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Behind every successful Foundation Board of Directors is a team of passionate community members who give their time, expertise, and heart.
This profile highlights a director whose deep community roots, business experience, and nine years of Board service bring valuable perspective to the Foundation's work.
Barb Hiller Thibeault
Born and raised in Stratford, Barb Hiller Thibeault has spent her career helping people put down roots in the community she proudly calls home. After studying Sociology and Calculus at Western University, Barb began her career in the insurance industry, working first in London and then Toronto before returning to Stratford.
While raising her young family, Barb continued her career in insurance and eventually discovered a passion for real estate. During maternity leave with her second child, she completed her real estate courses and joined Royal LePage Hiller Realty, the family business founded by her father, Peter Hiller, in 1967. Today, she owns and operates the brokerage alongside her husband, Mark, and works as both a managing and selling broker. Together, they continue to serve clients throughout Huron and Perth counties.
Barb joined the Stratford General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors in 2017 and has been a strong advocate for local healthcare ever since. She and Mark have two children, William and Isabelle. With William recently joining the brokerage, Royal LePage Hiller Realty now celebrates four generations of Hiller family involvement in the business.
In the Q&A below, she shares what inspired her to join the Foundation Board and what continues to motivate her commitment to Stratford General Hospital.
What inspired you to join the Stratford General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors?
I received a call one day from Rick Orr and, if you know Rick, you know it's hard to say no! When he invited me to join the Board in 2017, I quickly realized I had made the right decision.
The Foundation already felt familiar to me, as my mother, Dianne Hiller, served as Chair of the Board, and my brother, Brent Hiller, has also been involved. I was immediately welcomed by a group of people who shared a common goal: raising awareness and support for our hospital.
Through my work as a Realtor, I meet people who are choosing Stratford as their home and often hear what matters most to them. Access to exceptional healthcare consistently ranks high on that list. Serving on the Foundation Board has reinforced just how much our hospital relies on community support to provide the level of care we've come to expect.
What does community mean to you in the context of healthcare?
What I love most about Stratford is the exceptional level of service you experience throughout the community. Whether you're visiting a local business, attending a theatre performance, or accessing healthcare, people genuinely care.
The pandemic reminded us how important it is to support one another during challenging times. I made a point of supporting local businesses however I could, and that same spirit of generosity is reflected in the way our community supports the hospital.
Whenever friends visit from larger centres, they're amazed by how welcoming Stratford is. I feel incredibly fortunate to live and work here, and sharing what makes this community special is one of my favourite parts of my job.
What do you hope the Foundation will accomplish in the next five years?
My hope is that the Foundation continues to stay focused and ambitious in its goals. During the In Our Hands Capital Campaign, I watched our community's generosity exceed what many thought was possible. What seemed like an unattainable goal was not only achieved but surpassed.
As we look ahead to future priorities, including support for a new MRI, I have every confidence that our community will once again rise to the occasion. Being part of this Board has shown me just how powerful philanthropy can be and how much impact a community can have when people come together.
What's one fun fact people might not know about you?
I wanted to share a fun fact about my doppelgänger who lives right here in Stratford! My sister-in-law, Allison Hiller, and I have been mistaken for each other for years—even before we knew one another existed.
People are often left wondering whether they're talking to the Realtor or the Nurse. I like to call her my "stunt double"—so if you hear I've done something questionable, it was probably her!
