Leadership Announcement

WINDSOR, ON – The Board of Directors of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex County Branch (CMHA-WECB) announced today the upcoming retirement of their Chief Executive Officer, Claudia den Boer, planned for April 4,2022.

Ms. den Boer began her over 30-year career in Windsor at the Salvation Army Grace Hospital and has held several executive level positions at both Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and Windsor Regional Hospital prior to beginning her role as CEO of the CMHA WECB in 2015.

Following an external search, it is with great pleasure that the CMHA-WECB Board of Directors announce the appointment of Dr. Sonja Grbevski to the position of Chief Executive Officer, commencing March 7, 2022, allowing for some orientation prior to Ms. Den Boer’s retirement.

Dr. Grbevski has over 25 years of experience in the field of Mental Health, in both community and hospital settings. Dr. Grbevski has her doctorate in Counsellor Education, with cognates in Rehabilitation Counselling and Educational Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Most recently Dr. Grbevski held the position of Clinical Services, Vice President, Mental Health Addictions at Hotel Dieu-Grace Healthcare, Windsor, Ontario. Her portfolio consisted of Adult Mental Health and Addictions, as well as Children & Youth Mental Health programs. In addition, she was an Adjunct Professor in the Rehabilitation Counselling program at Wayne State University.

She has led significant initiatives within the Windsor-Essex community and introduced new levels of service, unique to Ontario, such as the Transitional Stability Centre: Crisis and Wellness, redefined pathways to care and co-led the implementation of a formal collaborative with the CMHA Windsor-Essex Branch, with integrated management positions, in an effort to streamline services to develop a barrier-free client journey.

Dr. Grbevski is thrilled to take on the role as CEO of CMHA -WECB, continuing an environment that inspires, empowers and transforms all individuals into a culture that embraces the provision of optimal care.

“The Board of Directors is delighted to welcome Dr. Grbevski as CMHA’s incoming Chief Executive Officer. She brings to this position a strong clinical background and expertise in Mental Health and Addictions in our community. We are confident that she will continue to move CMHA forward along the trajectory established over her predecessor’s tenure as CEO.” stated Board Chair, Barb Davis.

“It is with great honour and enthusiasm that I join the CMHA-WECB family. To be part of a grassroots and high performing organization, that is embedded in this community, comes with great responsibility and opportunity to continue with the growth and success of the organization. I would like to express my gratitude to the CMHA-WECB Board of Directors for their warm welcome. In addition, I would like to extend my thanks to Janice Kaffer, CEO of HDGH, in-coming CEO of HDGH, Bill Marra, and the out-going CEO of CMHA-WECB, Claudia den Boer, for their support and leadership. I look forward to working with the CMHA-WECB team and our community partners, in continuing to strengthen the care for individuals/families that are faced with Mental Health & Addictions”, Stated Grbevski.

“The Board is grateful to Claudia for her visionary leadership since 2015. She has been a true advocate for the organization. Her well-earned reputation community wide as a strategic thinker and trusted collaborator has garnered CMHA higher visibility and leveraged opportunities for partnerships and integrated services to better serve those in our community.”, said Davis.

As Ms. den Boer anticipates her retirement she states, “It has been my joy and privilege to serve the organization as CEO over the past 6 years and I know that it will be hard for me to “let go” of the fulfilling work and many exciting opportunities that lie ahead. I have enjoyed building many strong partnerships that have been so essential to our commitment of improving the mental wellness of our community. It is encouraging to know that the legacy of our valued collaborative partnership with Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare will continue to be strengthened as both Bill Marra and Sonja Grbevski step into their respective new roles.”