Celebrating HR Professionals Day
A Note from the HR Manager
One of the greatest privileges of my role is getting to lead this team.
HR can be challenging work. We often step into situations when there isn’t an easy answer, when someone needs support, or when there are competing priorities to balance. Much of what this team does happens quietly behind the scenes, and sometimes the best outcome is something the rest of the organization never even knows needed to be solved.
What makes me proud isn’t just what this team accomplishes, but how they do it. They care deeply about CMH and the people who work here. They bring different strengths, personalities and perspectives to the table, they step in for one another without hesitation, and they somehow manage to find plenty of reasons to laugh along the way.
HR Professionals Day felt like the perfect opportunity to introduce you to the people I get to work alongside every day – not just as HR professionals, but as humans. I hope these profiles give everyone a chance to learn a little more about the people behind the work and the many different ways they contribute to CMH every day!
Happy HR Professionals Day to Emma, Jen, Steph, Amy, Jalene, Charlotte and Lisa. I’m incredibly proud to be your manager and very lucky to have each of you on this team.
Emma Macpherson: Human Resources Advisor, Labour and Employee Relations
Introduction: Emma joined the CMH HR team in May 2024, first as a placement student, before moving into a temporary HR Assistant role and ultimately becoming our permanent Human Resources Advisor. Today, Emma supports employee and labour relations across our unionized and non-union teams, helping employees and leaders navigate workplace concerns, accommodations, grievances, investigations, collective agreements, policies and all of the questions that sometimes start with, “Who do I talk to about this?”
For Emma, HR is about making sure people feel heard, supported and valued. She loves the problem-solving side of HR, but even more, she values the opportunity to listen, advocate for employees and help people navigate situations that can sometimes feel overwhelming. She is especially proud of how much she has grown since starting at CMH, as well as her contributions to projects such as CMH's non-union pay equity work and Social Club initiatives.
Beyond HR: Emma may be the youngest member of the department, but outside of work she keeps just as busy! She's a Girl Guide leader for Pathfinders and Rangers, loves country music, reality TV, bonfires, cleaning and organizing (yes, genuinely!), and is currently having fun planning renovations for her new house. Her perfect day includes a coffee, a nail appointment, time with her boyfriend and her dog Diesel, and probably a little Morgan Wallen somewhere in the mix.
Fun Fact: Emma grew up watching Shark Tank and Dragon's Den and always knew she wanted to work in business. She almost chose marketing before realizing that HR gave her the combination she was looking for: people + problem-solving. Her HR education eventually brought her to a placement at CMH – “and from there, I never really left!”
Jennifer Bonnici Elias: Human Resources Advisor, Recruitment
Introduction: Jen joined the CMH HR team in April 2025 and is the person behind recruitment across the entire hospital – supporting managers from the moment a staffing need arises through to finding the right candidate and welcoming them to CMH. Employees will often find Jen for questions about job postings, referrals and new-hire paperwork… or, apparently, when they're trying to figure out where Emma is.
One of Jen's favourite parts of recruitment is getting to make that phone call offering someone a position. She knows that a new job can make a meaningful difference in someone's life, and loves screening and interviewing candidates, finding great employees for the managers she supports, and then getting to welcome those new faces through orientation. Since joining CMH, Jen is especially proud of the role recruitment has played in reducing our reliance on agency staffing – successfully filling vacancies internally and contributing to significant cost savings for the hospital.
Beyond HR: Jen's world revolves around her daughters, staying active and basketball season! Her perfect day off starts with coffee and some quiet time, followed by a fall walk, watching her daughters play basketball, and finding some time to relax with family. She also has a pretty impressive commute from Oshawa and somehow manages to appreciate it – especially the early-morning skies on her drive into CMH.
Fun Fact: Before HR, Jen considered becoming everything from a nurse to a physiotherapist to a bank clerk. After completing her BA in Psychology, she found her way into a postgraduate HR program – and recruitment ultimately became her niche. Oh, and one other tiny detail: she teaches fitness classes and has had dinner with Mike Tyson. We feel like there may be a story there that requires some follow-up questions.
Charlotte Bourne: Scheduling Clerk
Charlotte joined the HR team in March 2026 and works behind the scenes helping to keep CMH’s schedules – and our hospital – moving every day. She is one of the people employees turn to for shift changes, time-off requests, swaps, availability, overtime, sick calls, coverage issues and those inevitable last-minute scheduling conflicts.
For Charlotte, scheduling is essentially one giant, constantly changing puzzle – there’s always one more change, one more request, and somehow everyone wants the same day off. What might look like simply putting names on a calendar actually involves juggling availability, vacations, collective agreement requirements, coverage and last-minute changes. Charlotte loves the problem-solving involved and the satisfaction of somehow making all of those moving pieces come together. When the schedule actually works out perfectly? That’s a good day.
Beyond HR: Charlotte’s favourite full-time job is being a mom. Her son keeps her busy and laughing, and spending time with him and the rest of her family is at the top of her list outside of work. Her perfect day off also includes walking her dog, a little shopping, and cooking something delicious – basically, good food and absolutely no schedule. She’s also currently loving Big Brother, and candy, chocolate or sunshine can instantly improve her day.
Fun Fact: Growing up, Charlotte dreamed of becoming an actress! While life ultimately took her in a different direction, she discovered that she loved working with people, solving problems and keeping things organized – skills that turned out to be a pretty perfect fit for scheduling. And with a role where no two days are ever quite the same, she still gets plenty of opportunities to think on her feet!
