Latest news with #ChiefPublicHealthOfficer
Globe and Mail
20 hours ago
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Theresa Tam bids farewell as Canada's top public health officer
Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, ends her term on June 20. She was first named to her role in June, 2017, and became a well-known face during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a wide-ranging interview with The Globe and Mail this week, Dr. Tam spoke about the rewards and challenges of the job, being recently turned into a deepfake and advice for her yet-to-be-named successor. What is it like to be coming to the end of your time as Canada's chief public health officer? I've been in this role for over eight years now, so I think it has been an absolute privilege and honour. Never thought at the start of my career that I would end up here. Looking back, I put every ounce of my energy into this job. But I think it's a purposeful job. It's serving the public. What was the hardest part of the job? With the COVID-19 pandemic, obviously that was a once-in-a-century kind of event that was extremely impactful to not just Canada, but everyone in the world. I think that was challenging for a number of reasons, but one of the key aspects of it was it lasted a long time. So it was a tiring pursuit. What was it like having your voice and your face, if you will, at the centre of that? People that I don't know at all will actually come up and say, 'Oh, I saw you on TV,' and people do associate me with that response even though you spent a career doing quite a lot of different things. To be in the spotlight is not unexpected. We do these things when there's an outbreak, for example, of say, measles. But to be in the spotlight in that degree of intensity for that period of time was hard, but it was part of my job. It's a very important part of communicating with everyone. What did you think of the fact that you were recently turned into a deep fake? First of all, it can be a bit upsetting. In some ways, you think, 'Well, that's obviously a fake,' but maybe other people don't actually think through it or can't spot fakes. I think they are going to just be more and more sophisticated, and technology is there. So it's just something that, again, one has to expect this is going to happen and prepare for it. What do you think of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? We're watching everything quite closely. News goes everywhere, and social media goes everywhere. So people in Canada will be watching the same bit of information that people in the United States would. What I think we must do is just to focus on the fact that we are science-based, science-informed, and again, explain to the public exactly how our processes work. Was there an erosion of trust during COVID-19? How might that trust be built back? Data, public-opinion research, for example, shows the ups and downs of public health, trust in institutions, in science. Those who get health information from social media are at higher risk of being exposed to mis- and disinformation and have a negative health impact. I always want to look at our strengths, that is: The majority of people in Canada still trust public health professionals and we need to build on it. What is your advice for your successor? It's great to have a new person, with new fresh eyes. It can be a very challenging job, but is an amazing job. Focus on your values and singular purpose when the going gets tough. That's what keeps you going, like protecting public health, improving health of the population and serving those who are experiencing inequities. I would say: Get your systems and supports in place, build those on an ongoing basis, certainly before any crisis occurs. I actually do think we've learned quite a bit from COVID-19 pandemic. So continuing on building preparedness and response is very important and there will be many opportunities to do that. Dr. Tam, what's next for you? I'm in an envious position. I think there's a lot of choices, and so I've decided that I would take a moment to press the pause button so I can reflect on what I would like to do next. This interview has been edited and condensed.
CBC
20 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
Canada's top doctor Theresa Tam leaving role at end of term June 20
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam is leaving her position at the end of next week. Tam has been in the role since June 2017, but became a household name in the last five years as she led the country's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tam says her term ends on June 20, and she doesn't have another job lined up. She is taking a break to think about new opportunities, spend more time with family and get back to some of her passions, including playing music and long-distance running. A pediatric infectious disease physician by training, Tam joined the federal government's public health team around the time measles was eliminated in 1998. She says it's concerning to see the virus return but is confident Canada can stop domestic transmission once again through immunization. Tam says it's a critical time for Canada to stand up for science and combat disinformation.
National Post
20 hours ago
- Health
- National Post
Canada's top doctor Theresa Tam leaving position when term ends June 20
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam is leaving her position at the end of next week. Article content Tam has been in the role since June 2017, but became a household name in the last five years as she led the country's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Article content Article content Tam says her term ends on Friday, June 20 and she doesn't have another job lined up. Article content She is taking a break to think about new opportunities, spend more time with family and get back to some of her passions, including playing music and long-distance running. Article content Article content A pediatric infectious disease physician by training, Tam joined the federal government's public health team around the time measles was eliminated in 1998. Article content Article content She says it's concerning to see the virus return but is confident Canada can stop domestic transmission once again through immunization. Article content
CTV News
20 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Canada's top doctor Theresa Tam leaving position when term ends June 20
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam provides an update on public health concerns related to wildfires during a press conference in Ottawa on June 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick TORONTO — Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam is leaving her position at the end of next week. Tam has been in the role since June 2017, but became a household name in the last five years as she led the country's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tam says her term ends on Friday, June 20 and she doesn't have another job lined up. She is taking a break to think about new opportunities, spend more time with family and get back to some of her passions, including playing music and long-distance running. A pediatric infectious disease physician by training, Tam joined the federal government's public health team around the time measles was eliminated in 1998. She says it's concerning to see the virus return but is confident Canada can stop domestic transmission once again through immunization. Amid anti-public-health measures by the Trump administration in the U.S., Tam says it's a critical time for Canada to stand up for science and combat disinformation. She says the COVID-19 pandemic showed that Canada could mount its own response that differed from the U.S. and save lives. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Nicole Ireland, The Canadian Press
CBC
a day ago
- Health
- CBC
Boil water advisory issued for Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T.
Social Sharing Residents in Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T., are being advised to boil their tap water for at least one minute before using. In a public health advisory Thursday afternoon, the office of the chief public health officer says there is higher than normal turbidity, or muddiness, in the water and the advisory is just a precaution. The advisory says there have been no reported illnesses associated with drinking the water in the community. Officials say residents should boil any water being used for drinking, preparing food, hot and cold beverages, ice cubes, washing produce, brushing teeth or other dental hygiene, and for infant formulas. Bathing, showering and washing hands with tap water is OK but residents should avoid swallowing the water. Tsiigehtchic residents could also use bottled water or water that's been distilled or treated by reverse osmosis but filters like Brita, which use activated carbon filters, are not considered safe to treat water during the advisory period. Residents should also avoid drinking from public fountains. A notice from the hamlet, posted to the community's Facebook page, says there's an issue with the water treatment plant and that water will be trucked in from Fort McPherson, about 60 kilometres away, starting Friday. The hamlet wrote that five truckloads are required to service the community and although water delivery schedules will remain the same, residents are asked to try and conserve. The territory's chief environmental health officer, in collaboration with the community government, will continue to monitor the situation and will provide formal notice to lift the boil water advisory. The hamlet said it would update the community when plant maintenance is complete.
