It seems the doors at the City of Ottawa will always be open for Dr. Vera Etches, who recently left her role as the city’s top doctor to become president and CEO of CHEO — the largest pediatric care center between Toronto and Montreal, serving children and youth from Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and beyond.

Just five days into her new job, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe didn’t hesitate to remind the good doctor how much she’s missed.

“I keep telling her, ‘It’s not too late to change your mind’,” the mayor joked at the International Women’s Day celebration he co-hosted at Ottawa City Hall this morning with Councillor Ariel Troster, Council Liaison for Women, Gender Equity and 2SLGBTQ+ Affairs.

Dr. Etches, former medical officer of health at Ottawa Public Health, was the special guest of the annual gathering. It drew a diverse group of dignitaries, elected officials, community activists and senior city staff — including trailblazing City Manager Wendy Stephanson, Invest Ottawa president and CEO Sonya Shorey, Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada executive director Caitlin Morrison, and Erin Crowe, award-winning senior executive with the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club. 

International Women’s Day is held globally on March 8 to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

From left, Ginny Sutcliffe and her husband, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, special guest Dr. Vera Etches, new president and CEO of CHEO, and Coun. Ariel Troster, Council Liaison for Women, Gender Equity and 2SLGBTQ+ Affairs, at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Cassandra Auguste, founder of It’s Time Event Management, Ottawa City Councillor Rawlson King (Rideau-Rockcliffe) and Alyxia Hendricks, executive  director of Ottawa Black Coalition, at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa city councillors Laura Dudas, Theresa Kavanagh, Marty Carr and Jessica Bradley at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa city councillor Cathy Curry and Erin Crowe, executive vice president, COO and CFO of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club, at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips  

While Dr. Etches was introduced as the first woman to head the children’s hospital, she was quick to acknowledge some of the women leaders who came before her, both in professional and volunteer roles. She mentioned Mother Élisabeth Bruyère, who founded the first hospital in Ottawa almost 200 years ago, as well as the moms and grandmas whose hard work and determination helped to build CHEO more than 50 years ago. Late last year, Dr. Lindy Samson stepped in as CHEO’s interim president and CEO, following Alex Munter’s departure to lead the Canadian Medical Association.

Dr. Etches spoke about the progress women have made in the medical profession, noting that the first French-Canadian woman to become a physician, in 1900, had to leave the country to attend medical school. She later got a private member’s bill passed in the Quebec assembly, granting her the legal right to practice medicine in her home province (the doctor became a pediatrician and eventually co-founded the children’s hospital in Montreal). 

Advocating for children’s needs has long been a priority for many women, said Dr. Etches. “It will continue, and it’s a privilege to be able to do my part with my team.”

She expressed her excitement over CHEO’s “broad system of support” for children and youth. “It’s not just a hospital building … It’s so much more than that,” she said of its partnerships with other organizations to offer a full spectrum of care.

She also mentioned CHEO’s big plans to build an integrated treatment centre, which is a component of the hospital’s largest fundraising campaign to date, Kids These Days.  “When children come with different behaviour, medical or mental health needs, they won’t have to line up in three different places. The team will be able to meet their needs, regardless of the specific diagnosis.”

As for what keeps her up at night, Dr. Etches replied: “I worry about the children who are being left behind, about the many people in our community who don’t have enough to meet their basic needs.”

Dr. Vera Etches in conversation with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, CHEO’s chief branding and communications officer, Anick Losier, with Karen Macauley (CHEO’s VP of Acute Care Services) and Jennifer Proulx (CHEO’s VP of Child Development and Community Services) at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Dr. Etches hails from northern British Columbia, where both her parents were small-town doctors, handling everything from chainsaw injuries to delivering babies. They were community-driven, with a strong focus on well-being, she said. For example, her mom started a cooperative daycare while her dad spent his free time building hiking trails.

Dr. Etches showed tremendous leadership during the pandemic, winning the 2021 Newsmaker of the Year Award. “She earned a reputation for being incredibly calm, steady and a determined force,” said the mayor. “As scary a time as that was for all of us, I know our municipal leaders and residents felt they really, truly could rely on Dr. Etches and her incredible team for the best guidance, the most up-to-date information, and the best advice to keep them and their loved ones safe and healthy.”

The mayor praised Dr. Etches for her ability to advocate for policy change while also managing the realities she faced during the pandemic. “I think it’s the mark of a great leader,” said Sutcliffe. Dr. Etches responded to his praise by emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong voice to drive change, alongside the need for building relationships. “Ultimately, when people know you and understand that you have their best interests at heart, it creates trust. [From that foundation], you can speak about what that means in terms of policy change.”

As the discussion wrapped up, Dr. Etches commended IWD organizers for creating a space where people could come together, encourage one another and share stories focused on women’s accomplishments. “There are so many good things happening in our city, so many people building a better Ottawa, whether at the neighbourhoood level or within organizations.”

From left, Andrea MacLean, director of communications at CHEO, and Danielle McGee, senior advisor of government relations and stakeholders relations for Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Coun. Ariel Troster, Council Liaison for Women, Gender Equity and 2SLGBTQ+ Affairs, at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From lefr, Dr. Vera Etches and City Manager Wendy Stephanson at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Tahera Mufti, director of communications for the Office of Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, with Christine Crump, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and Sonya Shorey, president and CEO of Invest Ottawa, at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Tourism president and CEO Michael Crockatt, Ottawa International Airport Authority’s vice president of communications and consultation, Krista Kealey, and Catherine Callary, vice president of destination development at Ottawa Tourism, at the International Women’s Day celebration held at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, March 7, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Dr. Vera Etches in conversation with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at the International Women’s Day breakfast celebration held at Ottawa City Hall. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Tammie Trellert, director of business development for Capital Wealth Partners, and Caitlin Morrison, executive director of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada, at the International Women’s Day breakfast celebration held at Ottawa City Hall. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Invited guests gathered at Ottawa City Hall for the annual International Women’s Day breakfast celebration hosted by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Coun. Ariel Troster, Council Liaison for Women, Gender Equity and 2SLGBTQ+ Affairs. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Jessie-Lee Wallace, senior manager of communications for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, and Judy Lincoln, executive director of the Westboro Village BIA, at the International Women’s Day breakfast celebration held at Ottawa City Hall. Photo by Caroline Phillips

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This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada and First Avenue Investment Counsel.