A message from Peter Szota, Chair of the St. Joseph's Hamilton Joint Boards of Governors

November 2025  

I am proud to serve the St. Joseph’s Hamilton Joint Boards of Governors as board chair. It is a privilege to share a message with you on behalf of our organizations: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas and St. Joseph’s Home Care. Every day, I am inspired by the people of St. Joe’s and the legacy we are entrusted to carry forward.

Since 1852, when the first Sisters of St. Joseph arrived at Hamilton Harbour, our services have been rooted in compassion and dedicated to meeting the needs of those who are most vulnerable. Guided by their unwavering commitment to care, the Sisters built a foundation that still shapes who we are today. They devoted themselves to serving the poor, the sick, and the marginalized with courage, vision and faith. Their spirit lives on in every corner of our organization.

Today, we are part of St. Joseph’s Health System, one of Canada’s largest healthcare networks, serving people across the full continuum of care. At St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, we proudly lead regional programs such as renal, mental health and addictions and respiratory care that deliver exceptional outcomes. At St. Joseph’s Home Care, our care teams support individuals in their homes with dignity and compassion in familiar surroundings. And through St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas, one of Ontario’s largest long-term care homes, we provide innovative, person-centred care and a community of belonging for older adults and their families. Across all our programs, our focus is always the same: compassionate, high-quality care for every person we serve.

Now is an exciting time in our history as we advance our new shared strategic plan — Unstoppable Compassion — and build on our strength as a system of care. This ambitious five-year plan reflects the strength of St. Jospeh’s Health System and the bold vision we share for the future of healthcare. It is built on three strategic directions: advancing health, amplifying impact and investing in teams. Together, these directions will guide us as we continue to innovate, champion diversity, equity and inclusion, strengthen partnerships, and advance academic excellence and research.

We know that to truly serve our communities, we must be more than a collection of services. We must deliver seamless, connected care — whether a person’s journey takes them from hospital to home, to long-term care, into supportive housing, or hospice. By listening to our communities and removing barriers to care, we will build a more equitable, responsive system for all.

This work would not be possible without the extraordinary dedication of our healthcare workers and volunteers. To all St. Joe’s healthcare workers: thank you. You embody the compassion of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and you bring our mission of Unstoppable Compassion to life every day.

As we look ahead, I am confident that with the strength of our people, our partners, and our community, St. Joe’s will continue to deliver on the promise handed down to us more than 170 years ago: care that is compassionate, innovative and grounded in the dignity of every person.