Dr. Catherine L. Cook
- Year inducted
- 2025
- Area of recognition
- Professional
COMMITTED TO EQUITABLE AND CULTURALLY SAFE HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION
On August 20, 2025, Dr. Catherine L. Cook, was honoured with induction into the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Citizens Hall of Fame, located in Assiniboine Park. Dr. Cook is recognized for her significant contributions to Indigenous health in Winnipeg and across Manitoba. Dr. Cook’s induction into the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Citizens Hall of Fame celebrates her over four decades of excellence in medicine, and leadership in Indigenous health, healing and reconciliation.
“As a precursor to her illustrious career in medicine, Dr. Cook was a Wayfinder as one the first five students of Indigenous descent to graduate with a medical degree in Manitoba,” said Cliff King, Chair of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Citizens Hall of Fame Selection Committee. “From this incredible beginning, she went on to become instrumental toward increasing the focus on Indigenous health and reconciliation at the University of Manitoba. Her expertise was highly sought after by provincial and federal governments, international organizations, boards and councils, looking to make positive change. Dr. Cook’s numerous awards and honours underscore a lifetime of achievement which makes her an incredible addition to the Citizens Hall of Fame.”
Dr. Cook began as a family physician in Manitoba’s Northern and remote communities before focusing on public health, health administration and management. It is from here that she took a leadership and operational role in the development and implementation of Indigenous health programs and services which look to address gaps and barriers for equitable access to quality healthcare for Indigenous people in Manitoba.
As the Provincial Lead for Shared Health, Dr. Cook played a pivotal role in the development of an Indigenous Partnership Framework to guide the health transformation process at Shared Health Manitoba. This included leading the engagement of Indigenous people in the development of a health care system that recognizes and addresses the need for comprehensive quality Indigenous healthcare as close to home as possible.
Dr. Cook was Vice President (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba, then proceeded to lead the creation of Ongomiizwin (clearing a path for generations to come) which affirms the University’s commitment to building respectful relationships and creating pathways to Indigenous health, healing and achievement. With a focus on education, health services and research, the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing/Ongomiizwin is the largest Indigenous education and health unit in Canada.
“Within this province, Dr. Cook has been the first in almost every position that she's held,” said Melanie MacKinnon, Executive Director, Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Health Services, University of Manitoba. “The first Regional Director for Indigenous Health, the first Vice President of Indigenous Health with Shared Health Manitoba, the first Vice Dean of Indigenous Health within the Faculty of Health Sciences, as well as the very first Vice Dean of Indigenous Health at the University of Manitoba. Being the first was never important to her, it was opening the doors to help create a space for the rest of us to take our place and continue her legacy of making space for those yet to come.”
Dr. Cook has an extensive list of honours and awards which includes the Claude Murphy Award - College of Family Physicians of Canada, Deputy Minister’s Award for Excellence – Health Canada, Manitoba Service Excellence Award – Government of Manitoba, May Cohen Award for Gender Equity and Diversity – Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, Health Administration Award – Doctors Manitoba, WXN Top 100 Women in Canada, Dr. Thomas Dignan Award in Indigenous Health – Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Indspire Award – Health, College of Family Physicians – Ambassador Award, Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Medal, IPAC Vanier Medal, and IPAC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in Manitoba.
“In many ways, Dr. Cook was doing the work of reconciliation before it became a well-known word with our vocabulary,” said Brian Postl, former CEO of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and past Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Science, who worked closely with Dr. Cook in various previous roles. “There is a lot of pressure on Indigenous health leadership to fill in the many gaps and sit on committees as the system has woken up, and she found a way to manage that. Above all else, she made huge efforts to mentor and support the second, third and fourth generations and has had an immeasurable impact in creating the future Indigenous health leaders.”
At a prestigious induction ceremony, a bronze bust of Dr. Cook sculpted by local artist Madeleine Vrignon, will be unveiled today with family, friends and honoured dignitaries in attendance. The bust will later be installed in the Assiniboine Park Conservancy Citizens Hall of Fame site featuring a plaque containing a QR code, allowing visitors to scan and read her accomplishments.
The Citizens Hall of Fame was founded by the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board in 1986. The criteria for induction to the Citizens Hall of Fame requires that the individual must have brought recognition to Winnipeg or have made outstanding contributions to the quality of life and development of the city. The inductee’s achievements may be local, national, or international in scope.
“Dr. Cook’s work has been carried on by her mentees and many others here locally. She has also been an international leader, working with organizations in New Zealand, Australia and with our Native American relatives in the United States, including Hawaii. Having those international relationships with indigenous health professionals was key in elevating our story and priorities within our home institutions, provinces, and certainly our home country”, added MacKinnon.
Located within Assiniboine Park, this unique award program proudly displays the likenesses of Winnipeg luminaries such as Carol Shields, C.C., O.M., F.R.S.C., Terry Fox, C.C., and The Honourable Murray Sinclair, C.C., and recognizes the individual contributions citizens have made to help establish and evolve Winnipeg as a city of diversity, humanity, and accomplishment.
Watch the video that honours Dr. Cook: