About Us


First People Acknowledgement

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit acknowledges that we are located on the traditional lands of the Kanien:keha’ka of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and recognizes the enduring presence of the First Peoples.

Roti’nikonhraien:tas ne the Eastern Ontario Health Unit tsi kari:we’s shihatinakere ne kanien’keha:ka tanon Rotinonhsion:ni. Ratirihwaien:teri o:ni tsi kiotken ken:tho enhonne:sheke ne Onkwehon:weh.


Working together to promote wellness, prevent and protect against disease and injury, and advocate for healthier communities.

For more than 80 years, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) has been a leader in delivering forward-thinking, community-focused public health services. Our achievements are driven by our passionate and energetic team of employees who share a common mission – to improve and safeguard the health and quality of life of our region’s residents.

The EOHU is responsible for the delivery of local public health programs and services, carried out in collaboration with other organizations in the health system and in partnership with municipal governments and community partners. We serve a population of approximately 200,000 people in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Prescott-Russell and the City of Cornwall, covering a total territory of over 5000 square kilometers. Our main offices are located in Cornwall and Casselman, with four additional satellite offices in Winchester, Alexandria, Hawkesbury and Rockland.

EOHU programs include the following:

  • health education and promotion
  • chronic disease prevention (through nutrition and physical activity programs, early detection of cancer programs, tobacco cessation programs, tobacco control and more)
  • prevention of injuries and substance misuse
  • prevention and control of infectious diseases
  • immunization
  • sexual and reproductive health
  • child health, including dental health programs
  • school and workplace health programs
  • monitoring and surveillance programs
  • public health inspections
  • food and water safety
  • health hazard prevention
  • emergency preparedness

The EOHU has also established itself as a leader in innovative public health communications by embracing a progressive communications strategy that leverages emerging trends and cutting-edge technology to better reach and engage our audiences. The EOHU is one of the only Public Health agencies in North America with complete in-house broadcast and multimedia production facilities and capabilities. This cost effective and environmentally-friendly way of delivering health information content is an important part of our strategy to promote an informed and therefore, healthier community.

EOHU services are cost-shared by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry and Prescott-Russell, and the City of Cornwall.


Message from the Medical Officer of Health

Welcome to our website! As you can see from the sections on this site, public health involves many aspects of our everyday lives. In fact, many are surprised to see that the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is involved in a wide range of areas including infection control, chronic disease prevention, healthy babies and children, environment, food and water safety, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

We believe that when it comes to health and wellness, an informed person will become a healthier person. We are committed to providing our community with useful, practical and easily accessible information. For this reason we offer you this website, which we will continue to expand.

You will also find interesting links to other sites we feel may be helpful to you. Please be advised that the information on this site has been carefully selected and prepared. However, this information is designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to replace the advice and care of your physician, nor is it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you suspect that you or a family member has a medical condition, always consult a physician. If you would like to have more information or have any other public health concerns, you can also call the EOHU at 1 800 267-7120.

We look forward to your feedback and suggestions.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, MD, CM, MPH, FRCP (C)
Medical Officer of Health


Interim Strategic Plan – May 2023

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit has issued a new Interim Strategic Plan for 2023. Developed with input from EOHU employees and our Board of Health, this interim plan aims to provide a strategic framework for the ongoing COVID-19 recovery activities, and to help guide the path forward as the pandemic subsides and we increasingly focus on other public health priorities for the populations we serve. A more comprehensive strategic plan will be released in the future.

Interim Strategic Plan – May 2023 (PDF)


The EOHU Board of Health

The EOHU Board of Health is responsible for identifying minimum standards relating to public health programs and services, for understanding health needs and the interventions that can impact positively on these needs, and which roles are most appropriate for and within the achievable capacity of Ontario’s boards of health.

The Board is made up of eleven members: five are provincially appointed. Of the remaining six, two are appointed for the counties of Prescott-Russell, two for the counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and two for the city of Cornwall. The Board of Health is an upper decisional body and is responsible for budget approval.

Board of Health members

NOTE: Any correspondence should be sent to the care of the EOHU Cornwall office.

Gary Barton, Provincial representative

Gerry Boyce, Provincial representative

Gilles Fournier, Provincial representative

Syd Gardiner, Chair, Representative of the City of Cornwall
Councillor, Cornwall

Sydney Gardiner was elected to Cornwall City Council and served 14 years. During that time, Mr. Gardiner served on numerous boards including the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, Emergency Management, Tourism Bureau, Cornwall Regional Airport, and Cornwall Public Library. He also served as President and Vice-President at the Aultsville Theatre for 14 years. As City Councillor, Mr. Gardiner was instrumental in passing a non-smoking bylaw, making the City of Cornwall the first small city in Ontario to go smoke-free.

