In June 2009 Professor Marilyn Lee was presented with the Alex Cross Award from the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI). Alex Cross, a well known public health inspector from Winnipeg, who wrote about the early history of Public Health Inspectors in Canada, established the award in 1984. It is given to members of the CIPHI for displaying the highest standards of professional practice.

 Peter Heywood presenting Marilyn Lee with Alex Cross Award, June 2009

Nominators wrote that Professor Lee is known to hundreds of graduates of the School of Occupational and Public Health at Ryerson University as one of the best professors in microbiology. "If you know your bacterial, parasitic, and viral pathogens and attended Ryerson University during the last 25 years it is likely because Marilyn Lee helped you learn the intricacies of these bugs in her classes". In receiving the Sue Williams Excellence in Teaching Award last year at Ryerson, she was described as "tough but fair". The nominators added that this so-called toughness helps increase the competency and professionalism of the graduates who become a Certified Public Health Inspector.

Dr. Usha George, Dean of the Faculty of Community Services at Ryerson, describes Professor Lee as being passionate about public health topics and lecturing with an enthusiasm that keeps her students interested. Her classes are noted for being stimulating and entertaining because of her great sense of humour and amusing anecdotes. Professor Lee serves on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Food Protection Association and is a trustee of the Environmental Health Foundation of Canada, the education and research arm of CIPHI.

Congratulations Marilyn, and our apologies for not publishing this announcement sooner

Sandy Stevens, CIPHI (Ontario Branch)