The Southeast Public Health (SEPH) Board of Health met today in Kingston for their regular monthly meeting. The agenda package is available online.
Board Chair re-appointed
The Board passed a motion to re-appoint Nathan Townend as Chair for the remainder of 2026. Townend previously sat on the Southeast Public Health Board as an elected official. He recently left his elected municipal office role to accept the position of Director of Communications and Community Development with the County of Lennox and Addington, and the county re-appointed him as their representative to the Southeast Public Health Board.
Townend noted that he was pleased to continue serving in the role of Board Chair, and to provide leadership continuity for the remainder of 2026.
Strategic plan update
Following a presentation by facilitator Erik Lockhart, the Board passed a motion to receive and endorse the direction for the 2026-2028 strategic plan and assess the financial implications of it at the July 22 Board meeting.
The direction for strategic plan was developed by the Board with the core purpose of “ensuring every community in the Southeast has access to high quality, equitable public health services delivered by a unified and trusted health unit working with communities and partners”.
The final plan will go to the Board in August for approval.
Staff presentation: Blastomycosis inquest recommendations
Deputy Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ethan Toumishey provided a presentation on Southeast Public Health’s response to the recommendations made by the coroner’s inquest into a fatal blastomycosis outbreak in Constance Lake First Nation in late 2021, early 2022. Blastomycosis is an infection caused by a fungus (Blastomyces) that grows most commonly in moist soil and decaying wood and leaves. The outbreak resulted in five deaths and more than 50 infections in the community of 750.
The coroner’s inquest, which concluded in late 2025, examined the circumstances surrounding these deaths and issued recommendations aimed at preventing similar events in the future. Five of the recommendations require Boards of Health to report back how they will implement the recommendations. The Board has endorsed Southeast Public Health’s proposed responses to the coroner’s inquest recommendations and directed staff to submit them to the Office of the Chief Coroner on their behalf.
Southeast Public Health logo wins prestigious international award
The Southeast Public Health identity recently received the gold award in the Logo/Letterhead Design category at the 43rd Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards. With more than 4,300 entries submitted from around the world, the Healthcare Advertising Awards are among the largest and most recognized health-care marketing competitions internationally. This achievement reflects the talent and dedication of the Southeast Public Health Communications Team, as well as the expertise of branding and marketing consultant Scott Thornley and Company (STC).
The next meeting of the Board of Health is July 22, 2026.
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Media contact: Communications@SoutheastPH.ca