Mr. Gardiner currently sits on Cornwall's Senior Friendly Community Committee, as well as a committee to attract remote workers to Cornwall.

Mr. Gardiner attended high school at Gault Institute in Valleyfield, Quebec. He upgraded his schooling at St. Lawrence College in Cornwall, Ontario where he later was invited to teach retail as part of the Marketing Program.

Mr. Gardiner’s employment record includes working as Operations Manager at the Warehousing Distribution and Sales Center for M.C.A Records Canada in Calgary, Alberta, servicing all of western Canada. He later was hired by Capitol Records E.M.I. Montreal in the same capacity, to oversee Capitol’s eastern Canada operations. Mr. Gardiner retired after being employed with Sears Canada for 28 years.

In his leisure time, Mr. Gardiner enjoys golfing in the summer, curling in the winter, and has a passion for singing and playing guitar.

Maurice Dupelle, Representative of the City of Cornwall
Councillor, Cornwall

Maurice was first elected to the City of Cornwall’s Council in 2010 and is currently serving his fourth term.

In addition to his role as Manager of Human Resources at Community Living Glengarry, Maurice is involved in several initiatives in the community. He is Chair of the Agape Centre’s Board of Directors, as well as Vice-Chair of the Cornwall Police Services Board. Maurice is also a member of the Glen Stor Dun Lodge Management Committee and the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Carma Williams, Representative of the United Counties of SDG
Deputy Mayor, North Glengarry

Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Carma was raised in Aylmer, Quebec and now resides in Maxville, Ontario. She has a degree in Applied Human Sciences from Concordia University in Montreal.

For the past 20 years, Ms. Williams has owned and operated an innovative mobile hair salon business serving the community of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

In 2010, she was elected to municipal office and is currently serving her third term, now as Deputy Mayor for the Township of North Glengarry. By virtue of her role as Deputy Mayor, Ms. Williams also sits on SD&G County Council.

She has served on numerous boards and committees, including Chair of the SD&G Community Futures Development Corporation, President of the Maxville & District Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Glengarry Memorial Hospital Board. Ms. Williams is also past Chair of the North Glengarry Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee.

As a lifelong volunteer, Carma has been a leader in building her community through involvement in numerous cultural and community economic development initiatives and activities.

Martin Lang, Representative of the United Counties of SDG
Deputy Mayor, South Glengarry

Martin Lang is a business owner and farmer residing in Williamstown. He is currently serving his second term as councillor for the Township of South Glengarry and is also Deputy Mayor.

Mr. Lang is involved in several initiatives in his community and is currently Chair of the Cornwall Regional Airport Commission and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority. He is also Station Chief of the Williamstown Fire Hall.

Normand Riopel, Representative of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell
Mayor, Champlain Township

Normand Riopel’s political career began when he was elected to the council of Longueuil Township in 1991. Following an amalgamation of townships, he became a Municipal Councillor for the Ward of Longueuil from 1998 to 2018 in Champlain Township. In 2018, he became Mayor of Champlain Township and is currently serving his second term. He is also Warden of the Council of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell for 2023.

Mr. Riopel has been involved in the community for over 30 years and has a keen understanding of regional matters. He has sat on a number of committees over the years, such as the Economic Development and Tourism committee, the Planning and Forestry committee, as well as the Agricultural Advisory committee.

Robert Lefebvre, Representative of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell
Mayor, Town of Hawkesbury

Robert Lefebvre has dedicated himself to his community for decades, having worked as Clerk-Treasurer for The Corporation of the Township of Champlain from 1998 to 2009, and occupying similar roles for The Corporation of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell and the Corporation of the Township of West Hawkesbury before that.

Following his retirement in 2009, Mr. Lefebvre became a consultant specializing in municipal works. He is also the Recycling Coordinator for the Town of Hawkesbury, the Township of East Hawkesbury, and the Township of Champlain.

Mr. Lefebvre is heavily involved in his community, organizing fundraising activities for the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, and lending a hand at the Hawkesbury Central Food Bank. He is also a member and President of the Hawkesbury Police Services Board.

Mr. Lefebvre has been a municipal councillor for the Town of Hawkesbury since 2018 and was elected Mayor in 2022.