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Algoma Public Health: What makes a “Public Health Champion”?

Do you know a Public Health Champion? Algoma Public Health wants to recognize them!
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The call for nominations for the 2021 Public Health Champion and Young Public Health Champion closes on January 28, 2022, and winners will be presented at the February 23, 2022 Board of Health virtual meeting. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged many individuals across Algoma and throughout Ontario. While we’ve all done our part in making the community healthy for everyone, some individuals have gone above and beyond to show outstanding kindness, community spirit, and care in supporting others during this difficult time. 

What Makes Up a Public Health Champion?

There are two award levels in which Champions will be awarded; Public Health Champion and Young Public Health Champion.

A Public Health Champion can be either an individual or group of individuals, such as a class or workplace organization. They may have offered food and services to those struggling in the community, understood and nurtured the social wellbeing of those loved ones in long-term care homes who have been isolated from family, or gone above and beyond in other noticeable ways to make an impact in the community. 

A Young Public Health Champion is a child or young adult under the age of 30 who acted as an agent of change in their community, such as significantly boosting morale during virtual learning or hosting an online workshop.

These Champions didn’t do it for the recognition, they did it for the impact they could make with the skills and time that they had. Algoma Public Health wants to recognize them regardless of the hard work they’ve given and the positive mark they’ve created on residents in Algoma. 

Who Won Public Health Champion in 2021?

In 2021, one of last year’s winners included Leila Macumber, the Community Wellness Manager for Serpent River First Nation who dedicated long hours to keep her community safe during the difficult times of the previous two years. Her above and beyond kindnesses include assisting community Elders with food delivery through the Meals on Wheels program.

Sault Ste Marie’s YMCA has also been recognized as being one of the first organizations in the community to provide emergency childcare to frontline workers (The first YMCA in Ontario). They also found new ways to provide summer camps to children safely and developed programs such as YMCA at Home. 

You can find a list of the other winners of the 2020 Public Health Champion awards on the Algoma Public Health website. 

Know a Public Health Champion?

Nominate a Champion in your life, visit the Algoma Public Health website to submit electronically or find download the PDF nomination form