Honouring a lifetime of service in health care

Posted on Tuesday, June 9th, 2026

At this year’s Algonquin College convocation, Leah Levesque will walk across the stage to receive an honorary degree, a moment that reflects a career spent shaping the health care system many graduates are about to enter. Over decades, she has led teams, built partnerships, innovated and created opportunities for others. The recognition is fitting, not just for what she has accomplished, but how she has achieved it: with a steady focus on people and doing the right thing.

Levesque began her career as a registered nurse and expanded her education over time, earning a diploma from Fleming College, a nursing degree from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Toronto. Each step came from recognizing where she wanted to grow.

“I saw there were opportunities that I didn’t feel I was prepared for,” she says. “Going back to learn gave me the chance to put my name forward.”

Now retired, she reflects on a career that steadily expanded in scope. After a start in intensive care, she realized she wanted to have a broader impact.

“I wanted to contribute more to health care than just individual patient care,” she explains.

That shift led her into leadership roles, including vice president of patient care at both Arnprior Regional Health and Queensway Carleton Hospital and on to CEO of Arnprior Regional Health, retiring in 2024 after more than four decades in the field.

Her leadership style is grounded in curiosity and a willingness to change. She describes having a “five-year cycle,” a deep interest in learning and advancing new ways of thinking.

“I’m not very comfortable with the status quo,” she says. “I’m always trying to look at a different approach.”

For her, innovation is practical. It means being open, working with partners and finding better ways to support both patients and staff.

One of those partnerships, with Algonquin College, stands out. Early in her management career, she worked with the College to expand the scope of practice for registered practical nurses. The program blended remote and in-person learning so staff could continue working while upgrading their skills.

“It was about giving people the opportunity to do different work that is equally valuable and more meaningful,” she says.

Throughout her career, values have been just as important as results. Integrity has guided her decisions.

“Your integrity will always be the reputation that you have,” she says. “People are going to remember the relationship you’ve had and whether you did the right thing.”

Her advice to graduates is clear. This is just the beginning. “Continue to invest in yourself,” she says. She also encourages them to take chances, even when they feel unready. “Don’t be afraid to apply for a job you don’t think you’re qualified for. Everybody starts as a novice.”

She also offers a simple reminder: Be kind. Take your time. Bring others along.

“Life’s a journey,” she says. “Don’t be in a big hurry to get to the end.”

For Levesque, the honorary degree is meaningful, but it is just one moment in a career defined by growth, generosity and lasting impact.

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