PUC Services Inc. is proud to receive the 2021 Public Health Champion Award in the organization category.

Below is the full release from APH:

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to challenge individuals, businesses, and communities across Algoma. We have worked together during these times of great change and disruption to support one another and support our communities.

This year, our Public Health and Youth Public Health Champion awards (under 30 years of age) honour Algoma residents who have stepped to keep our communities safe and healthy throughout 2021, and demonstrated exemplary kindness, compassion, and community spirit while helping others overcome the challenges related to COVID-19.
 

A committee made up of Board of Health Members, APH staff, and the office of the Medical Officer of Health reviewed all nominations. 

We are happy to announce our 2021 Public Health Champions. 
 

• Organization: PUC Services Inc.  (Learn More)
   
• Individual: Lisa Vezeau-Allen – Grocers 4 Good (G4G) (Learn More)
   
• Youth Champion (under 30) – Beau Neveau  (Learn More)

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When the Algoma Vaccination Support Council was created, PUC Services Inc. got involved from the very beginning. PUC Services Inc. offered financial support to the council, and a PUC employee became the transportation committee's chair. When the COVID-19 vaccine clinics at GFL first started, PUC was one of the first business in the community to step up and buy lunches for every volunteer working the clinics at the GFL Memorial Gardens.  PUC paid for the first two weekends of meals.

Shortly after the clinics started in April, management at PUC learned that transportation was a barrier to COVID-19 vaccination for some. Many citizens who wanted to get vaccinated had no way of getting to their appointments. Since April, PUC has been organizing and paying for taxi rides for anyone who needs to get to and from their vaccination appointment for a first, second, or third dose booster. In total, PUC has coordinated and paid for more than 130 rides.

In November, PUC also helped deliver groceries to those who were self-isolating with more than two dozen staff volunteering to pick up and deliver groceries to anyone who needed them. PUC was also a strong advocate for vaccine uptake amongst their employees by promoting available clinics. Employees were emailed clinic dates along with reinforced messaging on the importance of getting vaccinated. Human Resources even did so much as to book appointments for employees (and their family members) who could not log onto the website when the booking portal opened.

To further instill vaccine confidence PUC had a reoccurring all-staff meeting with an infectious disease specialist from APH every month. Employees were allowed to ask questions about the virus, vaccines or anything else that was on their mind as it related to COVID-19. This helped ease any concerns they may have had regarding the vaccine.

Throughout the pandemic PUC has lead by example. From donations, to rides, to promoting vaccine confidence in the workplace. They have been a true testimony to what it means to a Public Health Champion. 

https://www.algomapublichealth.com/news/this-year-s-public-health-champions-awarded/