The newly merged board of health for the Kawarthas region has a new chair and vice-chair.
During a virtual meeting on Thursday (January 2), the 16-member board elected Selwyn Township deputy mayor Ron Black as its chair for 2025. Meanwhile, Cecil Ryall, deputy mayor of the Municipality of Highlands East, will serve as vice-chair for the year.
The boards of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health came together as one for a special meeting for the merged health unit, whose legal name is the Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Health Unit (HKNP).
The special meeting followed separate virtual meetings held by each board of health on December 4 where each board voted in support of a voluntary merger of the two health units, which comes with $10.1 million in new provincial funding. The merger took effect on January 1.
The new board of health has nine municipal representatives (including two from Northumberland County, two from the City of Kawartha Lakes, one from Haliburton County, two from Peterborough County, and two from the City of Peterborough), as well as one member each from Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation, along with five provincial appointees.
Medical officers of health Dr. Natalie Bocking and Dr. Thomas Piggott both participated in Thursday’s meeting.
During a brief break during the virtual meeting, the board’s 19 members cast their ballots via email for either Ryall or Black as chair following short presentations by the two deputy mayors.
“I greatly appreciate the support and the confidence that the board has put in both of us,” Black said.
“(Cecil and I) have had some good conversations that it doesn’t matter who really leads this organization. We both have a great deal of experience in these situations, and I congratulate Cecil as well. We’re going to be a great team, Cec, moving this organization forward.”
Black noted he has experience with mergers, dating back to the late 1990s when he was involved in a municipal merger.
Meanwhile, Black is currently leading an effort in Lakefield to build an affordable housing project for seniors. He is also a member of the Fourcast board.
“I have a great understanding of the mental health and additions and homelessness issues that are a key part of public health,” Black said. “I have a great deal of interest in that area.”
He also created two foundations, one to support family health teams and another to help create St. Joseph’s at Fleming in Peterborough. He has been involved in provincial and national initiatives supporting the public health care system and spent most of his career working in the health care sector.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, board members were appointed to the Indigenous Health Advisory Circle (IHAC), whose purpose is to deepen awareness, sensitivity, and meaningful actions on issues that are of relevance and public health importance to Indigenous people living within the HKNP catchment area.
Board members of IHAC are Alnwick-Haldimand Township mayor John Logel, Peterborough city councillor Joy Lachica, Hiawatha First Nation councillor Kathryn Wilson, Curve Lake First Nation councillor Nodin Knott, and provincial appointee Paul Johnston.
They will join the following community members to be appointed to the group: Ashley Safar, executive director of the Peterborough Community Health Centre; David Newhouse of Trent University; the executive director or delegate of the Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle; the executive director or delegate of Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre; Elizabeth Stone of Fleming College; a representative of Alderville First Nation; Kristy Kennedy of the Métis Nation of Ontario and Peterborough & District Wapiti Métis Council; and Rebecca Watts of Lovesick Lake Native Women’s Association.
