After four years at the helm of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (LRHF), CEO Stephanie Munro is stepping into a new role with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), marking the start of an exciting new chapter in her health-care journey.
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Munro, who officially became CEO in January 2022 after four years with the foundation, said her goal from the start was to continue building on the organization’s reputation as “the heartbeat of the community.”
“I wanted to continue the collaboration my predecessors had done such an amazing job of,” she said. “Post-pandemic was definitely a challenge, leading through uncertainty and health-care fatigue. But it also strengthened us. It made us more creative and adaptable.”
Under Munro’s leadership, the LRHF tackled fundraising in new ways, including the creation of the Dodge the Stigma dodgeball tournament, which quickly became a community favourite. The 12-hour fundraiser has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for mental health initiatives since its debut in 2022.
Munro also helped grow the Gift to Health Livestream, a 12-hour online fundraising event that began as a partnership with the Shaun Newman Podcast and has since evolved into a major regional event uniting donors, volunteers and community leaders.
Reflecting on her time as CEO, Munro said every success was a collective effort.
“Whether it’s expanding mental health supports, enhancing local medical equipment, or bringing comfort to patients, every success was a reflection of our donors’ belief in better health care,” she said. “Seeing that generosity firsthand is something I’ll always carry with me.”
During her tenure, the foundation helped fund projects including new blanket warmers, air mattress beds and an air filtration system for Pioneer House and Pioneer Lodge. The Jubilee Home received new baths, tubs and a portable bladder scanner, while the Lloydminster Hospital added a new ultrasound and panda warmers for the maternity ward, to name a few.
Munro’s next role will keep her close to home as the SHA’s senior specialist of foundation relations, a position that will strengthen partnerships between health foundations and the provincial health system.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity and bridges the relationship between healthcare foundations and the health authority,” she said. “This position is about collaboration over competition, ensuring community-driven initiatives align with health-care system needs.”
A former nurse, Munro said her passion for health care remains at the heart of everything she does.
“This chapter has truly shaped who I am,” she said. “Although my role is changing, my passion remains the same, strengthening the connection between communities and health care. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
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