Board of Health
The Board of Health for Northwestern Health Unit consists of eight members appointed by our local municipalities and up to three members appointed by the Province.
The municipal members are appointed for a term at the pleasure of their respective municipal councils, usually four years. Provincial members sit for a term of one, two, or three years, as determined by the Minister of Health. The positions of Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually.
Board of Health members for 2023-2026
The following are our Board of Health members for 2023-2026:
| Board of Health members | Appointee details |
|---|---|
| Doug Lawrance – Chair | Municipal appointee for Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake, and Ignace |
| Wendy Brunetta – Vice Chair | Municipal appointee for Fort Frances |
| Jamie Kristoff | Municipal appointee for Red Lake, Ear Falls |
| Trudy Sachowski – Executive Member, alPHa rep | Municipal appointee for Dryden and Machin |
| Bob Bernie | Municipal appointee for Kenora |
| Bekkie Vineberg | Municipal appointee for Kenora and Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls |
| Janelle Zacharias | Municipal appointee for Atikokan |
| Lucille MacDonald | Municipal appointee for Alberton, Dawson, Chapple, Morley, La Vallee, Rainy River, Emo and Lake of the Woods |
Board of Health meetings for 2023
The Board of Health meets 10 times each year to direct the business of the Northwestern Health Unit. Our Constitution and By-Laws govern the structure and function of the Board of Health.
To access our electronic meetings, please contact the Secretary to the Board of Health via email.
Meeting dates
Board of Health meetings are open to the public in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001. Any individual may attend and observe a meeting. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board has suspended any in-person delegations. Please contact the Secretary to the Board of Health, via email, for more information about how you can connect with your Board of Health.
Delegations and deputations
The Secretary to the Board of Health must receive requests for delegations or deputations, in writing, 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting. Contact talkpublichealth@nwhu.on.ca for more information.
The Board of Health allows each deputation a maximum of two speakers for a maximum of 20 minutes total.
Some meetings may be closed to the public (in camera)
The Board of Health may close a meeting to the public (held “in camera”) for specific reasons outlined in the Municipal Act, 2001.
You can request an investigation into whether or not the Board of Health closed a meeting (or a portion of a meeting) appropriately by filling out the municipal investigation complaint intake form and sending it to the board appointed investigator using the following:
The Board of Health meets 10 times each year to direct the business of the Northwestern Health Unit. Our Constitution and By-Laws govern the structure and function of the Board of Health.
To access our electronic meetings, please contact the Secretary to the Board of Health via email.
