director. As the former President of the Canadian Operations for Standard Life, he brought exceptional leadership and deep industry insight to OLHI’s governance. His expertise in life and health insurance, governance, and public policy helped guide OLHI through complex challenges while reinforcing its commitment to impartial and transparent service.
Joining the Board are Charlene Butler as Independent Director and Mary Nemeth as Industry Director. Both were appointed by OLHI’s members at the Annual General Meeting.
Ms. Butler, based in Edmonton, brings extensive senior executive and board experience across both public and private sectors. Her strategic perspective and governance expertise will strengthen OLHI’s continued focus on accountability and consumer protection.
Ms. Nemeth, from Winnipeg, joins OLHI after a long and distinguished career with Wawanesa, including ten years in the company’s life insurance branch. As a former Director of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA), she brings a strong understanding of the industry and of OLHI’s role within it. Her experience and insight will be invaluable as she assumes her role as the third Industry Director on the Board.
“We are deeply appreciative of Janice and Claude’s long-standing dedication and thoughtful leadership, which have helped shape OLHI’s evolution over the years,” said Dan Levert, Chair of the OLHI Board of Directors.“At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Charlene and Mary, whose experience and perspectives will continue to advance OLHI’s mission of fair, impartial service to Canadian consumers.”
*See press release dated May 2, 2025
About the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance
The OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance (OLHI) is Canada’s only independent complaint resolution service for consumers of Canadian life and health insurance. Canadians trust us to review their insurance complaints about life, disability, employee health benefits, travel, and insurance investment products such as annuities and segregated funds. OLHI’s free bilingual services are available to any consumer whose insurance company is an OLHI member – and, currently, 99% of Canadian life and health insurers are. OLHI also offers general information online about life and health insurance. To ensure impartiality, OLHI’s operations are overseen by the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR).
Pour les demandes médias, veuillez communiquer avec :
Sonia Tara
Corporate Secretary
1-888-295-8112 ext. 106
stara@olhi.ca