About Us

Executive Director

Biography: Jack McCarthy

Jack McCarthy has been the Executive Director of the Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC) since 1989. During his tenure he has guided the centre through a major capital project resulting in the centre’s relocation to a new building at 55 Eccles in 1993. At the same time the Centre has significantly expanded its program base, providing a vast range of health and social services targeted to the needs of the Somerset West community.

Jack is the Chairperson of the Canadian Alliance of Community Health Centre Associations (CACHCA), a position he has occupied since 2004

Currently, he chairs both the Ottawa Hospital Community Advisory Committee and the Central Ottawa Community of Care Advisory Forum for the Champlain Local Health Integration Network.

Jack is a member of the Global Primary Health Care Work Group, which seeks to document best practice in the provision of primary health care

internationally.

In 2000, Jack left SWCHC for a 15 month secondment to Health Canada to serve as a senior policy analyst in the Primary Health Care Division

Jack has been the past Co-chair of the Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres in Ottawa (2002-2004), past board member of the Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) (1995-1998), and past board member of the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) (1997)

Prior to being at Somerset West CHC, he was the founding Executive Director of Carlington Health and Community Services in Ottawa and worked previously with the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa and the Social Services Department of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton.

Jack obtained a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1977. The major focus of his studies was in community development and social planning.

Jack is married to Sharon D’Arcy, a practicing social worker in the mental health field in Ottawa. They have two daughters, Kate and Kaeli