Public Health Ontario
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Background

The Sheela Basrur Centre was established in March 2008 to honour the legacy of Dr. Sheela Basrur.  An outstanding leader in the field of public health, Dr. Basrur built strong relationships with many organizations and with the people of Ontario.  Dr. Basrur had a remarkable career before succumbing to cancer on June 2, 2008 at the age of 51.

Following Dr.Basrur’s death in June 2008, family and friends came together with Public Health Ontario staff to commemorate her achievements and raise funds to establish the Centre.

Through the generous support of five founding partners and personal donations, the Sheela Basrur Centre was established less than one year later. In April 2009, Public Health Ontario hosted the official opening of its head office named the Sheela Basrur Centre and launched the Centre’s programming. That celebration brought together more than 100 family members, friends, colleagues, government officials, board members and staff.

The Sheela Basrur Centre is both a physical space housing the head office of Public Health Ontario, and a series of programs. Its physical location on University Avenue in Toronto incorporates four floors of offices with PHO staff as well as:

  1. Education and training rooms
  2. Boardrooms
  3. An emergency command centre equipped with emergency power, separate ventilation, a wellness room, a shower and a kitchen.      

The Sheela Basrur Centre programs seek to advance public health knowledge and strengthen its leadership within Ontario through educational activities aimed at existing and emerging professionals. The Sheela Basrur Centre is guided by an advisory council and is coordinated and supported by Public Health Ontario.

 
Top of Page The portrait of Dr. Sheela Basrur was painted by Gerda Neubacher. Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion