Zenon Walsh
MPH Student Zenon Walsh

Congratulations to Zenon Walsh, recipient of an SPH IAW award

Masters of Public Health student Zenon Walsh is the recipient of a School of Public Health Indigenous Achievement Week award, as we celebrate the many great achievements of indigenous students enrolled in our programs.

By Tyson Brown

This Academic Achievement Week, we celebrate Zenon Walsh, a graduate student in the Master of Public Health program for his leadership in academic, community, and public service.  He has been awarded an SPH Indigenous Achievement award for leadership and community engagement.

Zenon's family is from Norway House Cree Nation on Treaty 5 territory. He was born and raised on Treaty 7 territory in Calgary, Alberta, and has lived on the unceded lands of the Coast Salish Peoples in British Columbia for twelve years. These relationships to land and community shape his leadership, which emphasizes service, advocacy, and collective responsibility.

At the University of Saskatchewan, he is a member of the Indigenous Graduate Leadership Circle, where he advise on COUSINS initiatives, identify systemic challenges, and guide programming supporting Indigenous student success. Beyond academia, he also volunteers with ElderDog Canada, assisting elderly community members with dog walking and fostering meaningful connections to reduce isolation. In his professional role as a coroner with the BC Coroners Service, he advocates for Indigenous peoples within a system shaped by colonial history. He has taken responsibility for training new staff on respectful interactions with Indigenous families, sharing culturally informed resources, and improving organizational practices. He has also begun planning a gathering for Indigenous staff to foster collaboration, cultural connections, and shared learning. Although this is not required in his role, these are areas of learning and engagement that are necessary in public service.

Being an Indigenous leader is a role he holds with great honour and respect, acknowledging the journeys of his ancestors. He can voice Indigenous issues, effect meaningful changes within the system, and support other Indigenous staff in public service. This allows him to support Indigenous peoples and communities across British Columbia. 

Congratulations, Zenon!