The Board of Certification of Public Health Inspectors (BoC)
To ensure that our members are experts in environmental public health, the BoC grants the Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada), or CPHI(C), to candidates who fulfill the requirements outlined in our regulations respecting certification.
The Council of Professional Experience (CoPE)
The Council of Professional Experience (CoPE) administers our Continuing Professional Competencies (CPC) program. In operation since early 2010, CoPE is composed of members appointed through consultation with the CIPHI branches.
The National Advocacy Committee
We advocate on behalf of environmental public health professionals, also known as public health inspectors and environmental health officers, and provide support to our branches, members, and partner agencies, including by disseminating information via position statements and media releases, and through correspondence with policy decision-makers.
Kevin Kapell
pres.elect@ciphi.caAppointed national-president elect on October 31, 2019, Kevin has been a valuable, dedicated and outspoken member of the NEC since May 2017. In spring 2007, he obtained his BASc in Environmental Health and Science at the First Nations University of Canada/University of Regina and obtained his CPHI(C) in the fall that same year. Since then, he has worked with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly Heartland Health Region) as a field public health officer. During this time, he has worked in rural offices in both Outlook, SK and Rosetown, SK and covers a large rural area in west central Saskatchewan.
Kevin became interested in CIPHI after he attended the Annual Education Conference in Regina in 2006 and the provincial conference in 2007, both organized by the Saskatchewan Branch. Inspired by the dedicated volunteers working hard to put on two great events, Kevin got involved, and has been a part of the CIPHI Saskatchewan Branch executive since being elected to a councillor position in 2011, and served as branch president from 2017 to 2019.
Kevin currently lives in Rosetown, SK with his wife Amanda and son Aiden. When he’s not working, he coaches both hockey and baseball, plays recreational hockey and golf, travels, and spends time at the family cabin.
Casey Neathway
Casey is the interior regional manager of Environmental Public Health Services for British Columbia’s First Nations Health Authority, the first province-wide, Indigenous-led health authority of its kind in Canada. Casey graduated from Thompson Rivers University with a BSc. in cellular, molecular, and microbial biology, and subsequently attended BCIT for his environmental health training, graduating in 2008. Since then, Casey has continued his education, obtaining graduate certificates in public health strategic communications and public health leadership. Throughout his career, Casey has worked in varied programs in population and public health, including environmental health, community care licensing, and First Nations community programming.
Prior to joining the BC Branch Executive Council as president-elect, Casey was (and continues to be) an associate editor of the BC Branch newsletter, and spent a number of years as a BoC examiner.
Casey currently lives in Vernon, BC where he enjoys the ideal Okanagan climate by backpacking, kayaking, camping, and snowshoeing with his family and dog.
Natalie Lowdon
Natalie Lowdon is the regional manager for the Winnipeg Health Protection Unit, Environmental Health Branch, with Manitoba Health and Seniors Care. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba, and a Bachelor of Environmental Health (after degree) from the Concordia University College of Edmonton. A certified public health inspector (Canada) since 2007, Natalie has a wealth of experience in the field of public health inspection, as a public health inspector for the City of Winnipeg and with the Province of Manitoba.
Natalie joined the CIPHI Manitoba Branch Executive Committee in 2008 as a councilor. Her duties included volunteering on various committees, which eventually led to her chairing a branch educational conference in 2009 and a workshop in 2010. The chairing role included coordinating and working with venues, sponsorship, menus, and speakers. She was also appointed as the venue chair for the 2013 Centennial National Annual Conference in Winnipeg, which commenced planning three years in advance of the event. Although her branch councilor term ended in 2012, Natalie returned to hold the branch secretary position from 2017-2018.
In 2021, Natalie moved into the Manitoba Branch past-president role. She also remained on the National Advocacy Committee as a co-chair and continued to participate with the development of the branding for CIPHI, with the ongoing goal of increasing both public and employer awareness of the institute and the professional designation, and creating a better understanding of the role of environmental public health professionals in communities throughout Canada.
Her favourite activities include playing recreational indoor and outdoor beach volleyball, jamming with her musically inclined husband Terry, spending time outdoors with their dogs, visiting with family and friends, and watching their two athletic daughters, Maëlle and Annalie, participate in hockey and gymnastics.
Vanessa Nickelo
Born and raised in Cape Breton before moving west and graduating from Concordia University College of Alberta’s After-Degree Program in Environmental Health in 2010, Vanessa worked as a public health inspector at the New Brunswick Department of Health in 2010 before moving back to Nova Scotia and practicing as a public health officer with the Government of Nova Scotia from 2011 to 2018. She recently accepted the role as an officer with the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Emergency Preparedness Program. Throughout her career, Vanessa has been an active CIPHI member, mentoring students, serving as a BoC examiner, presenting at the 2016 Annual Education Conference, and volunteering as webmaster at the Nova Scotia-Prince Edward Island Branch.
