Join Our Board of Directors

Contribute your voice, leadership, and experience.

Family Councils Ontario Mission: Leading and supporting families in improving quality of life in Long-Term Care

Family Councils Ontario (FCO) works with long-term care home residents' families, Family Councils, and home staff across Ontario to enable them to cultivate positive relationships, build effective Family Councils, and improve the long-term care experience. Through working with families, long-term care home staff, and sector partners, we strive to create a safe, vibrant, inclusive, and respected long-term care system.

Family Councils Ontario is seeking nominees for its Board of Directors to fill upcoming vacancies:

The board supports the work of FCO and provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by FCO’s Executive Director (ED), the Board and ED relationship is a partnership, and appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. At a minimum, all Directors should perform these duties to ensure compliance with their responsibilities:

1. Attend Board meetings regularly.
2. Be thoroughly informed about any decisions the Board must make and ensure that all materials necessary to make knowledgeable and informed decisions is provided in a timely manner before the Board meeting.
3. Exercise independent judgment when voting on all Board decisions.
4. Ask questions and seek further information or clarification when necessary.
5. Ensure that minutes of Board meetings accurately reflect Board discussions and decisions.
6. Carefully review and participate in formulating the annual budget and strategic plan.
7. Understand and comply with FCO’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and Mission Statement and review them on a regular basis.
8. Be aware of the Federal and Provincial legislation governing the operation of FCO and the Governance Policies and Procedures of FCO.
9. Participate in regular evaluation of the Board’s performance.
10. Attend continuing education or Board training sessions whenever available and appropriate.

Qualifications:

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about FCO’s mission and who has a track record of Board leadership. Select Board members will have achieved leadership in the LTC sector (e.g., an LTCH Family Council), business, government philanthropy, or the non-profit sector.

Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

• Extensive personal experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in business, government, philanthropy, or the non-profit sector.
• A commitment to and understanding of FCO’s beneficiaries, preferably based on experience.
• Astute diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, facilitating, and building consensus amongst diverse individuals.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of FCO’s beneficiaries (i.e., families, friends/caregivers, and residents).
• The Nominations and Governance Committee assumes the primary responsibility for matters pertaining to the Board’s governance, recruitment, nominations process, orientation, training, and evaluation, in accordance with the by-laws as well as established policies and practices approved by the Board.
• The Finance Committee assists in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to financial and accounting matters.
• The Fundraising Committee aims to build capacity for fundraising activities for FCO Board members and staff, and initiate fundraising activities aimed at individual and corporate sponsors.  

Service on FCO’s Board of Directors is without remuneration, except for administrative support, travel, and accommodations costs in relation to Board Member duties.

To reflect the communities we serve, we strive for our Board to be representative of the rich diversity of voices in all ways. Family Councils Ontario embraces diversity in all its forms, including gender, age, ability, disability, socioeconomic status, race, gender identity, and language in our programs and services and will continue to build our capacity to effectively support all people living in long-term care.

Your Commitment to the FCO Board

Our Board meets four times per year. Each Board member serves on at least one of our three Committees, which also typically meet four times per year:

On average, Board members commit three to seven hours per quarter, plus meeting preparation time. Committee Chairs may dedicate more time. Board terms are two years, and Board members may serve for a maximum of three consecutive terms.

The Board and the Committees meet via Zoom, with a dial-in option available.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying to become a Board member, please fill out this FCO application form and attach a copy of your resume by April 2, 2026. Alternatively, you may email it to Samantha Peck, Executive Director, Family Councils Ontario, at speck@fco.ngo, noting Board Application in the subject line. Your application will be reviewed by our Nominations and Governance Committee, and you will be contacted to schedule an interview.