About

Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) is one of 29 Public Health Units in the province of Ontario, Canada. RCDHU is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and the obligated municipalities including Renfrew County, City of Pembroke and the Township of South Algonquin. RCDHU also provides services to most of Algonquin Provincial Park.

RCDHU’s main office is located in the City of Pembroke, with a Service Hub location in the Town of Renfrew.

The geographic area of Renfrew County and District is 14,980 square kilometers and the population is estimated at 107,522.

Vision, Mission & Values

Vision

Optimal health for all in Renfrew County and District.

Mission

Renfrew County and District Health Unit protects and promotes the health and well-being of all.

Values

Strategic Plan

The 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan was developed based on valuable input from key stakeholders including health unit employees, community partners and Board of Health members. The plan describes four strategic directions for moving towards “Optimal Health for All” in Renfrew County and District.

*Please contact Melissa Ziebarth at mziebarth@rcdhu.com should you need assistance accessing information on this page.

Our Journey Forward – Strategic Plan 2022-2026

Legislative Mandate

The legislative mandate for Ontario’s 34 public health units is described in the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA). The guiding purpose of the HPPA is to “…provide for the organization and delivery of public health programs and services, the prevention of the spread of diseases and the promotion and protection of the health of the people of Ontario.” (R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7, s.2)

The Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS) describe requirements for basic public health programs and services. These include assessment and surveillance, health promotion and policy development, disease and injury prevention, and health protection activities. These contribute to the physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being of all Ontarians.

Board of Health Members

Renfrew County and District Health Unit is governed by an autonomous Board of Health. The Board consists of elected and appointed representatives from the Province of Ontario, the County of Renfrew, the City of Pembroke and the Township of South Algonquin. The Renfrew County and District Health Unit’s Board of Health oversees the administration of the Health Unit’s programs and services.

2025 Board of Health Members are as follows:

James Brose

James Brose, a representative of the County of Renfrew, is a Member of the Stakeholder Relations Committee.

J. Michael du Manoir

J. Michael du Manoir, a Provincial Appointee, is the Chair of the Resources Committee.

Peter Emon

Peter Emon, a representative of the County of Renfrew, is a Member of the Stakeholder Relations Committee.

Joanne King

Joanne King, a Provincial Appointee, and is the Chair of the Board, and the Chair of the MOH and CEO Performance Review Committee and a Member of the Governance, Resources, Striking and Stakeholder Relations Committees.

Ethel LaValley

Ethel LaValley is the Member from the Township of South Algonquin, and is the Vice-Chair of the Board and is a member of the Governance, Resources, Striking and the MOH and CEO Performance Review Committees.

James Manion

James Manion, is a Provincial Appointee, and is a member of the Resources and Stakeholder Relations Committees.

Jennifer Murphy

Jennifer Murphy, a representative of the County of Renfrew, is the Chair of the Stakeholder Relations Committee.

Neil Nicholson

Neil Nicholson is a representative of the County of Renfrew, and is a member of the Governance, Striking and MOH and CEO Performance Review Committees.