The Grey-Bruce Board of Health, which consists of representatives from the Grey Bruce region, meets monthly, on the fourth Friday of each month, in Grey Bruce Public Health's Boardroom, 101 17th Street East, Owen Sound.
Nick Saunders - Chair Biography Provincial Appointee Resident of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
Chad Richards - Vice-Chair Biography Provincial Appointee Bruce County
Helen-Claire Tingling Biography Provincial Appointee Grey County
Beverly Wilkins Biography Provincial Appointee Grey County
Helen-Claire is committed to community. She holds Certificates in Mental Health and Public Relations, a Diploma in Community Service, and degrees in English and Law. Using the arts to effect change, she has worked with Indigenous Elders on anti-racism in the Ontario Public Service and performed in award-winning theatre productions to educate about social issues such as sexual abuse in children, and violence against women. As Chair of the Equal Opportunities’ Committee for the Alliance of Canadian Television and Radio Artists, Helen-Claire served on panels for Advertising Standards Canada and the Centre for Research Action on Race Relations. She has participated in Performers for Literacy, led workshops addressing mental health, harassment, and accommodation; and advocated for performers with disabilities. Her play, “Living Will”, which looks at end-of-life issues and for which she received an Ontario Arts’ Council Award, was produced at the 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival. https://www.livingwillplay.com/about
Chad Richards was born and raised in the Bruce-Grey region, Chad has been a long-time advocate for the advancement of the health and vibrancy of the local community. Chad was raised in Chesley, Ontario before moving to Ottawa and working for the federal government for nearly a decade. Chad has now moved home to the region and resides in Port Elgin with his wife Samantha. Chad has been active personally and professionally in helping to build up the Bruce-Grey region. His work at the Nuclear Innovation Institute focuses on demonstrating the impact of the clean energy sector across the region while also demonstrating the contribution the region makes to the provincial and national economy. Chad has also served on the Community Council for the Grey-Bruce Ontario Health Team and has been active in several community initiatives. As a Type 1 Diabetic, Chad is passionate about advancing policies that enable health systems to achieve optimal results for patients and providers.
Nick Saunders serves as the elected Chair of the Grey Bruce Public Health Board of Health, bringing a wealth of leadership experience and a deep commitment to improving community well-being. A retired Fire Chief with a distinguished career in public safety, Nick has dedicated his life to serving and protecting others. His expertise in crisis response and community advocacy informs his strategic vision for public health in the Grey Bruce region.
Currently in his fourth term as a councillor for the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, Nick is a trusted leader known for his hands-on approach and compassion. He has championed initiatives to address critical issues, including the opioid toxicity crisis, by spearheading resolutions and impact statements that strengthen public health and judicial responses, particularly for Indigenous communities. His collaborative efforts with local health units, agencies, and community stakeholders reflect his dedication to health equity and resilience.
Since 2020, Nick has been a steadfast member of the Grey Bruce Public Health Board of Health, serving through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and contributing as a key member of the Board Executive Committee. His leadership during this critical period helped guide the region through unprecedented public health challenges.
Nick’s leadership is grounded in a commitment to listening, acting decisively, and fostering partnerships that uplift the health and safety of all residents in Grey Bruce. He continues to advocate for innovative, community-driven solutions to build a healthier future for the region.
Beverly Wilkins lives on a farm in Grey County adjacent to the lovely town of Owen Sound. She has served as a Registered Nurse for over 40 years with specialties in Palliative Care, End of Life, wound care, education, and mentorship of many precious fellow nurses. She has spent a large part of her time volunteering and fundraising particularly for children and degenerative disease. She currently serves on the local and national boards for Family and Children's Services and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.
The usual start time for Board of Health meetings is 10 a.m. Dates and locations are subject to change upon Board of Health Chair approval.
The following are the scheduled, 2025 dates for Grey-Bruce Board of Health meetings:
Friday, January 24, 2025 Friday, February 28, 2025 Friday, March 28, 2025 Friday, April 25, 2025 Friday, May 23, 2025 Friday, June 27, 2025 Friday, July 25, 2025 Friday, August 22, 2025 Friday, September 26, 2025 Friday, October 24, 2025 Friday, November 28, 2025 Friday, December 19, 2025
Recordings of Board of Health meetings can be viewed on Grey Bruce Public Health’s YouTube channel: GreyBrucePublicHealth - YouTube
There may be times when a citizen or group may wish to present to the Board on an issue. You can arrange to be a delegation by contacting the Executive Assistant for the Board of Health. Submit your request by:
Mail: 101 17th Street East Owen Sound ON N4K 0A5
E-mail: AdminMedicalOfficer at AdminMedicalOfficer@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
Phone: 519-376-9420 ext. 3940
All requests must be received no less than 7 days prior to the meeting date and should include the name(s) of the speaker(s) and the subject matter to be discussed. Delegations are limited to 10 minutes.
Communications addressed to the Board of Health will become part of the public record and may be placed on a public agenda and identified in minutes.
Ian Arra
Dr. Arra joined the Grey Bruce Health Unit in 2017 as a Physician Consultant, and has been the Medical Officer of Health for the Grey Bruce since 2018.
Dr. Arra holds a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology Biostatistics and medical specialty qualifications in Public Health and Preventive Medicine (PHPM) from both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Preventative Medicine. He also currently holds two faculty positions at the PHPM Residency training program, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and the Master of Public Health program, Western University.
During residency training and practice, he worked on a variety of public health initiatives including - road safety, nuclear emergency response planning, health effects of wind farms, and resource prioritization. He has participated in several accreditation reviews of postgraduate medical education as part of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accreditation team and served on several postgraduate committees.
Dr. Arra strongly believes that knowledge through research and innovation empowers both the individual and the community.
The Public Health Act (1884) established the first boards of health. By 1900, there were over 800 public health units in Ontario including several independent boards across Grey and Bruce Counties. Owen Sound formed a Public Health Department in 1911. Provincial grants to municipalities for health units were established in 1945 prompting Bruce County to establish a consolidated health unit in 1946. Grey County amalgamated several local boards to a county health unit in 1963. The Public Health Act was amended in 1967 requiring municipalities to provide full-time public health services. The Owen Sound and Grey County units amalgamated that year. In 1983, the Health Protection and Promotion Act was proclaimed (revised in 1997). Grey-Owen Sound joined with Bruce in 1989 and as a result of municipal restructuring in 2001 was re-named the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) provides the enabling legislation for boards of health and the statutory basis for the Ontario Public Health Standards. The guiding purpose of the act is to “...provide for the organization and delivery of public health programs and services, the prevention of the spread of disease and the promotion and protection of the health of the people of Ontario.” R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7, s.2
The Ontario Public Health Standards identify guidelines for the provision of mandatory health programs and services including goals, societal outcomes, board of health outcomes and requirements.
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