Doctor Perry Kendall is resigning after nearly 20 years as B-C’s provincial health officer. Kendall declared a public health emergency over the overdose crisis in 2016 and has called the opioid epidemic the most devastating health issue in the province. He also led public-health policies for AIDS and H-I-V, and was among those who called for a supervised injection site in the city. Kendall was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2005 for his contributions to public health and harm-reduction practices.