Lieutenant-Governor Award presented to Dr. Robert A. Strang

 

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, is the recipient of the 2020 Lieutenant-Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Administration. The award was presented on Wednesday, October 27, 2021.

The medal is awarded annually to someone who works in public administration and exhibits the highest standard of excellence, dedication and accomplishment.

Watch the ceremony below. Dr. Strang’s remarks are at the 32:00 mark. The volume may need to be turned up to hear the video well.

"Throughout his career, Dr. Strang has placed the health of Nova Scotians at the forefront of his work, developing and implementing policies with our well-being in mind," said Lt.-Gov. Arthur LeBlanc. "His commitment to the health of all Nova Scotians has never been more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a most deserving recipient of this year's award."

Dr. Strang has been chief medical officer of health for the province for more than a decade. He has shown excellence through his leadership and accountability during the province's public health response to both the COVID-19 and H1N1 pandemics. Dr. Strang continues to guide Nova Scotia through many difficult days while maintaining clear and open lines of communication with Nova Scotians through frequent public briefings.

"I'm honoured to receive this recognition during such a challenging year," said Dr. Strang. "While it's my face you see and voice you hear when it comes to the COVID-19 response in Nova Scotia, I represent the hard work of hundreds of skilled professionals whose commitment and dedication to public service is truly inspiring. This award is for them, too."

As a public health specialist physician, Dr. Strang has dedicated his work to the well-being of others. During his career in Nova Scotia, he has played a leadership role in the development of health-focused public policy in the areas of tobacco control and cannabis legalization. Dr. Strang has also led community-centred work on alcohol use, school-based nutrition, vaccination programs, and opioid use and overdose.

The Lieutenant-Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Administration is presented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, who serves as its patron. It is sponsored by Davis Pier Consulting and administered by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) Nova Scotia.

Quotes

“It has been a privilege to have Dr. Strang by my side - six feet away, that is - throughout this pandemic. Like so many Nova Scotians, I have sought and trusted Dr. Strang's advice in making the difficult decisions that affect us all. That advice comes from a sound foundation that he calls the three C's - caring, compassion and community. What an appropriate reflection of Nova Scotians' values.”
- Former Premier Stephen McNeil

“There's no question Dr. Strang is deserving of this honour. During a time of unprecedented uncertainty, confusion and fear, he provided honest and empathetic leadership, a steady hand, and a voice of reason - all things he's been known for throughout his career. That's why he'll always be known as the doctor who made Nova Scotia one of the safest places to live during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

- Laura Lee Langley, Clerk of the Executive Council, Government of Nova Scotia

 

“During the current COVID 19 global pandemic, the wider public has gotten to witness and experience the strength of leadership those of us who have worked with Rob long term have always seen; a dedicated, compassionate provider who leads in a calm, focused and person-centered way. He is thoughtful, evidence-informed and able to translate what information is known into understandable messages. He is passionate about people and cares that they have the best information that can be provided. He is also both humble and collaborative, willing to listen to others and to get their input before moving forward and is able to adapt as other viewpoints are explored. When decisions are required, he moves forward in a decisive manner respectful of the opinions that have been shared with him.”

- Dr. Krista Jangaard, MD, FRCPC, MHA, President and CEO, IWK Health

 

“All Nova Scotians know what Dr. Strang has contributed over the past nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has played the leading role in making Nova Scotia one of the safest places in the world. If this does not qualify as outstanding achievement in public administration, it is hard to imagine what does. There are endless ways to describe what he has done and how he has done it in these unprecedented times. He would himself say that he has not done it, but that Nova Scotians have done it – which is of course precisely the secret of his success. From the beginning of the pandemic, he has expressed confidence in the care and concern of Nova Scotians for each other and in their ingrained sense of civic responsibility - showing not only his deep understanding of how public health works but also his understanding of, and regard for, Nova Scotians. He has called on us to do our duty with authenticity, sincerity, and honesty - and we have responded. I do not think it overstates to say that with the Premier, Dr. Strang has fought the pandemic by inspiring us to be our better selves and that by doing so, he has strengthened us as human beings, families, communities and a province.

