About

Bonify is located in a 320,000 square foot facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  It is from here, the Heart of Canada, that each and every Bonify team member works passionately to achieve our goal of producing quality-assured medical cannabis to help patients get the most out of life each and every day.

Our Focus – On Your Needs

Simply put … we genuinely care about providing medical cannabis products when and how they are needed.  Whether you are a patient or a Health Care Practitioner we provide service to, you are a valued member of the Bonify community.

For Patient Members

We are working hard to help you become our customer; with you 100% of the way, we are committed to working equally hard to ensure you stay one. 

For Health Care Practitioners

We are similarly committed to aiding practitioners in the medical community as you assess whether medical cannabis is a treatment option for your patients.  Three of Canada’s leading recognized experts in the research and use of medical marijuana for medical purposes hold seats on Bonify’s Scientific Advisory Board.   Dr. Paul Daeninck of Winnipeg, a member of Health Canada’s Expert Advisory Committee for Physicians on Marihuana for Medical Purposes, Dr. Colleen O’Connell of New Brunswick, a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids and Dr. Karen Ethans of Manitoba,  Director of the Spinal Cord Unit at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre, and Assistant Professor in the University of Manitoba, Department of Internal Medicine’s Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, each lend their expertise and play a key role in guiding the company’s evolution.

For The Community

We are focused on giving back to the communities we serve.  Through the employment of many, practicing good corporate citizenship, active industry participation and supporting causes that matter to our customers and employees, we strive to make a difference.  Developing and maintaining long term meaningful relationships with all of our stakeholders is a key measure of our success

A highly credible team with diverse backgrounds and varied experience sets has been assembled to drive the organization.  

Jeffrey Peitsch is President & Chief Executive Officer. Jeff has demonstrated extensive business and community leadership throughout his 25 year career.  As Chief Operating Officer of CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) from 2004 – 2013, he was responsible for initiating and leading numerous major programs, projects and capital initiatives.  Jeff spearheaded the development of the Manitoba Cancer Plan and administration of CCMB’s $110 million annual operating budget. He also has extensive private sector experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.  Jeff holds a MBA, Bachelor of Law (LL.B.), and a B.Sc.

Karen Debroni is Director of Business Development & Administration. Karen is a customer oriented professional with a far-reaching network of national and international contacts.  She brings over 20 years of general business, sales, marketing & management  experience to Bonify from her tenure in senior leadership positions at solutions oriented private and public companies.  Karen is active in the community, volunteering and serving on the boards of several professional and charitable organizations.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and a Masters in Public Administration degree from the University of Winnipeg. 

Mark Smolenski is the facility’s General Manager. Mark brings over 28 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience.  Over his career, Mark has had full P&L accountability and held Senior Leadership positions in Operations and Product Development with Cangene Corporation, Abbott Laboratories and Biomira, developing and manufacturing products indicated for the immunotherapy, oncology and pain management spaces. Mark’s extensive experience in pharmaceutical product pipeline development spans the entire development life-cycle, focusing on creation and management of complex programs for the execution of regulatory and commercial strategies for product launches.  Mark holds a MSc. in Microbiology and BSc. (Hons) in Biochemistry. 

Pedro Jorge, Head of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, is a senior level technical manager and leader with a proven track record in the development, global commercialization and control of healthcare products.  Throughout his entire career spanning more than two decades, Pedro has applied sound quality principles and practices.  Clinical trial research management and contract research testing are but two of Pedro’s particular areas of expertise.  Pedro is a member of the Parenteral Drug Association and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba and Biochemical Technology Diploma from Red River College.

Across the board – Human Resources, Customer Care, Security, Production, Sales, Marketing, Information Technology and Quality Assurance – all of our dedicated professional team members are here, working hard, for you.

Partners & Advisors

Dr. Paul Daeninck, MD, MSc, FRCPC is a medical oncologist and palliative care consultant working in Winnipeg. He is currently Site Coordinator, Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology at St. Boniface Hospital for CancerCare Manitoba, and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba.  Dr. Daeninck serves with national organizations, including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC). He is part of a group developing a curriculum in palliative and end of life care for oncology professionals, EPEC-O Canada. He is a past president of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians. He has written articles in the medical literature, and has contributed to textbooks on pain and palliative medicine. Dr. Daeninck is co-chair of the recently developed Pain & Symptom Research Group at CancerCare Manitoba whose research interests include alternate routes of medication administration, the role of cannabinoids in those with advanced disease, and symptom management of the palliative patient.

Dr. Colleen O’Connell, MD, FRCPC Research Chief Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation
Fredericton, NB. Dr. Colleen O’Connell completed medical school at Memorial University of Newfoundland and residency in PM&R at Dalhousie University. She specializes in neurorehabilitation at the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation in New Brunswick, holding faculty appointments with Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine and University of New Brunswick Faculty of Kinesiology. Her research activities include the use of cannabinoids in pain and spasticity management.

Colleen is a member of the Canadian ALS Clinical Trials and Research Network, the Atlantic Mobility Action Project, and the executive of the Canadian Association for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In addition to her clinical and research practice, Colleen is founder and chair of Team Canada Healing Hands, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing rehabilitation care and training in developing countries.  Colleen is on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids.

Dr. Karen Ethans, MD, FRCPC, is Director of the Spinal Cord Unit at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre, and Assistant Professor in the University of Manitoba, Dept. of Internal Medicine’s Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  Karen is a clinical specialist in medical rehabilitation, neuropharmacology, pain, spasticity, and neurogenic bladder.  Her research interests include the use of cannabinoids in the management of chronic pain.