Marion Balla

Committed to making the dream a reality

Marion Balla is personally committed to ensuring a healthier future for our community

"Health is our most important resource. So it's important for me to put time into the hospital community, to do what I can to help retain, sustain and enhance health care. Both in terms of active care and research. It's my way of ensuring our children and grandchildren, our community will have access to the best possible health care."

Marion is a long-time volunteer with The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, serving on the board and various committees over the years.

Marion's connection with The Ottawa Hospital, particularly the Civic Campus, runs deep. "My first full-time job as a social worker was at the Hospital; I met my husband there and my children were born there. Thirty-four years later, my daughter is joining the Social Work Department having completed her Social Work degree. This truly is our Hospital."

As a mental health professional and President of Adlerian Counselling and Consulting Group Inc, Marion stresses the importance of community wide access to health care on all levels: physical, emotional and mental. Her participation in the Hospital's future goes beyond her personal time and energy; she has set up a Balla Family Legacy Fund to support mental health services, particularly for youth.

"The future of The Ottawa Hospital, the desire to be the best, to provide the highest level of care, this is a valuable vision. And I feel responsible for helping to realize this dream, to give back, to help make our Hospital and our community the best it can be."