2026 Honorary Awards
Each year, we honour individuals or organizations who provide outstanding service to their community and profession. Our members nominate candidates for the awards.
R.D. Defries Award
Honorary Life Membership
Dr. Robert Strang
Dr. Robert Strang has been a Public Health and Preventive Medicine specialist since 1997 and has served as Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health since 2007, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to advancing public health in Canada. Over decades of service, he has provided evidence-informed leadership on tobacco control, substance use, and health equity, helping to strengthen both provincial and national public health systems.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Strang exemplified exceptional public health leadership, guiding Nova Scotia through hundreds of public briefings with clarity, compassion, and scientific rigour. His calm, transparent, and empathetic communication fostered deep public trust and contributed to a strong and effective pandemic response, inspiring both health professionals and the public.
Beyond crisis response, Dr. Strang has played a pivotal role in federal-provincial-territorial collaboration. He has served as Provincial Co-Chair of the Public Health Network Council and contributed to major national initiatives, including the National Immunization Strategy. As current Co-Chair of the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health, he continues to strengthen interprovincial coordination on complex public health challenges, including maintaining trust in public institutions.
Dr. Strang’s impact extends to countless Nova Scotians and Canadians through sustained efforts to address the social determinants of health, advance health promotion, and build resilient systems that will protect future generations. A respected mentor, he has supported and shaped emerging public health leaders, while his diplomatic navigation of political and organizational complexities has consistently advanced public health interests with integrity.
Through his sustained and principled contributions, Dr. Strang embodies the values of the R.D. Defries Award: outstanding achievement in public health, meaningful impact in Canada, and steadfast commitment to collaborative approaches to improving population health.
Certificate of Merit
Ashley Wettlaufer
Ashley Wettlaufer is recognized for her outstanding contributions to public health through leadership in alcohol policy research, analysis, and knowledge mobilization.
Ms. Wettlaufer played a central role in the Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE), a multi-phase initiative assessing Canadian jurisdictions across eleven alcohol policy domains and examining the alignment between existing policies and research evidence. She led the collection and verification of detailed policy data across provinces and territories, contributed to the weighting and synthesis of findings, and supported the dissemination of results through webinars, publications, and reports. Her work has informed evidence-based advice to government officials, non-governmental organizations, and public health leaders.
Across successive phases of CAPE, Ms. Wettlaufer has developed an exceptional depth of knowledge on alcohol policy frameworks in Canada and on opportunities for policy improvement. Her expertise has also informed the application of the CAPE model in the United States and other international contexts.
Committed to sharing her expertise, Ms. Wettlaufer actively engages through webinars, seminars, and direct collaboration. A broad network of government, NGO, and community partners continues to benefit from her guidance on a wide range of alcohol policy issues, including pricing and taxation, alcohol advertising and marketing, provincial and territorial strategies, impaired driving countermeasures, and warning labels on alcohol containers.
Through her sustained and impactful contributions, Ms. Wettlaufer has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing effective alcohol policies that reduce harm and strengthen population health.
Ron Draper Health Promotion Award
Manuel Arango, BA, MA, MHA
Manuel Arango has dedicated more than 25 years to advancing public health in Canada through sustained leadership in policy and advocacy at the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. Over the course of his career, he has played a pivotal role in shaping heart and brain health policy and strengthening prevention-focused public health initiatives nationwide.
A nationally respected advocate, Mr. Arango is particularly recognized for his leadership in nutrition policy. His work has deepened understanding of the health impacts of trans fats, sugary drinks, and saturated fats, helping to inform and advance effective public policy responses. He has been instrumental in major public health achievements, including mandatory front-of-package nutrition labelling, the removal of industrial trans fats from the food supply, and the modernization of Canada’s Food Guide.
Mr. Arango has also helped secure funding and policy support for initiatives that protect and promote population health, including public access defibrillators, a national longitudinal heart-health cohort study, and active transportation infrastructure such as sidewalks and bike lanes. His advocacy has extended to national efforts on pharmacare, as well as tobacco, vaping, and nicotine control.
In addition to policy development, his contributions include parliamentary committee appearances, media engagement, conference presentations, and international collaboration. His work consistently bridges evidence, advocacy, and implementation, translating research into tangible health gains for communities across Canada.
Through sustained leadership, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment to prevention-oriented public policy, Manuel Arango has made an enduring contribution to health promotion in Canada. His achievements exemplify the values of the Ron Draper Health Promotion Award and have delivered lasting benefits to the health of Canadians.