2026
Atlantic Air Quality and Health Workshop
January 28–29, 2026
Hybrid Event
See the 2024 Workshop Recording Here
NB Lung is excited to invite you to the upcoming Atlantic Air Quality and Health Workshop, taking place January 28–29, 2026, at the Radisson Kingswood Hotel & Suites, 41 Kingwood Way, Fredericton, NB E3C2L4, in a bilingual, hybrid format.
This 1.5-day event will bring together professionals, researchers, and stakeholders from across the region to explore the important connections between air quality, health, and climate change.
This workshop is designed to be fully bilingual, with simultaneous translation in English and French provided throughout. Through a mix of presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities, the workshop aims to:
- Raise awareness about the health impacts of poor indoor and outdoor air quality
- Share ongoing work and research across Atlantic Canada
- Identify opportunities for collaboration across sector.
Among the featured presentations is “Air Quality on the Grid: A Modernized Air Quality Forecast Dataset at the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC),” where Andrew Teakles and Lucy Chisholm will discuss how MSC is improving air quality forecasting through a modern, grid-based dataset that enhances precision and accessibility across Canada.
Register Today
Registration is now open! Please complete the
registration form to secure your spot:
Attending In Person?
We have secured a block of rooms at the Radisson Kingswood Hotel & Suites, 41 Kingwood Way, Fredericton, NB for $119 per night (+tax). Group Rate Booking Deadline: Tuesday, 30 December 2025
Important Note: When booking, you may see a rate of $123/night displayed on the website due to a system glitch. However, the final charged rate will be $119/night once payment is processed. We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your understanding.
Participants are responsible for booking and paying for their own accommodation.
Opening Keynote: Presented by Gilles Lepage, Minster of Environment and Climate, Minister responsible for The Regional Development Corporation (RDC)
The Government of New Brunswick
Gilles LePage was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as the member for the new riding of Restigouche West in the September 22, 2014, election. He was re-elected on September 24, 2018, 2020, and 2024.
In June 2016, he was appointed Vice-Chair of the Legislative Instruments and Regulations Board. He chaired the Standing Committee on Economic Policy and was a member of the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, the Standing Committee on Private Bills, and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. In September 2017, he became Minister of Labor, Employment and Population Growth, a new portfolio created to better partner with the labour movement, workers, and employers and to help keep our young people in the province, encourage New Brunswickers to come back to the province, and support recruitment of newcomers. He currently serves as policy advocate for Seniors.
Born in Dalhousie in 1966, Mr. LePage graduated in 1984 from École Aux quatre vents, in Dalhousie. He did his post-secondary studies at Université de Moncton, graduating in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing, followed by a certificate in municipal administration in 2008.
Mr. LePage has been involved in the community as a coach, executive director, and Chef de mission for the Jeux de l’Acadie. Through this experience, he met his wife Johanne, with whom he has two daughters, Valérie and Myriam. He now resides in Balmoral.
He has 25 years of experience in community and economic development. After eight years at the helm of the Société des Jeux de l’Acadie, Mr. LePage worked as an economic development officer for the Restigouche Economic Development Commission. He then worked in the private sector as a dispatcher and personnel manager at Dynamic Transport. He was Executive Director of the Village of Balmoral from 2001 to 2008, before taking the position of sustainable development manager for the same municipality, a position he held until March 2014. He was also coordinator of the Restigouche-East community action plan from 2010 to 2011.
Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Local Indigenous Communities: A Panel Discussion
Panel Facilitated by Melanie Langille, NB Lung CEO
CJ Tarling, Emergency Management, Program Manager, North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
CJ’s passion in emergency management began in 2020 whilst working in Indian Island First Nation. In 2022, she completed NSCCs Basic EM Program returning to community as an Emergency Management Coordinator. She joined North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council as a Program Manager in February of 2025, now assisting seven First Nations. Her professional experience encompasses the four pillars of emergency management (prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery)
Throughout her career, CJ has collaborated on many projects in relation to health and emergency management, from communicable disease, air quality, and water to responding to extreme weather events. Health remains an important aspect to her current role in emergency management. She is dedicated to serving First Nation communities in their pursuit of enhancing emergency management capabilities.
Bio: to be announced
Ken graduated from the Atlantic Police Academy in 1984 before working with Chatham Town Police and Newcastle Town Police. He also worked with the Metepenagiag community as Supernumerary Band Constable, The New Brunswick Highway Patrol, and Correctional Services of Canada in Renous.
In January 1992 Ken was hired by the Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada, where he stayed for 29 years.
Since joining MAWIW, he has assisted in developing the Fishery Guardian Program and had the guardians trained in PEI. He also holds the Emergency Management file at MAWIW.
