Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada Welcomes New Chair, Vice Chair and Three New Board Directors

Following the 2025 Annual General Meeting, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada is proud to announce the appointment of Ross Betteridge as Chair and Stacy McLean as Vice Chair to its national Board of Directors.

Serving as directors since 2017 and 2021, respectively, both Ross and Stacy’s passion for RMHC’s mission and deep commitment to supporting families have been instrumental in guiding RMHC to achieve ambitious goals for mission impact, support and advocacy.

Outgoing Chair, Karima Karmali, will continue as Past Chair, as we extend our heartfelt thanks for her outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to RMHC’s mission.

In addition to the new appointments of Chair and Vice Chair, RMHC Canada is pleased to welcome three new board members, representing Regional Chapters from across Canada and McDonald’s Independent Franchisees in Eastern Canada: Jason Evanson, Samantha Parsons, and Glen Steeves.

Working in close partnership with RMHC Canada’s CEO and extended leadership team, the Board of Directors brings a wealth of executive leadership, strategic insight, dedication, and professional expertise which strengthens our national mission and helps more families with sick children stay close when it matters most.

Meet our new Chair and Vice Chair:

Ross Betteridge, CPA, CA, ICD.D, Chair

Ross recently retired from full-time employment after a career spanning 30+ years in Canada’s property & casualty insurance industry. As a CPA, CA, he held various C-suite roles including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at some of Canada’s largest insurance organizations.

Over the last eight years of board service, Ross’ leadership and strategic guidance has helped the RMHC advance its essential mission, enabling access to Canada’s paediatric healthcare system.

“The opportunity to give back to our communities and support the mission of RMHC Canada as a Board member is an incredible honour,” shares Ross. “As I step into my Board Chair role, I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow Board members and the rest of the RMHC Canada team to ensure the RMHC network across Canada can serve more families, and serve them better.”

Stacy McLean, Vice Chair
Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Stacy McLean is a senior partner and member of the Executive Committee at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms.

Beyond her distinguished legal career, Stacy is a passionate and committed community leader who has served as a board member for numerous corporate and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining the RMHC Canada Board as a director in 2021, she served as Chair of the Governance Committee and has played a pivotal role in strengthening governance practices and promoting organizational excellence.

As Vice Chair, Stacy’s leadership will continue to be instrumental in advancing RMHC’s mission and helping ensure families across the country don’t have to navigate their child’s medical journey alone.

Meet our newest Board members:

Glen Steeves
McDonald’s Canada Owner/Operator

Glen Steeves is a former executive with McDonald’s Corporation and a long-time Owner/Operator of several McDonald’s restaurants in Hamilton, Ontario. After a successful career in Canada, Glen lead McDonald’s expansion into Russia, where he helped establish RMHC locally, and later served as Chief Operating Officer for McDonald’s Europe.

Following 18 years abroad, Glen and his family returned to Ontario, where he has remained a passionate advocate and supporter of RMHC, serving on the boards of both RMHC South Central Ontario and RMHC Canada.

Jason Evanson
President & CEO, RMHC Alberta

Jason Evanson is the elected Regional Chapter CEO Representative to the RMHC Canada National Board of Directors. As the CEO for RMHC Alberta since 2016, Jason has a wealth of experience in the not-for-profit sector, including various leadership roles with other large, national federated charities.

Under Jason’s leadership, RMHC Alberta has expanded significantly to serve more families across the province, including the new Ronald McDonald House in Medicine Hat which opened in 2020, and the expanded Ronald McDonald House that tripled in size and impact in May.

Jason's personal connection and commitment to RMHC stretches back to 1985 when his best friend, and cousin, resided at the Calgary House for many months before his passing.

Samantha Parsons
Board Chair, RMHC Southwestern Ontario (SWO)

Samantha Parsons is the elected Regional Chapter Board Chair Representative to RMHC Canada National Board of Directors.

For more than 13 years, Sam has been involved with RMHC, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to supporting families with seriously ill children. Since 2019, Sam has served on the Board of Directors for RMHC SWO, where she is now Chair, contributing her leadership and passion to the organization’s mission.

Professionally, Sam works as a Clinical Research Manager specializing in ophthalmology, where she oversees the coordination and execution of clinical studies.

Learn more about our Board of Directors