Health Minister Terry Lake has issued the following statement on British Columbia’s provincial health officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, who has announced that he will be retiring as of March 31, 2015.

“Since his appointment in 1999, Dr. Kendall has been a tremendous asset to British Columbians, and has brought his immense wealth of knowledge, compassion and public health expertise to the office of Provincial Health Officer.

“Over the past decade and a half, Dr. Kendall has served under multiple administrations, always acting with integrity and independence, and in the best interest of British Columbians. He has seen our province through several public health emergencies, from SARS in 2003 to H1N1 in 2009, and most recently Ebola, as he has co-chaired our provincial Ebola preparedness task force.

“He has always been a calm, reassuring voice that we could rely upon when needed, and has worked tirelessly to advance the cause of public health issues, including being instrumental in the establishment of Canada’s first safe injection site in Vancouver in 2003 and the development of a new Public Health Act, setting the groundwork for modernizing public health in this province. In recognition of his vast contribution to public health in B.C. - and especially with respect to harm reduction - he was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2005.

“Dr. Kendall has been a personal inspiration to me and I wish him the best as he moves on to the next chapter, and thank him for his years of service to British Columbians.

“National recruitment efforts for Dr. Kendall’s replacement will begin immediately.”

A backgrounder follows

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

Dr. Perry Kendall - Biography

Dr. Kendall was appointed British Columbia’s provincial health officer in May 1999.

He graduated from London’s University College Hospital medical school in 1968, and his extensive career has included a year as senior house officer at the University Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica; general practice at Toronto’s Hassle Free Clinic; medical officer and director positions with the Vancouver Health Department; medical health officer with the City of Toronto’s Department of Public Health; president of the Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario; and vice-president of Seniors’ Health in the Capital Health Region.

As PHO, Dr. Kendall has been instrumental in:

• Expanding needle exchange programs, championing harm reduction activities and establishing Canada’s first safe injection site in Vancouver in 2003;
• Promoting the health and well-being of British Columbia’s Aboriginal peoples;
• Improving national public health preparedness and coordination, serving as co-chair of the Public Health Network of Canada for its first five years;
• Initiating legislation that made HIV/AIDS a reportable disease;
• Providing leadership to enable B.C. to rapidly mobilize resources to effectively respond to SARS in 2003.
• Contributing to Canada’s pandemic planning process, which was critical to the proactive approach in responding to the H1N1 pandemic; and
• Developing a new provincial Public Health Act.

Dr. Kendall has conducted research and reported on significant health issues and provided recommendations on a variety of issues, including:  

• Air and drinking water quality;
• Diabetes;
• Investing in prevention to reduce chronic disease;
• Health status and mortality of children and youth in care;
• Health status of women;
• Aboriginal health;
• Infant mortality;
• The role of schools in promoting health; and
• Preventing falls and injuries in the elderly.

As the senior public health official for British Columbia, the provincial health officer provides independent advice to ministers and public officials on public health issues.

Learn more:

A full biography of Dr. Kendall can be found here: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pho/kendall.html

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)