Recently, VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) was excited to announce the addition of Janelle Backan to our team as VHA’s new Senior Director, Integrated Client and Community Care for the Central and East regions. We had the opportunity to ask Janelle a few questions to learn more about her decision to join VHA and the contributions she’s excited to start making. Here’s what she had to say: 

What drew you to VHA and in your eyes, what makes VHA so special?

I was drawn to VHA because of its clear purpose – care at home, delivered with heart and led by science, which strongly aligns with my values, beliefs and leadership approach. I’m inspired and energized by the opportunity to contribute to an organization that’s not only delivering high-quality, connected care but also shaping the future of the homecare sector through evidence-informed practice, innovation and strong system leadership. 

Since joining VHA, my sense is that VHA’s culture is its secret sauce. There’s a uniqueness and ease in how people show up and live our values, and that’s reflected in the compassion, collaboration, support, inclusion and excellence that is palpable in every interaction I’ve experienced. This is a special place and I’m proud to have joined a person-centred organization where individuals feel valued, trusted and supported to do their best work, while maintaining focus on the vulnerable populations and communities we serve. 

How would you sum up the role of home and community care in Ontario and what is the importance you think it plays in Ontario’s overall health system?

The home and community care sector is an essential pillar of Ontario’s health system. At its core, home and community care supports the health and social conditions that enable people to age well at home, for as long, and as safely, as possible. It supports independence, improved quality of life, dignity and autonomy. What we know from research is that home is where people want to live, thrive and pass peacefully. The models of care that are achieving the best outcomes for aging populations are the ones investing in stronger community capacity, not just institutional capacity. In Ontario, shifting care closer to home and investing in integrated, community-based models are not just “nice to haves” but rather, critical enablers to support broader health system functioning, as it pertains to capacity, access, flow, efficiency and optimization of resources across hospitals, primary care and long-term care.  

Ultimately, I would sum up the role of home and community care as helping people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. It improves individual outcomes, respects preferences and choice, supports caregivers and families and creates capacity for a more sustainable and responsive health system for all Ontarians. 

As a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, what role does operational efficiency play in providing excellent client care? 

As a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, process improvement is near and dear to my heart, and I see operational efficiency as a critical enabler of excellent client care as it has a direct impact on client access and experience, staff experience and quality outcomes. A key question I come back to is: how can we redesign this process so that clients receive better, faster, safer and more reliable care, while making the best use of our people and resources? In my experience, when we streamline, standardize, modernize and thoughtfully leverage technology to support day-to-day operations, we create more capacity for teams to spend time where it matters most: supporting clients and one another. 

As a 2026 Women Who Lead Governance Fellow, what are some of the ways that you help champion elevating women in the healthcare and non-profit sector? 

As a 2026 Women Who Lead Governance Fellow, a woman of colour, an immigrant and a senior healthcare leader, I recognize the importance of representation in rooms where decisions are being made. Bringing diverse lived and professional experiences to governance helps organizations better reflect the communities they serve. Increasing women’s representation in boardrooms is not simply about diversity; it strengthens governance, decision-making and organizational impact. 

I champion the elevation of women in healthcare by helping to create pathways for women to lead, influence and contribute at leadership and governance tables. Through mentorship, sponsorship, professional development, encouragement and support, I strive to help emerging women leaders recognize their strengths, build confidence in their leadership abilities and see themselves as future leaders and changemakers. I am intentional around connecting leaders, sharing governance and leadership opportunities within my network and advocating for inclusive leadership practices that ensure diverse voices are represented in decision-making forums. 

As I continue to grow in my own governance journey, I am committed to paying it forward by sponsoring, recommending, connecting, inspiring and uplifting other women. 

What excites you most about your new role as Senior Director, Integrated Client and Community Care for the Central and East regions?

What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to build meaningful connections and bridge strategy with operations in ways that create sustainable impact, both within VHA and across the broader system. I am especially motivated to lead highly engaged and dedicated teams while advancing integrated, equitable and inclusive models of care across the Central and East regions. 

More broadly, I am committed to advancing the home and community care sector and demonstrating the value of investing in home and community care supports within a sustainable, publicly funded health system. I am excited about VHA’s leadership in this space, which makes it an ideal place to contribute, grow and have meaningful impact at both an organizational and system level. 

Finally, do you have a message you’d like to pass along to your new VHA colleagues? 

What an exciting time to join the team! I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received and look forward to continuing to build meaningful connections with my colleagues across VHA. There are many excellent opportunities ahead, and I feel privileged to be able to support and contribute to continued momentum, alignment and impact. Here’s to the positive and collaborative journey ahead. I’m excited about where we will grow from here.