Jalene Langsy: Infection Control/Occupational Health
Introduction: Jalene joined CMH in July 2021 and has a unique role that spans both Occupational Health and Infection Control. On the Occupational Health side, employees come to Jalene for everything from health and safety, WSIB and disability management to return-to-work planning, modified work, immunizations, mask-fit testing and workplace exposure or illness questions. Her role gives her the opportunity to work with departments right across CMH, with a focus on supporting the safety, health and well-being of our staff.
Jalene always knew she wanted to work in healthcare, and her clinical interests ultimately found a home in nursing. Today Jalene is our Occupational Health and Infection Prevention and Control Nurse. One thing employees may not realize is just how broad this portfolio is – balancing the needs of both Occupational Health and Infection Control. One contribution she is particularly proud of? Administering CMH’s annual influenza vaccines – with chocolate, of course!
Beyond HR: Jalene is happiest enjoying a quiet day at home with her family, cat and dog, going for a walk and watching some TV. She loves art, is currently enjoying the Nintendo Switch 2, and firmly believes that a good dessert can make any day better. She also appreciates one of CMH's particularly important workplace perks: visits from the therapy dogs!
Fun Fact: Jalene’s love of art is actually responsible for a pretty important part of her life – she met her husband through YouTube after posting her art videos online! Not many people can say their hobby led them to their future spouse!
Amy Marten-Buckles: Human Resources Assistant
Introduction: Amy joined the CMH HR team in January 2025 and is one of those people whose work touches a little bit of everything behind the scenes. Employees may know her from employment letters, iLearn or Staff Duress, and she’ll soon be adding NVCI to that list. One of Amy’s favourite things about working in HR is that her role gives her the opportunity to interact with employees from right across the organization – and, as an added bonus, CMH happens to be conveniently close to home!
Since joining the team, Amy has continued to build an impressive range of skills. She has completed JHSC Certification Levels I and II, Accident Investigation training and NVCI certification, supporting the many different areas she lends a hand to within HR. She’s someone who is always willing to learn something new, jump in where she’s needed and help keep things moving.
Beyond HR: There are a few things you need to know about Amy: she loves the Toronto Blue Jays, dogs and, more recently, golf. Her perfect day off involves sitting in her egg chair on the back deck with a Jays game playing in the background. She also loves rewatching Friends, discovering new authors and spending time with her husband and her dogs, Ozzy and Bentley. And if you need an instant way to improve Amy’s day? Bring a dog. Her dog, your dog, basically any dog will do.
Fun Fact: When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Amy’s answer was simply, “I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.” In the meantime, she seems to have found a pretty good home in HR – although when asked what she enjoys most about working in HR today, her answer is “when it is Friday.” We appreciate the honesty, Amy.
Steph Johnston: Payroll Coordinator, Pension & Benefits Administrator
Introduction: Steph joined the CMH HR team in August 2022 and supports three areas that impact just about every employee at CMH: payroll, pensions and benefits. Whether it’s a question about a paycheque, benefits coverage, pension information or something that just doesn’t look quite right, Steph is often the person working behind the scenes to get to the bottom of it. Her role requires plenty of investigation, attention to detail and problem-solving – particularly when an issue isn’t as straightforward as it first appears.
One of Steph’s favourite parts of her role is helping employees work through those more complex issues and being able to come back with an answer and a solution. She also has the important job of making sure everyone gets paid – and there’s something pretty satisfying about knowing those paycheques are hitting employees’ accounts on Thursday morning! Steph is particularly proud of her work supporting CMH’s transition to Collaborative Benefits, which has provided an enhanced benefits experience and improved support for employees.
Beyond HR: Steph appreciates the simple things: crisp morning air, a Timmies coffee and sweet treats. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors hunting, fishing and camping. She also has a creative side and enjoys crafting – something her coworkers might not necessarily know about her.
Fun Fact: Payroll may be what most employees know Steph for, but she has a broader HR background too. Steph holds an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources Management, which comes in handy in a role that intersects with so many different parts of the employee experience. She enjoys the constantly changing nature of HR – there’s always something new to work through, which keeps her days busy and her role continually evolving.
Lisa Scerri: Scheduling Clerk
Introduction: Lisa joined the CMH HR team in December 2025 and plays an important role in the behind-the-scenes work that keeps CMH’s schedules running smoothly. While employees may see the finished schedule, much of Lisa’s work happens before it ever gets there. She supports master scheduling, ensures schedules align with collective agreement requirements, and works within UKG to help make sure our scheduling practices are accurate, consistent and sustainable.
If there’s one thing to know about Lisa, it’s that she loves a good process. A big part of her focus since joining CMH has been looking at how we schedule, identifying opportunities to improve the way things are done, and developing clearer and more consistent processes. Scheduling involves a lot of moving pieces, and Lisa enjoys getting into the details, figuring out what isn’t working and finding a better way forward.
Beyond HR: When Lisa isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with family, catching up with friends, travelling and getting outdoors.
Fun Fact: Lisa spends a good portion of her workday creating structure, following rules and making sure everything fits where it’s supposed to — but once the workday is over, the schedule goes out the window. For someone so process-focused at work, Lisa is happiest leaving the itinerary behind and enjoying a little spontaneity.
