In 2025, VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) was fortunate to welcome Peter Kinch as a new Board member.

As a Chartered Professional Accountant for 39 years and with extensive Board experience, Peter brings expertise with matters including internal controls, financial operations and governance to VHA’s diverse, experienced Board.

We had the opportunity to speak with Peter about his decision to join VHA’s Board. Here is what he had to say.

Q: What inspired you to volunteer as a VHA Board member?

A: When I was first approached about the VHA Board position, I was drawn to working alongside an organization with a vision and mission that aligns well with my own personal interests.

Throughout my previous volunteer experiences, I’ve been continually drawn to peer-leading organizations that support vulnerable individuals and provide services to help them cope with, and overcome challenges, all with a focus on the individuals’ dignity. VHA’s focus on the people it serves is important to me.

I’ve always had an interest in working with organizations that embrace their leadership role in improvement and change. Whether this is through testing new technologies or adopting new practices based on employee or client feedback, I believe that a never-ending commitment to improvement as a key part of an organization’s philosophy and culture can truly set it apart.

When I looked into VHA, I saw how well it aligned with my own beliefs and knew that I wanted to be involved.

Q: Can you comment on the role you feel home care plays in Ontario’s healthcare system?

A: At the age of 66, I personally know people who are acting as caretakers for their elderly parents. I’ve also known people who’ve relied on home care as they’ve recovered from surgery.

Home care plays a huge role in our health care system that will likely expand in time. Home care does more than just support the individual in a familiar setting, it helps take pressure off hospitals and long-term care homes. And, it can often alleviate some of the stress felt by family members who step in and act as a primary caregiver.

We have an aging population in Ontario and many people who would prefer to receive care in the comfort of their own home. With the right supports in place, like services from VHA, they can continue to live at home independently for much longer. It’s a cost-effective win-win for everyone.

Q: What do you think sets VHA apart as a healthcare organization?

When you think about everything that comes together to make an organization what it is: the people, its culture, its clients and partners, its programs and the policies and practices that dictate how it delivers those programs, you get what I call an organization’s ecosystem.

I’ve always been a strong supporter of not-for-profit organizations because of the supportive and caring ecosystems they develop. I’m a strong believer that people should come first in any organization, both the clients and the team members who take care of them. Not-for-profits also tend to nourish continuing education and prioritize extra attention when needed when it comes to care.

Q: Are there specific projects or areas that VHA is working on that excite you?

A: I’m a strong supporter of VHA’s dedication to evidence-based care rooted in data. I was very impressed when I first learned about VHA’s commitment to research and innovation as a tool to better understand and improve the care they provide. As a new Board member, I look forward to supporting care delivery based on the data we’ve collected.

I also look forward to supporting VHA’s equity and inclusion initiatives. I have experience with members of equity-denied communities including those with blindness and intellectual disabilities. From these connections I learned the importance of seeing the whole person.

Almost two decades ago, I came to learn personally about underrepresentation and marginalization when coming out as a gay man. As such, the type of change initiatives I had supported in my leadership roles, including advancement of women and racial minorities, became part of my own journey. VHA’s commitment to equity and inclusion is another area that aligns with my own beliefs and values.

We look forward to all Peter Kinch will contribute as a Board Member at VHA.