Dear Members,
I’m honoured to serve as your newly elected President and grateful for the trust you have placed in me and the Board. Our organization exists because of your commitment to CIPHI and the environmental public health profession, and I am committed to serving you with transparency, integrity, and respect.
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce your current Board of Directors:
- Kelsie Dale, President
- Casey Neathway, Vice President
- Natalie Lowdon, Past President
- Alexandre Tancrede, National Director – Education
- Ann Thomas, National Director – Policy & Governance
- Kevin Kappell, National Director – Communications & Advocacy
- Courtney Zimmerman, Branch Director – BC/YK
- Karah Harvey, Branch Director – AB/NWT/NT
- Theresa Reid, Branch Director – SK
- Samarjeet Singh, Branch Director – MB
- Peter Heywood, Branch Director – ON
- Laura Hamper, Branch Director – NB/QU
- Daniel McGee, Branch Director – NS/PEI
- Jillian Young, Branch Director – NL
This Board brings together a range of experience and perspectives, and we are committed to working collaboratively as a team. As a volunteer team, we are committed to working collaboratively to advance key initiatives that align with CIPHI’s mission, support the profession, and deliver meaningful value to our members.
As we begin this new term, I would like to share how your Board operates and the expectations we uphold:
1. Roles and Responsibilities
Your Board is responsible for governance of CIPHI, including setting strategic direction, ensuring financial stewardship, and upholding our bylaws and policies. In addition, we operate as a working board, with all members assigned general work and specific operational portfolios to support the organization’s ongoing activities and priorities. These portfolios are intended to advance our work in alignment with CIPHI’s mission and values.
All board members are expected to act in the best interests of the organization, contribute actively within their assigned areas, respect confidentiality where required, and engage in a spirit of teamwork and collaboration to support Board decisions.
2. Process and Accountability
Board actions, including elections and decision-making, are guided by our bylaws and established procedures. These processes are designed to be fair, consistent, and transparent, and the recent election was conducted in full alignment with them. While questions are a natural and important part of a healthy organization, it is equally important to recognize that there can be more than one appropriate way to apply process. The Board is committed to exercising its responsibilities thoughtfully and professionally, and to maintaining accountability in a way that supports confidence, stability, and trust across the membership.
3. Communication and Conduct
We value respectful, fact-based communication. CIPHI is committed to keeping members informed through regular and transparent updates, including official emails, website information, social media, annual meetings, and other established communication channels that reflect the work and decisions of the Board. We encourage members to look to these sources as the most accurate and reliable information about our activities and direction.
If members have questions or concerns, we welcome them and encourage you to bring them forward directly or through your Branch Representative on the Board so they can be addressed clearly and constructively. Maintaining open, respectful dialogue, grounded in accurate information, helps ensure a strong, collaborative, and well-informed organization.
4. Transparency and Engagement
We are committed to listening and engaging with members in meaningful ways. In the coming weeks, we will be launching a member survey to gather your feedback, ideas, and priorities. Your voice is essential in shaping our direction, and I strongly encourage you to participate.
Our focus is on strengthening our organization, fostering trust, and moving forward together with professionalism and respect. As a volunteer-led organization, we will continue to balance transparency and engagement with thoughtful use of our collective time and capacity. I believe we have a strong foundation and a shared commitment to our mission—and that will guide us through this next chapter.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Kelsie Dale, CPHI(C)
President, Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors