News Release
1999-128
November 1, 1999
Appointment of Executive Director and update on the establishment of Community Liaison Committee
WINNIPEG - Officials at the  Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health announced today the appointment of an Executive Director for the facility and provided an update on the progress towards the establishment of the Centre's proposed Community Liaison Committee.
Dr. Norman Willis, previously Executive Director of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease at the facility, has accepted the newly created position of Executive Director of the Centre. The position will include responsibility for the safe operation of the facility. Dr. Willis will also serve as co-chairperson, for the upcoming Community Liaison Committee.
The Committee, announced by Health Minister Allan Rock and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief in August, will provide an ongoing opportunity for discussion and sharing of information between the community and the Centre.
Facility officials are working with local community representatives in the establishment of the new Committee. Dr. Allan Ronald, long-time Winnipeg resident and renowned specialist in microbiology and infectious disease, is assisting the Centre in the Committee's development. Dr. Ronald is working with local elected political representatives at the city, provincial and federal goverment level to identify nominations for community representation.
Committee membership is proposed to include balanced representation from the community, local stakeholders and government. Five members will be selected to represent citizens, and one from each of the following groups: provincial government, City of Winnipeg, animal health, human health, and the academic community. Two co-chairs, one from the Centre, and one from the community, will lead the Committee. An announcement of the committee members will be made later this month.
An additional step in the Government of Canada 's new thrust to enhance the international status of this facility is by creating an external committee of internationally recognized experts in the field of microbiology to assist in staffing a number of positions. The Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health is a premier centre of microbiological scientific excellence in Canada and is attracting internationally renowned scientists to join its world-class facility.
- 30 -
Media Inquiries
Morgan Fontaine
Regional Director of communications
Health Canada
(204) 983-2508
Public Inquiries
(613) 957-2991
|
