Community Partners
HEALTH EFFECTS MONITORING PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE (HEMPAC)
In order to engage with a variety of affected stakeholders, a Health Effects Monitoring Program Advisory Committee (HEMPAC) was created as a mechanism for member groups to contribute to the development and implementation of the monitoring program by utilizing their health expertise and knowledge of regional and community level issues.
HEMPAC meets once a month and consists of the following representatives:
- Government of Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- Government of Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services
- Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
- Health Canada
- Yellowknives Dene First Nation
- North Slave Métis Alliance
- Giant Mine Oversight Board
- City of Yellowknife
With additional support from:
- Institute for Circumpolar Health Research
THE MANDATE OF HEMPAC
To provide advice and make recommendations to the Principal Investigator in the development and implementation of the Health Effects Monitoring Program.
Specific responsibilities of the Advisory Committee include but are not limited to:
- Provide technical expertise and advice in the development and implementation of the program.
- Provide community perspective, expertise, advice and traditional knowledge in the development and implementation of the program.
- Monitor the implementation of the program and provide input into refinement opportunities.
- Provide advice on proposed communications for the program.
Collaborators
The project will also enlist the help of other experts and professionals as well as part-time researchers to aid in its implementation including:
- Dr. Ken Reimer of the Royal Military College as an external expert reviewer.
- Dr. Harriet Phillips of Can North, project lead of the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment study.
- Sharen Roland of Génome Québec will aid in DNA analysis.
- Rossana Manriquez and Jean Dumais of Statistics-Canada, will aid in the development of a sampling methodology.
- Kimberly Fairman of the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research will help finalize data sharing agreements and access to medical records.
