Ryan Philipation received the Life Membership Award as part of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. (Saskatchewan Health Authority)

By Cam Lee

Award winner

Melfort Senior Public Health Inspector receives recognition

Nov 4, 2024 | 4:24 PM

A Senior Public Health Inspector from Melfort has won a prestigious award.

Ryan Philipation was recently awarded the Life Membership Award at the National Annual Education Conference for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).

Philipation told northeastNOW he was totally surprised by the award.

“It was just a real honour to receive that award in front of my colleagues down in Regina,” said Philipation.

One member of the CIPHI is honoured each year, and Philipation was given the nod in 2024. The Saskatchewan Health Authority said in a release that the award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of environmental health and is presented to individuals and organizations for their contribution to the association, the field of environmental health, and the betterment of public health.

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Phillipation has made Melfort his home since 1998 and began as a Public Health Inspector under the tutelage of Doug Terry. Philipation said Terry encouraged him to be involved in the CIPHI and he quickly did so.

“Volunteering my time with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors in various roles as a councillor and as a president,” said Philipation.

He said he had good experiences with CIPHI and is thankful to Terry for recommending his involvement with the organization.

Public health inspectors and the Saskatchewan Health Authority as a whole were put under a tremendous amount of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the first year or two. Philipation says they were always aware of the potential of a pandemic happening some day, and the inspectors were among front-line workers that had to manage the situation.

“It certainly was an interesting time for our communities as well as the inspectors, and I…was fortunate to be a part of a really good team and we were able to manage that situation as difficult as it was.”

He said it was a bonus working in a community like Melfort at that time, and added he benefitted from having a good employer like the Saskatchewan Health Authority that did their best to look after their employees both personally and professionally during a difficult time.

Philipation is in his 27th year as a health inspector in Melfort and said he’s happy to work in the community for a good employer and with a good team of inspectors that make the job enjoyable.

“I was honoured to get the award and I’m looking forward to continue this public health journey moving forward.”

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK