St. Joseph’s home team

It’s a phone call Ann and Bill Fleming never expected to receive. And the surprising news left them touched and humbled.

On a rather cool afternoon in early April, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation’s President & CEO, Michelle Campbell, called the Flemings with a special request: to recognize their contributions to St. Joseph’s at the 2025 Tribute Dinner.

“We looked at each other and clouded up,” Bill says, laughing affectionately with Ann.

“Ann and Bill are well-known and beloved members of the community”, says Campbell.  “They are deeply interested in, and support, multiple causes through a genuine interest in being of service to the community.  That’s just who they are.”

The Flemings have been part of the fabric of St. Joseph’s for nearly four decades. From Ann’s involvement with the Women’s Christian Association, the founders of Parkwood Hospital, and the first WCA member to join and then Chair the St. Joseph’s Health Care London Board of Directors after the merger of the hospitals, Bill’s committee work and patient ambassador roles, to their unfailing philanthropic support through their named fund for care at Parkwood, the Flemings have been there for St. Joseph’s – a place they call home.

And their greatest asset in their work with St. Joseph’s has always been each other; together, creating the perfect team. A team that is very much part of the St. Joseph’s family.

A west coast reunion

Ann and Bill first met as students at Western University. Following graduation they went their separate ways. Ann was drawn to the west coast, where she pursued a master’s degree and worked in public health administration and nursing consultation. Bill headed up north, where he and his wife Jeanne raised their daughters. Very sadly, Jeanne passed away from cancer in 1990.

Years later, while Bill and his daughters vacationed out west, he looked up some old university friends – including Ann.

A friendship was re-kindled, love grew and the Fleming team was formed.  

With family and many friends located in Ontario and Ann and Bill’s parents living in London, the Flemings decided to move back to the city.

Moved by the spirit of St. Joseph’s

It wasn’t long after settling back into the city that the offers started flowing in for them to volunteer with various causes. For them, there was no question they would get involved.

“I believe strongly that you should give back what you have been given,” says Ann. 
“And if you get involved with your community you become part of the whole.”

Soon Ann became a member of the Women’s Christian Association, the founding body of the original Parkwood Hospital. That led to a role as a Hospital Board member, eventually becoming Chair in 1991. At the same time, Ann served on numerous Hospital committees, as an advocate for the then-Lawson Health Research Institute and as a member of St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation’s Governance and Individual Giving Committees. Bill served as a member of a Foundation Board committee and shared his personal care experiences as a patient ambassador.

The Flemings point to their parents as their role models of voluntarism.

“I was raised in a family who instilled the importance of giving back,” says Ann of her parents.

Her mother, Betty Taylor was a dedicated volunteer for several community-based agencies including Meals on Wheels. Meanwhile, her father J. Allyn Taylor is remembered as a dedicated community leader, who amongst his many commitments served as the Chancellor of Western University, was the founder and chair of the London Community Foundation and served as chair of Robarts Research Institute and University Hospital prior to its merger with Victoria Hospital. He is also one of the founders of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Bill’s parents were also altruistic, volunteering with the local chapters of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire and Shriners.

“We wanted to share the legacy of trust that was left by our parents,” says Ann, describing their reasons for volunteering.

As vast as the community offers were, the Flemings dedicated most of their time to St. Joseph’s. They were moved by the spirit of compassion and caring that dated back to its earliest days. There also was a strong personal connection as family members had been cared for by the organization – including Bill’s grandmother and cousin, as well as his aunt and uncle who were Canadian Veterans. Ann’s father was also cared for at Parkwood.

A special place in our hearts

While the Flemings worked tirelessly helping to frame, shape and govern St. Joseph’s, they couldn’t help but be moved by the ongoing care they learned about. And their connection to Parkwood deepened to create a special place in their hearts.

It’s why they decided to set up a special fund, The Ann and Bill Fleming Fund for Patient Rehabilitation & Care Needs at Parkwood Hospital, that annually supports patient care needs that aren’t funded by the government. The fund supports medical and patient-related equipment like a physiotherapy cardio trainer, weights and aqua training devices, voice amplifiers and a top-load washer for patients who do not have family support to launder their clothing while in hospital.

And each year, the Flemings meet with the care teams to hear about new and emerging needs of the frontline and to learn more about the importance this equipment has in the lives of patients and residents across the many programs at Parkwood.

This annual support complements their past generosity of large capital campaigns and gifts in gratitude for the care programs who have been there to personally support them – including the Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre and the Urology Program.

“It’s great fun to watch Ann and Bill work with the clinical team to distribute funds each year from their named fund,” says Campbell.  “You can see that they take great delight in giving; that includes working with the staff on how their fund can help and understanding the impact of their philanthropy.”

On October 9, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation – and a grateful community -- will pay tribute to Ann and Bill Fleming for their commitment to St. Joseph’s.

Honoured by the recognition, the Flemings believe that their life in London has been a gift – and its one that they have nurtured so that the community can grow stronger for all citizens.  

St. Joseph’s Tribute Dinner will be held on October 9 at RBC Place London. Featured guest will be Canadian Tim Caulfield, PhD. Dubbed the nemesis of pseudoscience by the Globe and Mail, Caulfield is an unrivalled communicator and research champion. Tribute 2025 will also celebrate St. Joseph’s Lawson Research Institute, where they are revolutionizing health care through discoveries that transform lives. All funds raised will support the Spirit of St. Joseph’s Fund supporting highest priority care, education and research needs across St. Joseph’s Health Care London.