Francis John Blatherwick
Encyclopedia
Francis John Blatherwick, CM
, OBC
, CD
, FRCP(C)
. (born September 11, 1944) was one of Canada's trailblazing leaders in public health
and was the longest-serving medical health officer in Canada when he retired in 2007.
in 1969. He then started in public health when he left a residency in Internal Medicine at Vancouver General Hospital
in 1971 to set up the Pine Street Youth Clinic. He received his Diploma in Public Health at the University of Toronto
in 1975 and completed his Fellowship in Public Health at University of British Columbia
in 1976.
, British Columbia
from 1984 to 2007. As the medical health officer for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
, he has been the moving force behind a number of important programs, especially those involving youth, people with disabilities, people living with AIDS
, combating drug addictions, and the move to abolish smoking in the workplace.
Blatherwick became skilled at media relations and was well-known for voicing independent, authoritative opinions on controversial health issues. Premier Bill Vander Zalm
publicly threatened to fire him - twice - over his advocacy for condoms and sex education in schools. Insite
, the first legal supervised safe injection site in North America, opened during his tenure.
He also led Vancouver's public health response to the SARS epidemic.
reserves for 39 years, retiring in 2000 with the rank of Commander
and the position of Senior Naval Reserve Medical Advisor. He served in the Air Force
, Army
, and the Naval
reserves, and was Canada’s representative to the NATO Reserve Medical Officers’ Congress from 1989 to 1995.
He is currently the Honorary Colonel for 12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance (2006 to 2012).
player.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBC
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
, FRCP(C)
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada ' , French: Collège royal des médecins et chirurgiens du Canada, is a national, private, nonprofit organization established in 1929 by a special Act of Parliament to oversee the medical education of specialists in Canada...
. (born September 11, 1944) was one of Canada's trailblazing leaders in public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and was the longest-serving medical health officer in Canada when he retired in 2007.
Entry into public health
Prior to coming to Vancouver, he was the Medical Health Officer in the Simon Fraser Health Unit for nine years. He received his MD from the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 1969. He then started in public health when he left a residency in Internal Medicine at Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital is a medical facility located in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the largest facility in the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre group of medical facilities...
in 1971 to set up the Pine Street Youth Clinic. He received his Diploma in Public Health at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1975 and completed his Fellowship in Public Health at University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in 1976.
Public health leadership
Blatherwick served as the Medical Health Officer or Chief Medical Health Officer in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
from 1984 to 2007. As the medical health officer for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
Vancouver Coastal Health
Vancouver Coastal Health is a regional health authority providing direct and contracted health services including primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care, home and community care, mental health services, population and preventive health and addictions services in part of Greater Vancouver...
, he has been the moving force behind a number of important programs, especially those involving youth, people with disabilities, people living with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, combating drug addictions, and the move to abolish smoking in the workplace.
Blatherwick became skilled at media relations and was well-known for voicing independent, authoritative opinions on controversial health issues. Premier Bill Vander Zalm
Bill Vander Zalm
Wilhelmus Nicholaas Theodore Marie "Bill" Vander Zalm is a politician and entrepreneur in British Columbia, Canada. He was the 28th Premier of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991.-Early life:...
publicly threatened to fire him - twice - over his advocacy for condoms and sex education in schools. Insite
Insite
Insite is the only legal supervised injection site in North America, located at 139 East Hastings Street, in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia. The DTES had 4700 chronic drug users in 2000 and has been considered to be the centre of an "injection drug epidemic"...
, the first legal supervised safe injection site in North America, opened during his tenure.
He also led Vancouver's public health response to the SARS epidemic.
Armed forces
Blatherwick served in the Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
reserves for 39 years, retiring in 2000 with the rank of Commander
and the position of Senior Naval Reserve Medical Advisor. He served in the Air Force
Canadian Forces Air Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
, Army
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
, and the Naval
Canadian Forces Maritime Command
The Royal Canadian Navy , is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by...
reserves, and was Canada’s representative to the NATO Reserve Medical Officers’ Congress from 1989 to 1995.
He is currently the Honorary Colonel for 12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance (2006 to 2012).
Health-related publications
- Vancouver's Needle Exchange Program, By John Bardsley, John TurveyJohn TurveyJohn Wilfred Turvey, CM, OBC was a long-time advocate for the disadvantaged in Vancouver, British Columbia. After becoming a heroin addict at 13 years old and dropping out of Barr Beacon School in year 10, John Turvey went on to found and serve as the Executive Director of the Downtown Eastside...
and John Blatherwick, Canadian Journal of Public Health (1990), Vol. 81, pp. 39–45 ISSN 0008-4263
Books authored
Blatherwick has written more than 20 books, mostly on medals and flying:- Royal Canadian Air Force Honours, Decorations, Medals, 1920-1968, By John Blatherwick, 1991, FJB Air Publications.
- A History of Airlines in Canada By Francis John Blatherwick, 1989, Unitrade Press, ISBN 0919801668
- Canadian Orders, Decorations, and Medals, By Francis John Blatherwick, 1983, Unitrade Press
- 1000 Brave Canadians: The Canadian Gallantry Awards, 1854-1989, By Francis John Blatherwick, 1991, Unitrade Press
Personal
He is married to Carol Blatherwick and has four children: Jim, Dave, Doug and paula. He's known as a "scrappy" ice hockeyIce hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player.
Honours
- 1979 - Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer 1984, Commander 1989
- 1992 - Canada 125 Medal
- 1994 - Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for his work in public health - 2002 - Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal
- 2002 - named Canadian Health Hero from the Pan American Health OrganizationPan American Health OrganizationThe Pan American Health Organization is an international public health agency with over 100 years of experience working to improve health and living standards of the people of the Americas...
- 2005 - Silver Medal of Service from the British Columbia Medical AssociationBritish Columbia Medical AssociationThe British Columbia Medical Association is a professional body of doctors in the Canadian province of British Columbia.It is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia....
- 2007 - Order of British ColumbiaOrder of British ColumbiaThe Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
, upon his retirement.