We are a Canadian registered charity with a volunteer-based Board of Directors that is legally responsible for the governance of our organization. Within that mandate, our board develops, implements, and monitors policies that allow our organization to carry out its work.
Board members are also the fiduciaries who steer an organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, legal governance, and financial management policies, as well as by making sure their nonprofit has adequate resources to advance its mission.
We are fortunate to have so many skilled and caring individuals who serve as our Board Members. This month we will feature Board Member, Dr. Ramesh Makhija Ph.D. C.Chem., FCIC.
Dr. Makhija was born and educated in India prior to coming to Canada. He obtained his formal education, B.Sc., (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, 1960), M.Sc. (Inorganic/Analytical Chemistry 1962), diploma in French Language 1963 and Ph.D., (Inorganic/Co-ordination Chemistry 1966) from Lucknow University, Lucknow India.
Prior to coming to Canada to further his interest in research, he was employed by the Geological Survey of India as a chemist from 1964 to 1966. He spent the next ten years perusing his research interests with undergraduate teaching in Canadian Universities.
Dr. Makhija joined the Federal Government in 1976, first with the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (CANMET) followed by Environment Canada. He moved back to Peterborough to head the Chemical Laboratories of Lakefield Research of Canada, a wholly owned subsidy of Falconbridge Corporation, in 1981.
He established a consulting firm with full laboratory services in an Environmental Health & Safety capacity, to offer new graduates hands-on training in analytical chemistry, enabling potential employment in larger laboratories. He has trained over 65 graduates and got them settled in Ontario with well-paid jobs. He carried out his research and development projects and undergraduate teaching at Trent University along with managing his company’s activities. This company provided consulting and laboratory services to facilities in Peterborough, Cobourg, Port Hope, Trenton, Belleville and Cornwall. He was awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year – Service/Retail” in 1992 by the Peterborough Small Business Week Committee and the Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Makhija is an adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Trent University, and stays active in research in inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry, environmental science, and occupational health and safety. The varied nature of his research interests led to over 38 peer-reviewed scientific papers in international scientific journals and five government internal reports.
In May of 1985, R&R Laboratories Limited carried out an inventory of household waste in the city of Peterborough under his supervision which resulted in a blue box collection in the city. It was the first study of its kind carried out in Canada.
So Why Is A Chemist Interested In Community Care Peterborough?
This chemist’s research into environmental challenges has earned him local, as well as national distinction but he has always made time, to give back.
“Every citizen should give back to society in one form or the other since society gives us what we have,” said Dr. Makhija. “Community Care Peterborough is very close to my heart and I will do whatever I can, and am able to.”
He has a particular interest in community health care supports.
He was married to the late Dr. Swarn Lata Makhija who was the Emergency Physician at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and established the first and the lasta Walk-In –Clinic in the city to help the overcrowded Emergency department at PRHC. It was nearly closed after her untimely death in 2003, and was kept open by Dr. Makhija until 2005. The family donated all furniture, equipment and supplies to health units in Peterborough, Marmora, and Madoc.
Dr. Makhija has two married daughters who are medical specialists in Allergy/Immunology and Neurology/Neurophysiology in the Children's Hospital in Chicago and Harvard Medical Centre in Boston respectively.
Dr. Makhija Receives A Cultural/Community Betterment Award.
Dr. Ramesh Makhija, along with seven others will be honoured with stone markers placed into the Pathway of Fame at Del Crary Park. Although the 2020 ceremony was cancelled due to the pandemic, tentative plans are in place to hold the 2021 ceremony in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace on Saturday, September 11th, 2021. Community Care Peterborough would like to add their congratulations to Dr. Makhija for his years of service to this community.
For more information about Community Care Peterborough’s governance, please visit https://www.commcareptbo.org/about%20us/Board%20Members.
