BoC and EC Members

Gary Tam, CPHI(C)

Chair

Gary is the Senior Environmental Health Officer with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. He has a humble start in his EHO career by working in a small town in Alberta to experience all aspects of public health after he graduated from BCIT in 2004. He moved back to the West Coast two years later and worked as a generalist EHO in the Richmond/Vancouver region. He is always passionate about improving the training experience for practicum students by being actively involved in developing a robust training program. He works tirelessly with the students to help them build competencies as entry-level EHOs.

Gary has been a strong supporter of CIPHI at both provincial and national levels. He is always a keen volunteer who is willing to pick up any tasks, big or small, such as being a photographer in an education conference, leading various planning committees, and managing projects in BC Branch, NEC, or BOC. He was awarded the President Award in 2016 for his outstanding service as a Branch President and National Treasurer from 2011-2013. He was also recently recognized as the Member of the Year 2021 in the CIPHI BC Branch for his numerous contributions to the Institute.

In his spare time, he loves weight training at the gym, taking scenic pictures, and spending quality time with his wife and his rescued dog, Riesling.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition & Health (University of British Columbia)

Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Health (BCIT)
Master of Business Administration (University of the People)

George Koutsoulis, CPHI(C)

Vice Chair

George has been working as a public health inspector since 1996. George is currently the Senior Public Health Inspector for the Region Regina area office of the Saskatchewan Health Authority and oversees the Communicable Disease, Rabies Prevention and Public Water programs. He has been a member of the Board of Certification since 2019.

Julie (Young) Spurvey, CPHI(C)

NB/QC Branch

Originally from Prince Edward Island, Julie graduated from Cape Breton University with a Bachelor of Technology (Public Health) after having completed her Bachelor of Science from UPEI.
After graduating, she worked in Northern Ontario for a couple of years before moving back east and settling in New Brunswick. Here she worked under a generalized program as a Public Health Inspector, regularly serving as a mentor for student PHI’s preparing for the board of certification.
Currently Julie holds the position of Program Advisor with the Department of Environment, providing scientific advice and support guided by the ecological determinants of health.

Nimone Campbell, CPHI (C)

Saskatchewan Branch

Nimone is currently a Senior Public Health Inspector with the Saskatchewan Health Authority overseeing both the Moose Jaw and Rosetown Public Health Offices. Graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2003, she began her career as a student Public Health Inspector in Woodstock, Ontario. In 2004, she moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to continue her career, which she currently resides.
Nimone has been a CIPHI member since 2003. She became a BOC examiner in 2017 and an exam co-coordinator from 2019 – 2023.
Nimone loves to travel, volunteering for community organizations and spending time with family and friends.

Julie Swanlund, CPHI (C)

Manitoba Branch

Julie Swanlund is one of the regional managers for the Winnipeg Region Health Protection Unit, Manitoba Health Seniors and Long-Term Care. She holds a Bachelor of Human Ecology degree from the University of Manitoba, graduated from BCIT and certified in 1995.
She has been a councillor both for Ontario Branch and Manitoba Branches. She sat on CoPE for two terms and co-chaired the Centennial AEC in Winnipeg in 2013. She was honoured with the Alex Cross Award in 2013 and the Don Poulin Award (MB Member of Distinction) in 2021.
Julie has been a long-standing member of CIPHI and continues to volunteer and advocate for the profession. In her spare time, she enjoys the serenity of her lake house, spending time with her three children and 5 grandchildren.

Alexandre Tancrede, MMM, CD, CPHI(C)

Canadian Armed Forces Representative

Alexandre is a Preventive Medicine Technician with the Canadian armed forces. Beginning his career as a medical technician in 2004, he specialized as a Preventive Medicine Technician in 2014. Since then, he worked at the rank of Master Corporal, sergeant, and warrant officer for 5 Field Ambulance’s Preventive Medicine office in Quebec City, Québec. As a Master Warrant Officer, he is now the Clinic Sergeant-Major for 41 Canadian Forces Health Services Center in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec. As a Preventive Medicine Technician, he deployed with the Canadian Armed Forces on local operations as well as overseas in Malaysia, Ukraine, Kuwait, Iraq, Katar, Bahrain and Dominican Republic.

Education:
Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (Toronto Metropolitan University)
Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health) (University of Cape Breton)
Master of Ethics (ongoing) (Université du Québec à Rimouski)

NS/PEI Branch

Daria Romanish, CPHI(C)

Alberta Branch

Daria has been a CIPHI member since 2005 and in that time has volunteered many hours to CIPHI in various capacities. Her roles have included workshop planning/development, BOC examiner, Alberta Branch Zone Councilor, and, currently, Alberta Branch Representative on the Board of Certification.

Since 2006, Daria has been an PHI at Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone, and has spent the majority of her career in the built environments portfolio, which includes program areas such as rental housing, personal services, recreational water, and social care.

In her spare time, Daria loves travelling and spending time in the beautiful Rocky Mountains on skis, snowshoes, a road bike, or in hiking boots.

Angela Whalen, CPHI(C)

BC Branch

Angela is an Environmental Health and Drinking Water Officer currently employed with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. She graduated from BCIT in 2009 and began her career in Whistler as the community prepared to host the 2010 Olympics. After four years in Whistler, she took a position in Squamish where she currently lives and works.
Throughout her career, Angela’s work has spanned several public health areas including recreational water, drinking water, food safety, special events, communicable disease control, emergency response, and public education. One of her most notable achievements was development of the PoolSmart course, now offered semi-annually by VCH to pool operators across the region. In 2017, Angela earned the Dr. R Neil Lowry Safe Recreational Water Award for her work on the PoolSmart course.
Angela started volunteering as an examiner for the CIPHI Board of Certification in 2013. In 2019, Angela became the Exam Coordinator for BC. In this role, she navigated several logistical challenges and developed a safety plan, which enabled the province to continue offering in-person oral exams throughout COVID.
In 2022, Angela was appointed to the position of BOC Branch Rep for BC. In this role, she is looking forward to participating with the on-going modernization of the board’s policies and procedures, and helping to ensure our accredited institutions and examination process continue to meet the needs of our dynamic industry.
In her spare time, Angela enjoys spending time with her husband and five cats, gardening, CrossFit, trail-running, all-inclusive beach vacations, and playing video games.

Lal Rishi, CPHI(C)

Ontario Branch

Lal graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University with a BASs in Public Health in 2005. With a student public health experience from Peel Region for the first summer student job, he started his public health career at Niagara Region and called it a home since 2005. He has taken on various public health roles that include field inspection, coordinating pool and food safety programs, implementation and program support for Environmental Health. He has been passionately involved in the mentorship program for PHI students.

Lal has been an active member of CIPHI since 2005 and has supported CIPHI by volunteering on working groups, participating as Board of Certification examiner until joining as the Ontario Branch Representative on the Board of Certification in 2019.

Lal loves traveling and exploring new areas. In his spare time you will find him bicycling embracing beautiful Niagara, golfing, or spending time with family and friends.