Simon Sihota, B.Sc., BEH, MPH, CPHI(C)

Regional Manager, Environmental Public Health Services
Indigenous Services Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health, Alberta Region

Simon is the Regional Manager for Environmental Public Services with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) of Indigenous Services Canada in the Alberta Region. Simon is a Certified Public Health Inspector with a Master Degree in Public Health from the University of Alberta, School of Public Health (Environmental and Occupational Health). Simon has been with FNIHB for over 19 years at field level and in the regional management role for over 15 years. As the Regional Manager, Simon is responsible for overseeing the service delivery of Environmental Public Health services to Alberta First Nations with a dedicated team of public health professionals. Prior to joining FNIHB, Simon worked with the provincial health authorities in both Calgary and Edmonton.

Simon has over 20 years of experience in dealing with various emergency management events, including wildfires, industrial releases, floods and various outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, Simon was covering a dual role as the Regional Manager for Environmental Public Health, as well being the Operations lead for the FNIHB COVID-19 response in Alberta First Nations.

Simon has a passion for public health surveillance data and evidence based practice and has lead numerous initiatives and developed information systems to improve environmental public health related data collection, analysis and reporting to support evidence based decision-making and improving health outcomes. Simon continues to collaborate with various agencies and departments to further enhance public health information systems and ultimately, health outcomes. Simon remains actively involved in prompting the field through ongoing activities with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, as a member of the Concordia University of Edmonton Professional Advisory Committee, and as a mentor to upcoming public health professionals .

While outside work, Simon spends as much time outdoors with his wife and two children. Simon enjoys down hill skiing, camping and more adventurous activities such as white water rafting and any zipline he can find.