The Board of Health of Grey Bruce Public Health has appointed Mr. Nicholas Saunders of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation as its Board Chair for a one-year term that began Dec. 20, 2024.

Mr. Saunders is the first Indigenous Chair of the Grey-Bruce Board of Health and likely the first Indigenous person to serve as Board Chair of a Public Health Unit in Ontario.

His appointment comes as Grey Bruce Public Health continues on its journey toward reconciliation and as it works, with the guidance and support of local First Nations leaders, on its ongoing efforts to foster and strengthen the relationships between Public Health and local First Nations communities, partners, and residents.

“I am honoured to have been chosen by my Board of Health colleagues to serve as Chair of the Grey-Bruce Board of Health,” says Mr. Saunders.

“I welcome the opportunity to continue to shine a light on the significant health inequities and challenges experienced by Indigenous people as a result of the colonial structure, which greatly impacted the determinants of Indigenous health. I look forward to helping to advance the work of Grey Bruce Public Health aimed at addressing the social determinants of health, removing barriers to improved health outcomes, and advocating for solutions to the challenges facing Indigenous communities and other marginalized populations.”

Dr. Ian Arra, Grey-Bruce’s Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Grey Bruce Public Health, says Mr. Saunders is a highly respected and dedicated member of the Board of Health who brings a wealth of Board and lived experience to the role of Chair.

“I have been lucky enough to experience firsthand Mr. Saunders’ love and passion for the community and dedication to improving the health and well-being of all residents of Grey-Bruce,” Dr. Arra says.

“I am often inspired by Mr. Saunders’ ability to reflect on and draw from his life experiences in order to make balanced, meaningful decisions. Mr. Saunders approaches issues with a rich understanding of the community and how decisions will impact various populations and segments of society.”

Mr. Saunders joined the Board of Health of Grey Bruce Public Health as a non-voting member in 2020, representing the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. In April 2023, he was named a Provincial Appointee to the Grey-Bruce Board of Health.

During his time on the Board, Mr. Saunders has helped to amplify the voices of Indigenous residents on issues impacting Indigenous communities.

He was a leader in developing a motion, submitted by Grey Bruce Public Health and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and sponsored by the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), that calls on both the provincial and federal governments to provide immediate, adequate support to enable Indigenous communities to respond to the opioid epidemic.

Entitled “Creating a Provincial Strategy for Indigenous Opioid Epidemic Supports & Funding,” the alPHa motion noted a lack of mental health and addictions funding awarded to Indigenous communities by different levels of government to aid in the opioid crisis, compounded by chronic homelessness and poverty, has resulted in a substantial and disproportionately negative impact on Indigenous people.

Mr. Saunders’ term as Board of Health Chair will continue until December 2025.