André Picard

One of Canada’s top public policy observers and commentators, André Picard has provided many years of compelling thought leadership on a multitude of policy and performance matters across our complex health system. He is the health columnist at The Globe and Mail, where he has been a staff writer since 1987. He is also a celebrated author of five bestselling books, including his latest, Matters of Life and Death, in which he tackles some of the nation’s most pressing public health topics. His sentinel book, The Gift of Death, established his voice as one of credibility and authority in the troubled years of the Canadian blood system, and has continued to guide and influence many ever since.

André has received much acclaim for his writing, including the prestigious Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service Journalism, the Canadian Policy Research Award, and the Atkinson Fellowship for Public Policy Research. He has also been honoured for advocacy in improving healthcare. He was named Canada’s first “Public Health Hero” by the Canadian Public Health Association and as a “Champion of Mental Health” by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. His work has also been recognized by the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the Canadian Hearing Society, Safe KidsCanada, and the Campaign to Control Cancer.