Category Archives: Rose News

dr. Elizabeth ‘liz’ Hillman (C.m.) passes on…… Rose Charities mourns

The late Dr’s Don and Elizabeth Hillman – mentors to the world..

We are sad to announce the passing on of Dr. Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Hillman, pivotal figure in the Rose Charities Canada and the whole Rose Charities Family. Liz both contributed in expertise and/or initiated multiple Rose Charities programs (under her special ‘Hillman Fund’ division) both in Africa and Asia. She was always one of Rose Charities topmost mentors and advisors.

Dr Elizabeth Hillman grew up in Northern Ontario with no roads, schools, or healthcare. She and her family lived in a retired railway car that was converted into a schoolhouse; the schoolhouse traveled to a different town each week, where her parents would teach the children of local workers. Dr Hillman went on to graduate from medical school at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) in 1951. She then completed postgraduate training in pediatrics from five different schools in three countries.

For 20 years, Dr Hillman was Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics including Emergency, Management of Child Abuse, and the Poison Control Centre at Montreal Children’s Hospital. For four years, she served in Kenya with a McGill-Kenya CIDA-funded project to develop a pediatric program at the University of Nairobi, alongside her husband, Dr Donald Hillman, and their five children. She and her husband worked as global medical consultants in several Asian and African countries.

Dr Hillman was the first female president of the Medical Council of Canada and both she and her husband led active roles in the Canadian Paediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics. They were both awarded the Order of Canada (C.M.) in 1994 for their commitment to international child health. She was also chair of the Board of the Elisabeth Bruyère Research Institute at the University of Ottawa from 2005 to 2008. In honour of her late husband, Dr Hillman established the Hillman Medical Education Fund which ran as a special division of Rose Charities Canada (and International) to support health education and to foster future leaders in medicine, particularly in East Africa. It did however extend considerably further contributing to Rose Charities initiatives both in Asia as well as Africa.

Liz’s passing on is a great loss to the world. Her life was however full, vibrant and focused, contributing hugely to diffusing education and health care to many who have benefited from it and have themselves then spread it on to others. In this way her influence, and charity have brought wonderful lives to many who otherwise would have remained within the poverty trap.

To Rose Charities, Liz was one of the finest sources of expertise and advice possible and the organization was truly lucky to count her has a mentor. While Africa was her main focus, her experience and advice extended also to S.E. Asia, particularly Indo China which has been one of the main foci of Rose Charities activities for its 22 year existence.

Dr Elizabeth Hillman. The whole of Rose Charities salutes you, lauds and acclaims you, and now, mourns you. We will not forget you and extend all condolences to your family.

2019 Canada Rose Charities Planning Meeting

    Rose Charities Canada 2019 annual planning, business and logistics meeting saw a gathering of program leaders of projects in Ecuador to Cambodia, Uganda to Sri-Lanka.  Chaired by Rose International’s Linda Roberts and Rose Canada Chair Maggie Francis, the meeting covered issues from Child Protection Policy  update, through Volunteer issues, to discussions around better integration, web and social media presence, donor and donation engagement and strategic paths forward to deliver the maximum benefits to recipients

Seen in the images above are Mrs Maggie Francis and Mrs Linda Roberts (joint chairs).  Professor Andrew Macnab  (Uganda and other, general health education and implementation) ,  Dr Joanne Young and Mr Craig Keeting (Hillman Fund leaders) ,   Ms Candace Cho (Ecuador program), Ms Jenny Moss (Costa Rica programs),  Mr Jean and Terri Lubin (Haiti Community program),   Ms Karen Schafer (Haiti Neonatal Resuscitation training), Ms Kate Wooton (Uganda Community Program), Dr Ellen Coburn (Mayan School, Guatemala).  Also Rose Charities Main Board Members (Emily McCance -Josephine Defreitas, Galib Kara,  Tim Maguire, Frank Tharakan, Mike Ramanadan,, Dr Will Grut,   and Kevin Simpson (Hon Member)

One Tree Hill Sinfonia plays for Malambo Zambia ! Sat Sept 15th 6pm

The amazing One Tree Hill Sinfonia is holding a charity concert for Malambo Grassroots Zambia  Saturday 15th September.

The Malambo Programs are supported through Rose Charities Canada  and carry out amazing and hugely needed work in child education, including music education, income generation, womens groups, and health.  One of their main organizers is Heidi Krutzen, Canada’s leading harpist currently living and working with the London Philharmonia.

For over 20 years Rose Charities has been developing essential ground level programs to many parts of the world, with no administration fees.

6pm Sat 15th September.   Admission 10pounds, St Augustines Church,  Honour Oak Park SE23