Air Quality on the Grid: A modernized air quality forecast dataset at MSC
Presented by the Meteorological Service of Canada
Andrew Teakles, Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC)
Andrew Teakles is an Applied Science manager in Atlantic Canada with the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) branch within Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Andrew began his career with ECCC as an operational meteorologist from 2001-2007 and has worked at both the Ontario and Pacific Storm Prediction Centres. Afterwards, he joined Applied Science as a research meteorologist and led various projects related to air quality modeling, post-processing, and forecasting. Later, in 2015, he moved back to Atlantic Canada and joined Applied Science – Atlantic team in Dartmouth, NS. In recent years, Andrew and his team have contributed to national initiative in air quality including MSC’s National Low-Cost Sensor Pilot and to the ongoing AQonGrid initiative, which aims to increase the coverage of air quality forecasting information to the Canadian population. As career highlight, Andrew had the pleasure to work as a member of the weather forecast team for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at the Callaghan Valley ski jump venue.
Lucy Chisholm, Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC)
Lucy Chisholm is a Health and Air Quality Meteorologist with the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) branch within Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Based in Dartmouth, NS, Lucy began her career with ECCC as a summer student in 2002. Over the years, she has worked in several sections of the branch, including as an operational forecaster at the Atlantic Storm Prediction Centre from 2009 – 2017. Since then, she has been part of the Applied Science – Atlantic group where she continues to contribute to air quality science. Her recent projects include MSC’s National Low-Cost Sensor Pilot and the ongoing AQonGrid initiative, which aims to increase the coverage of air quality forecasting information to the Canadian population.
Invisible threats: Prenatal and childhood exposures to toxic chemicals in indoor environments
Presented by the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment (CPCHE)
Erica Phipps, Executive Director, CPCHE
Erica Phipps serves as Executive Director of the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment (CPCHE), a national collaboration of organizations that work together to advance children’s environmental health protection. Erica has worked on environmental health and toxics issues for nearly three decades, with much of her work focused on promoting intersectoral and multi-disciplinary approaches to knowledge mobilization, policy advocacy, and health equity. Prior to joining CPCHE in 2008, she held positions with the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, the United Nations, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. She has a master’s degree in public health, a doctorate in health promotion, and co-leads the Prenatal Environmental Health Education (PEHE) Collaboration in her role as adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa.
National Research Findings: The Impact of Scent-Free Policies on Indoor Air Quality
Presented by the Environmental Health Association of Canada and Québec
Rohini Peris, President and CEO of the Environmental Health Association of Canada and Québec
Rohini Peris is President & CEO of the Environmental Health Association of Canada and Québec. For nearly 30 years, she has championed awareness, policy reform, and inclusion for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Rohini brings lived experience and deep expertise to her work, guiding national research, public education, and systemic advocacy. She represented Canada at the UN CRPD review, where she successfully secured international recognition of MCS in the Concluding Observations, and continues to build coalitions for healthy, inclusive environments across Canada.
Nene Diallo, Environmental Health Association of Québec
Nene Diallo is a researcher at the Environmental Health Association of Quebec, specializing in environmental justice, social issues and governance. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Ottawa, a diploma in Environmental Management from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree in Environment and Sustainable Development from the University of Montreal. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, she explores the social and systemic factors that influence access to a safe and healthy environment.
Adrianna Trifunovski is a researcher at the Environmental Health Association of Quebec. She holds a Bachelors of Health Science Degree from Ontario Tech University, as well as a Master’s degree in Health Science, with a focus on public, population and community health. Using mixed-methods approaches, Adrianna aims to identify how the environment affects population health, including from personal care and cleaning products. Adrianna believes everyone has a right to healthy environment, free of harmful toxins.
Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke
Presented by Carlyn Matz, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada
Carlyn Matz, PhD, Sr Evaluator, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Carlyn Matz is a Senior Science Evaluator in the Air Program at Health Canada. In this role she conducts risk assessments and health impact analyses, related to air pollution. Her main files are wildfire smoke and traffic-related air pollution. She has a PhD in Toxicology from the University of Saskatchewan.
…and more speakers to be announced soon!
NB Lung has been helping New Brunswickers breathe easier since 1933.
Thank you for your support!
Thank you to our Generous Sponsors!
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and donors for their unwavering patronage, without which our work would not be possible. Thank you all for fostering a brighter, healthier future in Atlantic Canada!
NB Lung is a charitable non-profit serving New Brunswick since 1933. The 2026 Atlantic Air Quality and Health Workshop is made possible by support from the Government of Canada. The views expressed by our speakers do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.
