By Canadian Press

‘None of us are superhuman,’ says PHAC president as she steps down from the role

Sep 18, 2020 | 3:30 PM

OTTAWA – The president of the Public Health Agency of Canada is stepping down from her role as the country heads into the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tina Namiesniowski says in a letter to staff today that after six months of responding to the crisis, “none of us are superhuman” and that she needs to take a break.

She says she does not want to leave the federal public health agency without leadership at such a crucial time and so she is stepping aside so that someone else can take over.

She also thanks Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, for being a “rock” and says they’ve made “an exceptional team.”

A Health Canada spokesman says a replacement for Namiesniowski, who had only been in the role since May 2019, will be announced next week.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Nov. 22-24

Nov 22, 2024

WHAT'S ON

'Midnight Madness' featuring Medicine Hat businesses on Friday

Nov 21, 2024

LIVE UPDATES

Road construction, detours and traffic in Medicine Hat

Nov 21, 2024

Namiesniowski says she will help with the transition and then take some time to spend with her husband, children and aging father as she thinks about what comes next.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2020

The Canadian Press