It’s been a long, hard pandemic for everyone that works in the hospital, even the people that work in the executive offices. So it shouldn’t come as an especially big surprise that the current president and CEO of the Guelph General Hospital is about to be the outgoing president and CEO of the Guelph General Hospital. Marianne Walker has announced her intention to retire by the end of the year.

Walker’s letter of resignation was presented to the hospital’s board of directors on Tuesday. “Throughout my career, I have had the honour and privilege to meet so many wonderful people who have enriched my life,” Walker wrote in her letter. “Working with patients and families, staff, professional staff, volunteers, donors, community partners and Board members, I’m so proud of what we have accomplished together.”

“The board is so grateful for Marianne’s leadership over these past eight years,” said Board Chair Kathy Wilkie in a statement. “She is an exceptional leader with a track record for delivering on results year over year. We are thankful for Marianne’s remarkable vision, innovation, compassion and commitment to providing high quality care for our patients and community. Her enthusiasm and leadership will be deeply missed.”

A media release from the hospital highlight some of the accomplishments from Walker’s tenure at the top of the hospital including the creation and growth of the Guelph Wellington Ontario Health Team, leading the hospital through COVID-19, encouraging patient and family engagement in hospital work, and helping to secure the highest possible standing for Guelph General from Accreditation Canada twice.

“Marianne has laid a strong foundation and we will search for a dynamic, visionary individual to build on that success as GGH continues to meet our growing community’s healthcare needs,” Wilke added, saying that the board will soon strike a CEO search committee to initiate a national search for Walker’s successor.

Walker will remain in office until a new president and CEO is hired, and there will be plans to honour her career and achievements publicly closer to her retirement date.

This is the latest high-profile departure from the head of a Guelph organization to be announced in the last week. Walker is joining Guelph Arts Council executive director Patti Boughton, Family & Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington executive director Sheila Markle, and Guelph Humane Society executive director Adrienne McBride, who have all announced their departures in the coming weeks and months.