Download the 2024 Community Report (PDF, 20 pages, 3 MB)
Message from Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health and CEO
As I look to the future of public health, I am struck by not just the amount of change, but also the increasing rate at which we see change occurring. This past year was one of great growth and innovation at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. While we continue to deliver excellent service that protects the health of our region, we are also keeping one eye firmly fixed on the future. As Medical Officer of Health and CEO, it is my pleasure to introduce the 2024 Community Report. It is impossible to capture the full depth and breadth of everything our team at WDG Public Health accomplished in the past year, but this report highlights key initiatives, developments and activities that had a direct impact on the health of our region.
In 2024, the Agency continued our leadership in harnessing forward-facing technologies to deliver public health outcomes. The integration of Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies into some of our services is an excellent example of this approach. From our AI-powered chatbot on our website to transforming the way we create letters for students under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, AI is a tool that is helping to streamline our work in ways that allow the team at Public Health to focus their time and energy on supporting residents and partners throughout WDG.
Looking ahead, we will continue to embrace technology—wisely and responsibly—to ensure that WDG Public Health delivers on our promise of people-centred public health services. We are at the beginning of this journey and not the end, but I am excited to see our continued innovation on your behalf. Thank you for your continued support and trust as all of us work toward a healthy and thriving region.