Grand Erie Public Health CEO no longer with organization

Grand Erie Public Health is dealing with a measles outbreak — and now a leadership change.

The health unit announced the departure of CEO Brent Richardson yesterday, but did not reveal what brought on the move, saying only that Richardson is “no longer with the organization”.

Richardson joined the Brant County Health Unit in 2017. In January of this year Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit were combined to form Grand Erie Public Health. The health unit represents the County of Brant, the City of Brantford, Haldimand County and Norfolk County.

In the interim, Grand Erie Public Health says its board has appointed Brad Stark and Sarah Page to provide shared leadership and continuity until such time as a CEO has been hired.

Board chair Amy Martin said in part, “This is a defining moment for Grand Erie Public Health. We are focused on welcoming a new CEO who will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our newly integrated organization…”

The news comes as Ontario faces a widespread measles outbreak that began in October, with 655 confirmed cases as of this week.

The majority of cases are in Grand Erie and southwestern public health units, but cases continue to rise in Waterloo, Chatham-Kent and Huron Perth.

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