Executive Office
The Executive Office of ITHA oversees the day-to-day operations, including human resources and financial management, internal and external communications with its members, stakeholders and the public. This office is also responsible for developing the policies that best serve its members and works closely with the members, Board of Directors, government and other stakeholders to ensure its work meets the needs of its members.
Norman B. Lewsey BIO
Norman has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Guelph and a post-graduate certificate in Health Care Administration from the University of Saskatchewan.
He has extensive management experience in Human Services dealing with complex issues such as Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, Acquired Brain Injury, and Developmental Disability.
A highlight of Norman’s career was his 4 ½ year tenure in Chiasibi, Quebec, where he worked for the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay as the Assistant Executive Director of Health and Social Services accountable for 9 Community Health and Social Service Centres, a Regional Hospital, the Regional Diabetes Program, the full range of NIHB Services and more. During that time he lived in Chiasibi, which is an isolated Cree Community on James Bay and was fortunate to learn first-hand about community issues and their rich culture.
Norman is married, with three children (Vancouver, Abbotsford and Toronto) and three grandchildren.
He looks forward to working at ITHA and continuing the journey set up by Terry Fox, the staff, and the Board of Directors to enhance and move the organization further along the continuum of health and wellness through community engagement and community capacity development. There are numerous opportunities for growth and advancements.
Norman was born and raised in Toronto, ON. He has been fortunate to have worked with First Nations in three provinces (Ontario, Quebec, and recently Saskatchewan). Norman comes directly to ITHA from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (Prince Albert, SK) where he was the District Director for the North Central District Office, for the past 3 years with an accountability for 53 funding agreements (45 First Nations Communities, 6 Tribal Councils, 1 Womens' Safe Shelter and 1 Education Authority).