HALDIMAND—It’s been just three weeks since Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH), a newly merged health unit comprised of the former Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) and Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU), began operations.
The aim of the new organization is to strengthen public health services across the participating communities by “enhancing capacity, improving service delivery, and creating a unified network to better support local communities,” according to a Haldimand County press release.
Along with the new health unit comes a new Board of Health at the helm. That board consists of one council appointee from Haldimand County, two council appointees from Norfolk County, two council appointees from the City of Brantford, one council appointee from the County of Brant, and up to five appointees appointed by the Province.
The new nine-member GEPH Board of Health is composed of the following members: Amy Martin, Chair; John Bell, Vice-Chair; Kim Huffman, County Council Appointee; Shelley Ann Bentley, County Council Appointee; Dan McCreary, City Council Appointee; Rose Sicoli, City Council Appointee; Susan Brown, Provincial Appointee; Mike Bodnar, Provincial Appointee; and Joy O’ Donnell, Provincial Appointee.
“I am very pleased to have been appointed to the Grand Erie Board of Health. This merger marks a significant moment for our community and provides our county with a long-overdue voice at the table when it comes to decisions that directly impact public health,” said Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley in a request for comment on her new role.
As part of her role, Bentley will serve as a member of a task force designed to oversee the development of policy and procedures that will address “key issues facing our community.”
While Haldimand previously funded around 40% of the former HNHU’s costs, it had no direct representation on that Board of Health since its inception over 20 years ago. The former HNHU board consisted of the eight members of Norfolk Council with the Norfolk mayor serving as chair. Bentley’s board appointment ensures that Haldimand will have not just a voice on the new board, but a vote.
“As your mayor, I am committed to advocating for the needs of our residents. I will ensure that critical issues like mental health supports, homelessness, addiction, and gender-based violence remain priorities in the board’s discussions and decisions,” said Bentley.
Martin weighed in, calling representation a “key priority” for the new board and a “significant factor” in the decision to merge units.
“With the merger, there’s a renewed focus on equitable representation, ensuring all voices are well-represented in decision making,” said Martin. “I will continue to work alongside Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley to foster a strong partnership that amplifies Haldimand’s voice while also representing the voices of Norfolk and Brantford-Brant. Addressing Haldimand’s concerns has always been a job of mine as the former Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit Board Chair.”
Martin said that as chair of the new board, she is well-positioned to keep a tight focus on balancing the needs of rural participants like Haldimand and Norfolk against the larger urban community of Brantford.
“This merger uniquely positions us to deliver programs and services more effectively across all regions. We’re more alike than not,” said Martin.
While a merger brings new challenges and requires significant effort, Martin said that the board has “come together with the shared goal of advocating for the health and wellbeing of our residents.”
She added, “Through this merger, we have built a strong and capable team that will ensure seamless service delivery as the new board takes on its responsibilities and hits the ground running. The challenges faced by large urban centres are also present in rural Ontario. This merger enhances our capacity to deliver vital programs and services, whether in Fisherville or downtown Brantford. Our team is fully prepared to meet the public’s needs while upholding our public health mandate.”
One of the board’s main goals will be to help GEPH build more capacity into their system that was not previously there, according to Martin.
“This capacity equips our staff with the resources and support they need to deliver consistent care across the entire region. Although the population sizes may vary, we are uniting two streamlined operations into a single, cohesive system to enhance care and strengthen public health across our communities,” she said.
She is excited by the combined expertise and resources the new unit represents, working collaboratively with a “diverse board that includes municipal leaders and, ideally, subject matter experts through provincial appointments. This collaboration paves the way for innovative solutions and greater impact across our communities. We are building capacity, strengthening resources, and enhancing capabilities.”
Bentley will work to ensure that Haldimand’s needs remain at the forefront, sharing, “This is an opportunity for us to build a healthier, stronger, and more equitable future for all.”
She concluded, “I encourage anyone with concerns or ideas to reach out to me. Your insights are invaluable and will help me bring forward meaningful solutions to the board. Together, we can make sure that every voice in our community is heard and represented.”
For the time being, both units will continue to operate as usual, with the integration of programming into a unified entity being implemented throughout 2025. The former BCHU and HNHU locations will continue to operate with their current hours, ensuring seamless access to programs and services across the Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk regions. Residents can expect to access services as they always have while GEPH works toward full integration. GEPH will undergo a complete rebranding in 2025, which will include the launch of a new website and unified social media accounts. Until then, community members can continue to visit bchu.org and hnhu.org for updates and community-specific information.
“As we embark on this exciting new chapter with the formation of Grand Erie Public Health, we are committed to strengthening our public health services and ensuring a seamless transition for the communities we serve. Together, we will continue to prioritize the health and wellbeing of our residents, delivering the quality care and services they expect and deserve,” said Brent Richardson, Chief Executive Officer, GEPH.