“In all he has done over the course of the pandemic – and indeed through his career as an associate chief medical officer and as our Chief Medical Officer – Dr. Strang has been distinguished by his calmness, empathy, intelligence, knowledge, and judiciousness, as well as his ability to connect with Nova Scotians in his communications with them. In large measure, he has been able to do so much for us all during the pandemic because of the trust and confidence Nova Scotians – and his peers and colleagues in and beyond Nova Scotia – had in him when the pandemic struck. In these chaotic times, when appreciation and respect for this kind of steady and experienced leadership can apparently no longer be taken for granted, we are beyond fortunate to have been served by Dr. Strang in this time of our extraordinary need for that kind of leadership.“

 - William Lahey, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of King's College

 

“Even if the novel coronavirus had never reached our shores, Dr. Strang would be more than deserving of this honour. Long before the current pandemic, Dr. Strang was taking strong leadership and advocacy positions on such vitally important health issues as vaping, alcohol and other substance use, tobacco, immunization, physical activity, poverty reduction, healthy eating, and food security. He has fearlessly stood for the health of Nova Scotians and Canadians, contributing tremendously to our collective wellbeing.” 

“It behooves us to acknowledge Dr. Strang’s many years of service guiding Nova Scotia’s public health and health promotion policies at the highest levels. He is passionately dedicated to his work, but in his own quiet, humble, and steady way. It has been this steadiness, dedication, and humility that have made him an outstanding leader, to whom we could all look with confidence and hope to advise and guide us through a health care crisis unprecedented in this century in Nova Scotia. I wholeheartedly nominate Dr. Strang to receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2020.”

- Dr. David Anderson, MD, FRCPC, FACP, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University

 

“Rob Strang has spent his career building up his credibility and committing himself to community health. While the pandemic has no doubt demanded an immense sacrifice from him personally, it has also demonstrated the importance of public health—acting in the face of uncertainty, listening to the science, accessing big data and communicating what it means to the public. It also demonstrates how important it is to have a highly trusted voice, earned through a lifetime of study and commitment, like Rob Strang’s.”

- Kevin Quigley, Scholarly Director, MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance, Dalhousie University

 

“This award pays tribute to public servants whose careers exhibit the highest standards of excellence, dedication and accomplishment. Recipients—both past and present—exemplify our core public service values. Dr. Strang represents the very best of these values and in the most challenging of circumstances. Personal integrity. Decency. Humanity. Generosity. Courage. Resilience. He has set a new standard of what can be accomplished with compassion, determination, and an unwavering commitment to serve the citizens of Nova Scotia.”

- Matt Campbell, Past Chair, Institute of Public Administration of Canada (Nova Scotia)

“I can think of no better recipient for the prestigious Lieutenant-Governor's Medal for Excellence in Public Administration in 2020 than Dr. Strang. His leadership, expertise, clear communications and empathy throughout the pandemic are a demonstration of exemplary public service. It is rare for someone in the civil service to become a household name. Dr. Strang has become that by championing such successful public health measures through this crisis. He is a perfect recipient of this award, and of the national and international recognition he has received.”

- Mike Davis, Managing Director, Davis Pier

Quick facts

  • The Institute of Public Administration of Canada advocates the values and ideals of public service and promotes the highest standard of service to the public

  • 33 individuals have been awarded the prestigious medal since 1986

Additional Resources:

Profile | Dr. Robert A Strang

Education: Dr. Strang received a medical degree from University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1990 and completed Family Practice residency in 1992 and Community Medicine residency in 1997. He completed a Fellowship in Community Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Canada in 1997.

Career: From 1997 to 1999, Dr. Strang was an Associate Medical Officer of Health for the South Fraser Health Region in British Columbia where he was responsible for communicable disease control. In 1999, he moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he became the Medical Officer of Health of the Capital District Health Authority. He held the position until December 2006.

In January 2007, Dr. Strang took the position of Acting Deputy Provincial Medical Officer of Health for the Department of Health Promotion and Protection. On August 23, 2007 Strang was appointed Nova Scotia's first Chief Public Health Officer, before transitioning to the Chief Medical Officer of Health with the Department of Health and Wellness in 2016.

Achievements: Dr. Strang was instrumental in the passing of anti-tobacco, anti-smoking legislation in Nova Scotia, including the Smoke Free Places Act of Nova Scotia (2002). Dr. Strang also played a significant role in the passing of legislation banning flavoured e-cigarettes and juices in this province and preventing minors from gaining access to high-nicotine vaping products.

