Bonnie Henry

Bonnie Henry is a public health professional and the provincial health officer for British Columbia, Canada. She is known for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early life and education

Bonnie Henry was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She completed her undergraduate degree in forensic science at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. She then pursued her medical degree at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Following this, she specialized in community medicine and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego.

Career

Henry began her career in public health in Toronto, working on the SARS outbreak in 2003. She then moved to the BC Centre for Disease Control, where she worked on planning and response for the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009. In 2018, she was appointed as the provincial health officer for British Columbia, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Henry has been praised for her calm and compassionate approach. She has been instrumental in implementing measures to control the spread of the virus, including physical distancing and mask mandates.

Awards and recognition

In 2020, Henry was named one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women's Executive Network. She has also received the Order of British Columbia for her contributions to public health.