NANCY HALL

Biographical Statement
I have a consultant practice based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Equipped with a PhD in medical sciences from McMaster University, I have worked across the country developing provincial health care strategies for women and children, seniors, youth and people with disabilities. My work brings people together to plan, implement and or evaluate change. Action learning has always been part of my process and typically I work across sectors. I have worked to develop information systems and databases. I have partnered with University researchers to investigate and evaluate public health programs.

I have always been an innovator in community health. For example, I helped the BC Minister of Health develop guidelines for their healthy communities initiatives (1988), then assisted one health authority to implement specific programs in Healthy Communities, Heart Health, Injury Prevention and Violence Prevention (1989-1996) and finally, taught health promotion skills to health care workers, mangers and community members so the change was sustainable (1997).

My focus is on the individual and healthy public policy. A theme I continued with when I served as BC's first Mental Health Advocate from 1998-2001. For the last two years, I have been a Senior Advisor to the Interim Authority for Community Living working to develop new policies and programs for individuals with extraordinary needs.

Personal Connection
I have lived here for over 25 years and raised my family here. I have a deep connection to the province's natural beauty and have explored that through ocean kayaking and skiing. I also have a strong connection to the performing arts community as a Board member of CirKids, a circus school for children located on the PNE site.

From 1995–2001, I served as a member of the Provincial Health Goals Advisory Committee. As a Director of Health Promotion for North Shore Health and BC Women's Hospital, I developed initiatives related to heart health, women's health, First Nations health, violence prevention, injury prevention and addiction. I developed the community partnerships and secured funding to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Women's Health that involves UBC, University of Victoria, UNBC and community groups.

From 1998–2001, I served as the first Mental Health Advocate for British Columbia, a position that took me to every psychiatric unit and jail in the province. I am familiar with our dark side and work to bring it into light. Most recently, I have served as a facilitator to develop a crisis response system for people with developmental disabilities and concurrent mental illness and/or addiction. This involved work with individuals and families in the intersection with front line workers from the health care, criminal justice and social service sectors around the province.

My work is always a combination of dialogue with communities, government and the private sector.