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David Litwin joined VON as general counsel and chief privacy officer in May of 2026. Here, David shares a look at his career history, his motivation for working in the non-profit healthcare sector and what fills his cup outside of work.

1. What led you to a career working in the home and community care sector?

My career has consistently brought me to roles that combine law, health and helping people. Early in my career, I represented physicians in medical negligence and regulatory matters, as well as individuals seeking justice in the aftermath of sexual assault. It was very meaningful to help my clients move through difficult stages of their lives and navigate a complicated legal system.

After practicing litigation, I worked as legal counsel at the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), Ontario’s retirement home regulator. That is where I developed a deeper understanding of aging in Canada, including the challenges of providing healthcare services at home and in the community. I saw the impact that COVID-19 had on the physical and mental health of thousands of Ontarians living in retirement homes. My work at the RHRA reinforced how important it is to help people remain safe, independent and connected to their communities.

Moving to VON was a natural next step because now I get to work shoulder to shoulder with amazing colleagues who tirelessly deliver care directly to thousands of clients across Ontario and Nova Scotia.

2. You spent several years at the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority in legal, enforcement and privacy roles. What did that work teach you about protecting vulnerable people, and how does it shape your approach at VON?

It taught me that supporting vulnerable people requires more than policies on paper. It requires good systems, careful judgment and a willingness to act when something does not look right.

At the RHRA, I worked on matters involving abuse, neglect, interference with care, serious harm and, at times, death. Those cases reinforced the importance of listening carefully, looking at the whole context and keeping the wellbeing of the individual at the centre of the decision-making. That work also taught me that legal advice has to be practical and help the people delivering services make good decisions in real situations.

At VON, that means working closely with operational and clinical colleagues, understanding how care is delivered and helping identify legal, privacy and safety issues before they become larger problems. My approach is to support good decision-making from start to finish rather than simply identify legal obstacles.

3. What do you see as the biggest legal or policy challenges facing the sector right now?

Canada’s population is aging and there is an increased need for home and community care. At the same time, there are pressures associated with funding for home and community care, workforce recruitment and delivering services in remote communities across Ontario and Nova Scotia. These pressures create legal and policy questions around the best ways to help people live in their homes and communities while receiving the caring support they need.

This is also a period of great opportunity. Technology has enabled our healthcare system to be more interconnected than ever, which can be a powerful tool to help clients receive the care, services and supports they require.

As part of VON’s senior leadership, I remain focused on identifying legal and policy challenges and on charting a path through those challenges, with VON’s clients and mission at the centre.

4. As both general counsel and chief privacy officer, you’re wearing two hats. How do you see the privacy side of the role evolving, especially as home and community care becomes more digital?

Technology is embedded throughout the organization, and privacy is not something that can be addressed after a system has been designed. It must be built into design decisions about technology, data use, artificial intelligence, information sharing and vendor relationships from the very beginning. This is why VON’s privacy team works closely with our colleagues throughout VON to support innovation and embed strong privacy principles into our systems.

The privacy portfolio is broad and important, and it goes hand-in-hand with providing excellent service to our clients. Our objective is to ensure that clients understand how their information is used and to have confidence that it is protected. VON’s privacy work includes organizational training, conducting privacy and security impact assessments for new and evolving initiatives, developing data-sharing and disclosure practices for clients and partner organizations, governance of records and information management protocols, developing a principled and practical framework for the use of artificial intelligence and managing privacy incidents when they do arise.  

5. What are you looking forward to achieving at VON?

Broadly speaking, I hope to make a lasting contribution to an organization whose work matters to so many thousands of people in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

I am looking forward to being a trusted and practical partner to colleagues across VON. Success for me means that colleagues bring Legal and Privacy into discussions early, because they recognize that we can help them achieve their objectives. This is a time of great opportunity for VON, and I am eager to lend my hands to support VON as it continues to grow and deliver on its mission.

6. Is there something about VON’s mission that resonates with you?

VON’s work has a huge and tangible impact on thousands of people’s day-to-day lives. I have great respect for all of the nurses, personal support workers and continuing care assistants, caregivers, volunteers and behind-the-scenes staff who work day-in and day-out to make this happen.

Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand how important it is for people’s physical and mental health to receive quality health services, to maintain strong supports within the community and to be able to navigate the healthcare systems. It is a privilege to work for a charity that is dedicated to empowering clients in these ways.

People deserve to be supported to live well in their own homes and communities and to make informed decisions about their care. That combination of independence, dignity and access to care is very meaningful to me.

7. What keeps you busy outside of work?

My family keeps me busy, particularly my young daughter. I love canoe camping and spending time outdoors. Getting into the backcountry is a wonderful counterbalance to my work because it takes me away from devices and forces me to use my body and be present with those around me. I always return from a camping trip rested and ready to get back to work. I also love wood-working and exploring everything Toronto has to offer.

8. You serve on the board of Project Canoe, which supports youth facing barriers through outdoor programming, and you’re a canoe camper yourself. What interests you about that work, and does it connect to how you think about community and wellbeing more broadly?

Whether it was as a camp counsellor during my teenage years or working on youth outreach as a student in university, I have always been passionate about supporting youth development. Project Canoe is an amazing organization because it gives youth who wouldn’t otherwise have it the opportunity to experience the power of the outdoors. Project Canoe’s participants come away from those experiences with newfound self-confidence, resilience and often a greater sense of belonging.

There is also a broader connection to how I think about wellbeing. Health is influenced by more than formal health care. Community, relationships, confidence, access to nature and a sense of personal agency all matter. Outdoor programming can create a setting for young people to discover abilities they may not have recognized in themselves. That emphasis on participation, connection and independence is part of what draws me to VON.

9. What’s your favourite place you’ve been canoe camping in Ontario?

We are privileged as Ontarians to have so many amazing places to explore. My family often camps in Algonquin Provincial Park, both because it is beautiful and close to Toronto (relatively, at least). But I have also had incredible experiences in Killarney Provincial Park, Wabakimi Provincial Park north of Thunder Bay and in the Lake of the Woods region outside of Kenora. Wherever we go, we meet amazing people who inspire us to continue exploring Canada.  

Read more about David in his bio.