Vanessa resides in Halifax with her partner Mark. In her spare time she enjoys the gym, video games, and spending time with her dog, Loki.s.
Valerie Jackson
In addition to serving as Manitoba CIPHI Branch president Valerie works for the First Nations Inuit Health Branch, Indigenous Services Canada, as an environmental public health officer.
Valerie loves to travel with her better half, Jeff, and two sons, Cobin and Hayden. She enjoys art, cooking, camping, hiking, yoga, and getting outside with her dogs. An animal lover, Valerie always has room for more dogs in her life, even if Jeff says no!
Ryan Philipation
Currently working as a senior public health inspector for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Ryan began his inspection career in 1998 in Melfort, Saskatchewan, where he continues to work and live.
A CIPHI member for his entire career, Ryan has worked with many great professionals at both the Saskatchewan Branch and the national level, including on the Saskatchewan Branch Executive (1999-2017, 2020) and the National Executive Council (2013, 2020). In this time, CIPHI has provided him many networking and personal growth opportunities that have resulted in both professional connections and friendships.
Ryan joined the NEC after Life Member Doug Terry encouraged and supported his CIPHI participation. His interest and passion for CIPHI grew from there, and he encourages all members to recognize that CIPHI unites their profession and that their work ensures that CIPHI continues to grow and move forward.
In addition to holding a B.Tech in Environmental Health, Ryan’s professional achievements include being recognized with the Alex Cross Award (2009), in the 100 Members of Distinction project (2013), and with the President’s Award (2015). He is also particularly proud of playing a part in the development and delivery of the Saskatchewan Branch Professional Education and Development seminars.
Outside of work and CIPHI, Ryan enjoys travelling with his wife, Lana, and their two children, Kaylee and Jacob. Big Disney fans, they try to enjoy the parks when they can. The rest of their free time is consumed by following kids’ sports, including hockey, volleyball, and basketball!
The Retirees Advisory Committee
In recognition of the importance of strengthening the public health system and public health human resource capacity in Canada, the Retirees Advisory Committee was established in September 2005 as a joint project of the CIPHI and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to:
- Address the need for qualified environmental public health professionals, also known as public health inspectors and environmental health officers, to deal with potential public health emergencies.
- Determine a framework to serve as a tool to enhance the public health system capacity.
- Serve as a pilot for the establishment of retiree committees in other health disciplines.
Bringing together retired environmental public health professionals from all regions of Canada, the committee draws on its members’ past experience and corporate knowledge to fulfill its mandate to provide CIPHI with guidance, assistance, and advice on public health issues. In its role as an advisory body, the committee forms working and/or task groups to support CIPHI in addressing the following key aspects relating to public health capacity:
- The delivery of public health services in times of a public health emergencies.
- Planning public health initiatives Identifying needs, and promoting, mentoring, and championing initiatives within the profession of environmental public health professionals and future committees of retired public health professionals.
- Supporting CIPHI’s vision, mission, and values.
Committee initiatives
- Developing enhanced services and benefits for retired CIPHI members
- Encouraging and supporting CIPHI efforts to re-establish a Quebec branch and the use of the CPHI(C) certification by employers at all levels in the province
- Advocating for a stamp to be issued by Canada Post and a coin to be issued by the Canadian Mint to celebrate the 100th year of the institute in 2013
- Leading the initiative to create a History of Public Health Inspection in Canada document
- Supporting Canadian Public Health Association projects to celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2010
- Developing a database of all retired environmental health officers (EHOs) and public health inspectors (PHIs) in Canada (also known as environmental public health professionals) to be available in the event of a major disaster or public health crisis in Canada so that retirees who are interested and available can be contacted quickly to assist local health agencies
- Providing letters of congratulations to retiring PHIs/EHOs and letters of condolences to families of deceased PHIs/EHOs
Members
Name
Province
Name
Province
Calvin Morgan
Newfoundland
Pat Murray
Newfoundland
Leonard Gallant
Nova Scotia/PEI
Joe Bradley
Nova Scotia/PEI
Pamela Scharfe (Chair)
Ontario
Ken Gorman
Ontario
Bernie Chrisp
Manitoba
Lesly Andrews
Manitoba
Yvonne Graff
Saskatchewan
Russell Scott
Saskatchewan
Nelson Fok
Alberta
Tony Mak
Alberta
Maxine Marchenski
British Columbia
Peter Rogers
British Columbia
Committee documents
For past Senator Forum newsletters and AGM committee reports, see Association documents