Leitrim native receives highest honour at awards ceremony in Canada

A Leitrim man has been awarded the highest honour a Canadian province can give. 

Brian J. Dunne, formerly from Drumsna, County Leitrim, son of Bernard Joseph Dunne and Margaret Dunne, Coolcrieve, Drumsna was awarded the Order of Ontario at a prestigious ceremony in Toronto, Canada on the 16th June 2025.

The Order of Ontario is the province’s highest civilian honour. It is awarded to an Ontarian who has shown the highest level of excellence and achievement in their field, and whose impact has left a legacy in our province, in our country and around the world.

Members of the Order are a collective of Ontario’s finest citizens, whose contributions have shaped and continue to shape the province’s history and place in Canada.

Brian J. Dunne has been the President & Chief Executive Officer of PHSS Support Services since its inception in 1988. Under his leadership, PHSS has grown into a leading non-profit organization supporting over 450 individuals with complex medical, physical, and developmental needs in community across 80+ locations in Ontario, Canada.

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PHSS's innovative, community-based support enables individuals with complex medical, physical, and developmental needs to live in their own homes and actively participate in their communities.

Advocacy and Innovation

Brian has been instrumental in transitioning individuals from large institutional settings to living meaningful lives in community.

By championing a person-centered approach, Brian has provided greater independence and dignity to individuals with significant disabilities and complex needs, earning national and international recognition. Under his leadership, PHSS became a pioneer in Long-Term Ventilation (LTV) initiative in community, supporting individuals with ventilator dependency and easing pressure on hospital ICUs.

Honours and Awards

Brian’s contributions to health and social care have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards:

Order of Ontario (2025): The province’s highest civilian honour for his transformative impact in the health and social care sector and the community.

* OCSA Commitment to Care Leadership Award: Acknowledging his exceptional leadership and dedication to improving health and social services.
Recognition by the Developmental Services Sector for his efforts in integrated, community-based care.
Fanshawe College Distinguished Service Award for his role as Chair of the Social Services Advisory Committee.

* Honoured for his contributions to the South West LHIN Health Leadership Council and Ontario Health Team (OHT) Development Committees.
Leadership in Health and Community Services

Brian has served in key roles across multiple organisations:

Ontario Health Teams (OHTs): Active on steering committees for Elgin, Western, Huron Perth, Grey Bruce, and Oxford OHTs.

Boards and Committees: Board Trustee OASSIS Benefit Plans for Not-For-Profits, Member of the Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs (OASIS), Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA), and the Provincial Network on Developmental Services.

Community Advocacy: Chair of the Provincial Liaison Committee for Persons with Physical Disabilities and contributor to vulnerable population strategies.
Research

Brian has contributed to research publications focusing on person-centred approach to care and supports in community settings. Notably:

"The Implementation of Person-Centred Plans in the Community-Care Sector: A Qualitative Study of Organizations in Ontario, Canada"

Published in BMC Health Services Research in May 2024, this study examines how community-care organizations in Ontario implement person-centred care plans. Brian Dunne is listed as a co-author, reflecting his involvement in advancing person-centred approaches at PHSS.
Directory of Open Access Journals – DOAJ

"Individualized Participatory Care Planning for Individuals with Complex Needs: A Case Study of PHSS"
Published in BMC Health Services Research in December 2024, this research explores staff perceptions of developing and implementing individualized care plans at PHSS. Brian Dunne's contributions to this study highlight his commitment to personalized approach to care and supports.

These publications underscore Brian's dedication to enhancing person-centred care through practical implementation and research.

Brian’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity and innovation has positioned PHSS as a benchmark in community-based support. His leadership philosophy emphasizes person-centered design, inclusivity, and building sustainable, scalable health and social care solutions.