The Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) Manitoba region is pleased to announce that Dr. Catherine Cook has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

Throughout her career, Dr. Cook has made significant contributions to the health and well-being of First Nation, Inuit, and Métis peoples by working with provincial and federal governments as well as community-based organizations. She has made strides in advancing cultural safety and equity in healthcare for Indigenous Peoples and Canadians.

As one of the first five students of Indigenous descent to graduate with a medical degree in Manitoba, Dr. Cook began her career by providing primary health care to northern and remote Indigenous communities, improving the health of Indigenous Peoples through her tireless advocacy and pragmatic approaches to addressing colonialism in the health care system.

Throughout her career, Dr. Cook has taken on many key leadership positions demonstrating her commitment to Indigenous engagement and Reconciliation including Vice President of Population and Public Health at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Provincial Lead of Indigenous Health at Shared Health, Head of Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Vice Dean of Indigenous Health, and Vice President (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Cook has advanced cultural safety within the Province of Manitoba through her leadership in the development of a highly effective training program now known as the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Safety Program, which is available to all WRHA partners, organizations, and service providers who work directly or indirectly with Indigenous Peoples in Manitoba.

Dr. Cook also played a pivotal role in the establishment of Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing at the University of Manitoba. The establishment of Ongomiizwin has transformed the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences in its approach to teaching and learning about cultural safety for Indigenous Peoples.

Dr. Cook’s work will continue to have an impact on future generations as her work was instrumental in developing pathways for Indigenous students to enter and thrive in medical education programs.

IPAC Manitoba congratulates Dr. Cook on receiving this award. The Lieutenant Governor will host a ceremony at Government House at a later date.