Dr. Strang has continually worked to achieve better health outcomes among Nova Scotians. He has advanced initiatives aimed at improving nutrition and physical activity with a particular focus on children and youth, and by bringing attention to the role of poverty, education, and communities in achieving health at the population level.

Civic and Professional Involvement: Dr. Strang has made considerable contributions to the broader community as a volunteer board member of several organizations. He has served as the President of Smoke Free Nova Scotia from 2001 to 2007, he was a board member of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia from 2002 to 2007, the National Specialty Society for Community Medicine from 2004 to 2008, and he currently serves on the boards of Autism Nova Scotia and Feed Nova Scotia.

Dr. Strang has an adjunct appointment with Dalhousie University, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology. His research has focused on the importance of preventative health measures to achieve fiscal sustainability, quality health care and improved population health. He has brought an equity lens to population health and advocated for addressing underlying socioeconomic causes that have led to disproportionate rates of chronic disease among racialized communities. Throughout his career, Dr. Strang has supported research, mentored students, and helped train the next generation of public health and public administration leaders. Dr. Strang is incredibly dedicated to his work; he has worked well beyond regular work hours to help keep Nova Scotians safe and to prepare for a possible second wave of the virus. He has demonstrated tremendous credibility, trustworthiness, humility and strength.  He has been generous with his time and continues to be an outstanding public servant worthy of this award.

Past winners

  • 2019 - William Lahey, President, University of King's College - Release

  • 2018 - Millie Colburne, CEO Breton Ability Centre

  • 2016 - Louis Coutinho, CAO Town of Windsor - Release

  • 2015 - Rosalind Penfound, VP Nova Scotia Community College

  • 2014 - Dr. Colin Dodds, President St. Mary’s University

  • 2013 - Faith G. Scattolon, Regional Director General, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

  • 2012 - Dr. Paul Brown, Professor, Dalhousie University - Release

  • 2011 - Kenneth R. B. Simpson, Executive Director, NS Federation of Municipalities (awarded posthumously)

  • 2010 - Robert Fowler, retired Clerk of the Nova Scotia Executive Council

  • 2009 - Howard Windsor, retired Clerk of the Nova Scotia Executive Council

  • 2008 - Assistant Commissioner Ian Atkins, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

  • 2007 - Shulamith Medjuck, formerly with Department of Community Services

  • 2006 - Robert (Bob) MacKay, Former Deputy Minister, Province of Nova Scotia

  • 2005 - David M. Cameron, Dalhousie University

  • 2004 - Gordon Gillis, Former Deputy Minister, Province of Nova Scotia; Wynne Potter, Former Vice-President, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

  • 2003 - William (Bill) Hogg, Former Deputy Minister, Province of Nova Scotia

  • 2002 - Harvey Lawrence (Larry) Doane, Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission

  • 2001 - Jacquelyn Thayer Scott, University College of Cape Breton

  • 2000 - Keith Robicheau, Municipality of the County of Annapolis

  • 1999 - Peter Aucoin, Dalhousie University - Release

  • 1998 - Jerry Ryan, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

  • 1998 - Fred MacKinnon, Senior Citizens Secretariat

  • 1997 - Bill Hamilton, Town of Bridgetown

  • 1996 - Kenneth Ozmon, Saint Mary's University

  • 1995 - Neil Roberts, QEII

  • 1994 - David Parks, Canadian Coast Guard

  • 1993 - Jack Novack, Dalhousie University

  • 1992 - Donald Murphy, City of Halifax

  • 1991 - Emery Fanjoy, Council of Maritime Premiers

  • 1990 - Carmen Moir, Nova Scotia Department of Community Services

  • 1989 - Sherman Zwicker, Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities

  • 1987 - Clifford Moir, City of Dartmouth

  • 1986 - Kel Antoft, Dalhousie University

Dr. Robert A Strang, 2020 Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Administration winner

IPAC Nova Scota chair Cynthia Ryan delivers remarks.

Robert Kitz is presented with the Dalhousie University Student Achievement Award.

Dr. Robert Strang delivers remarks

 
IPAC Nova Scotia