Public Health Units Across Canada

The role of public health is to protect and promote the health and well-being of citizens. Public health is an important part of our overall publicly-funded healthcare system and is administered regionally by each province and territory across the country. Public health works at the community level to promote better health and the prevention of disease in the population as a whole.  Public health is generally responsible for performing a wide variety of activities, such as:

• Working with government to develop, enact and enforce public health standards and policies for our communities
• Preventing and managing outbreaks of disease
• Developing and delivering vaccination programs
• Ensuring access to safe drinking water through water testing 
• Ensuring access to safe food, through restaurant inspections and investigating food-borne illnesses 
• Inspecting and enforcing public health standards for personal care services and other types of businesses and organizations in our communities
• Provide maternal and child health programs
• Providing at-home visits by public health nurses to vulnerable first-time mothers
• Promoting approaches for better health and well-being to prevent illnesses, chronic diseases and injuries
• Reporting on the health of citizens 

The public health officials responsible for carrying out this work include:

• doctors,
• nurses,
• public health inspectors,
• tobacco control officers,
• drinking water officers,
• dietitians,
• dental and vision care specialists,
• mental health and addiction specialists, 
• along with many other healthcare professionals.

The names used for public health units vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and can also include names, such as: "regional health authority," "regional health unit," as well as "community health," among others. Contact your local office directly to determine what services they provide. 

Canada

Public Health Agency of Canada
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html 

Alberta

Community Health Centres
Website: https://informalberta.ca/public/common/viewSublist.do?cartId=1014853

British Columbia

Regional Health Authorities
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/health-authorities/regional-health-authorities

Manitoba

Regional Health Authorities in Manitoba
Website: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/rha/index.html

New Brunswick

Public Health Clinics
Website: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/ocmoh/healthy_people/content/public_health_clinics.html

Regional Health Protection Branch Offices
Website: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/HealthyEnvironments/RegionalHealthProtectionBranchOffices.pdf

Newfoundland and Labrador

Regional Health Authority
Website: https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/findhealthservices/in-your-community/#contact

Northwest Territories

Regional Health and Social Services Authority
Website: https://www.nthssa.ca/en/our-regions

Nova Scotia

Public Health Offices
Website: https://www.nshealth.ca/public-health#sites-sites

Nunavut

Regional Boards of Health
Website: https://www.nrbhss.ca/en/contact-us

Ontario

Ontario Public Health Units
Website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-health-unit-locations

Prince Edward Island

Health PEI
Website: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/health-pei

Public Health Nursing
Website: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/public-health-nursing

Quebec

Centres locaux de services communautaires (CLSC)M
Website: https://sante.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-ressources/clsc/

Saskatchewan

Public Health Offices
Website: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/public-health/public-health-offices

Yukon

Department of Health and Social Services
Website: https://yukon.ca/en/department-health-social-services