Letters from the Frontline

Meet Jeannine McNeil. Jeannine is a CBU Alumna who graduated in 1994 from then University College of Cape Breton with a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies with a major in communications. Jeannie was born and raised in Cape Breton and is now living in the south end of Halifax.

I am a Senior Program Officer with the Public Health Programs Unit at the Public Health Agency of Canada. Although I am located in Halifax, our regional office has an Atlantic wide mandate. I am responsible for working with key stakeholders in our communities on harm reduction, urban Indigenous health and communicable diseases. COVID-19 has certainly provided a platform for discussion on how some of our most vulnerable populations are impacted by COVID-19 and some of the stigma that they also face related to this. 

The Public Health Agency of Canada has a large role in the response to COVID-19. In late February, I was deployed to Cornwall, ON, where I worked with the planning team on the departure plan for the quarantined individuals from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. This departure plan was created in partnership with the Red Cross, Canadian Armed Forces and other key government departments. 

I am very proud to work for the Public Health Agency of Canada. The current COVID-19 crisis has illustrated just how important a role public health plays in the lives of Canadians. The part I love about my role the most is being able to work closely with community organizations that offer support services to folks who many people in our society would choose to forget. Before coming to government, I was the Executive Director of the Stepping Stone Association, an organization that offers support services to sex workers. I try to bring the voice of community to my work every day.

My advice to the community would be to be mindful of information overload related to COVID-19. There is so much out there, and it is easy to get lost in it. The Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial public health are the sources of information I use to get the latest advice and information. I would also add that self-care is key -- remember to be kind to yourself and to others.

To CBU students who are navigating these challenging times, still try to enjoy every minute of your studies because it goes by so fast! If you have an issue or cause that you do not think is getting enough recognition at the University, do not be afraid to bring it forward. Students are the heart of the University, and in my time at CBU, student voices were welcomed and heard.

I have many wonderful memories of my time at CBU, but my fondest recollections are from the Communication department and the opportunity I had to be published in a book about Cape Breton culture. I am still very close to most of the folks I met in the Communication program.

I am a very proud CBU alumni, and I welcome any opportunity I get to talk about my time at CBU. If readers are interested in checking out one of the ways I have been reaching out during COVID-19, please check out my daily J9 Patio Chat check ins. I can be found on both Twitter and Instagram @caperj9.

To find out more on supporting Cape Breton University, visit www.cbu.ca/alumni