The Community Liaison Committee

The Community Liaison Committee (CLC) is an independent group to the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health (CSCHAH) composed of local community members. CSCHAH is home to laboratories belonging to two Government of Canada agencies: the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory as well as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease. The federal Ministers of Health and Agriculture established the CLC in 2000 to provide ongoing opportunity for discussion and sharing of information between the community and the CSCHAH.

The objectives of the CLC are:

• to seek information and facilitate a mutual understanding on issues of public concern
• to provide an ongoing forum for public input and a sustained information exchange
• to provide laboratory leadership with community perspective to improve the CSCHAH's processes and protocols
• to provide relevant information to the community and to foster a greater understanding of the activities of the CSCHAH to monitor safety for the community and for the employees of the CSCHAH

The CLC meets quarterly with CSCHAH leadership to receive updates on the latest CSCHAH activities and to ask questions and share concerns. Members host public meetings and publish periodic community reports, attend CSCHAH open house events, as well as share information about the CLC with their networks to connect with the public.

Other high containment laboratories around the world have emulated the CSCHAH community relations model, including the establishment of a CLC, as a best practice.

To learn more about the scope and authority of the committee, review the CLC Terms of Reference.

CLC members

The CLC consists of 12-18 volunteer members who represent a wide range of expertise and perspectives, including:

• scientists
• educators
• civic leaders
• health care professionals
• agricultural professionals
• local community residents

Current members

• Allan Wise (Community Co-Chair), Manitoba Health and Seniors, Intergovernmental and Indigenous Relations
• Dr. Guillaume Poliquin (Facility Co-Chair), Acting Vice President, National Microbiology Laboratory
• Pauline Clarke, Winnipeg School Division
• Cathy Collins, West Alexander Residents Association
• Dr. Danielle de Moissac, Biological Sciences, Université de St. Boniface
• Yvonne Hawryliuk, Sustainable Development, Province of Manitoba
• Dr. Judy Hodge, Swine Health Professionals 
• Robyn Koropatnick, Teshmont Consultants LP
• Dr. Simon Potter, Research Partnerships and Innovation, Red River College
• Marg Rempel, Keystone Agriculture Producers
• Jay Shaw, Emergency Management and Public Information, City of Winnipeg
• Marc Sheridan, Office of Emergency Management, Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Services
• Dr. Gina Sylvestre, Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg
• Candice Vince, Health in Emergencies (MB/Nunavut), Canadian Red Cross

Contact the CLC

(204) 947-3364
clccommunity.committee@gmail.com

“We are honoured to represent the community's interests and to do that effectively, we must maintain open communication. We encourage all to get in touch with the committee to share your thoughts or concerns at any time.”
Allan Wise, Community Co-Chair

CLC Reports to the Community:

• Report to the community May 2019

You can request older versions of the CLC Reports to the Community through the CLC.