Lindsay Martinek, Senior Clinical Program Director, Providence Healthcare
On September 26, 2026, Providence Healthcare Foundation will host its inaugural community fundraising event, The Providence Way Walk & Roll, featuring an accessible route of up to five kilometres for walkers, rollers, and strollers of all abilities.
Lindsay Martinek, Senior Clinical Program Director, Providence Healthcare, explains why this event and Providence are so important to her.
What makes Providence such a special place to you?
What sets us apart is our people. From staff and physicians to volunteers, everyone here helps patients feel valued, supported, and seen beyond their illness or diagnosis. I’ve often heard the phrase: “St. Michael’s Hospital saved my life, and Providence gave me my life back.” I think that's a powerful reflection of Providence’s impact. We are committed to helping our patients regain optimal function, promote independence, build hope, and find comfort at end of life. Because of this, we help our patients live their lives to the fullest.
What is one thing you wish more people understood about Providence?
Providence is a leading centre for not only inpatient rehabilitation, but also complex continuing care, palliative care, seniors' care, and ambulatory services. It also has an Adult Day Program that supports the day-to-day needs of individuals living with moderate to severe dementia while providing much-needed respite and support for their caregivers.
We go beyond treating illness and injury. We partner with patients and their families to identify what matters most to them, set meaningful goals, and work toward achieving those goals through purposeful therapy, symptom management, and holistic support.
What are you proudest of when you think about the people of Providence?
When I reflect on my proudest moments at Providence Healthcare, it is always the people who come to mind—their energy, dedication, clinical excellence, and the deep sense of community they create every day. Our staff are experts in their fields, but what stands out is how they build lasting relationships with patients and families, not only as clinicians and caregivers, but also as champions and cheerleaders in each person’s recovery journey. Whether supporting someone through stroke rehabilitation, dementia care, complex continuing care, palliative and end-of-life care, or any stage in between, they bring humanity and skill together in a way that is both deeply professional and profoundly personal. I am especially proud of how our teams care for some of the most vulnerable patients, and do so without judgement, always ensuring compassion and respect, seeing the person before all else.
What does donor support make possible for Providence’s patients, residents, families, and staff?
Donor support makes personalized care possible for everyone who enters our doors. It enables us to invest in state-of-the-art equipment, innovative technologies, research, and leading practices that help patients and residents achieve their best possible outcomes. It supports healing, recovery, comfort, and quality of life. Every donation strengthens our ability to deliver innovative, person-centred, and dignified care, so that patients, residents, families, and staff all benefit from an environment designed for recovery and human connection.
Why is The Providence Way Walk & Roll meaningful to you?
The Providence Way unites the people who make Providence Healthcare special—our patients, families, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners. As Providence's signature fundraising event, it will ensure we can continue to provide personalized care, invest in innovative equipment and technology, and enhance the patient experience across rehabilitation, palliative care, complex continuing care, seniors’ care, and ambulatory services. At its heart, The Providence Way celebrates community, activity, and hope.
I look forward to seeing the stories behind the fundraising—the former patients who return to say “thank you,” the families who honour a loved one, the staff who go above and beyond for the people they care for, and the teams who celebrate each other's successes.
What do you hope people feel when they take part in this event?
I hope everyone experiences the warmth, inclusivity, and joy that define Providence, and sees firsthand the dedication of our teams and the profound impact we have on the lives of patients and families. It is an opportunity to help ensure we can continue transforming lives for generations to come across many of the communities we serve.
What would you say to someone who has never fundraised before?
You don't need to be an experienced fundraiser to make a meaningful difference. Every dollar raised, every conversation started, and every person who joins your team, helps us continue to transform lives. At Providence, we see how the right care, equipment, spaces, and support can help someone regain independence, find comfort, reconnect with what matters most, or navigate the end of life with dignity. By fundraising for Providence, you become part of that journey.
Sign up to walk, roll, or stroll an accessible route of up to five kilometres at Providence Healthcare on September 26, 2026—and support Lindsay Martinek by visiting her fundraising page.
Donate to Providence Healthcare.
