Dr. Helena Jaczek is a hard-working problem-solver who delivers results for the people of Oak Ridges-Markham.

First elected as the Oak Ridges Markham MPP in October 2007, she has served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health Promotion and is currently the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment.

Helena has served on the Standing Committee on Social Policy, as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on General Government, the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions, and currently serves on the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic affairs.

After coming to Canada from England as a 12 year-old, Helena received her medical degree and Master of Health Sciences from the University of Toronto and has a Master of Business administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University.

After many years in general practice on staff at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Helena became the Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner of Health Services for The Regional Municipality of York. During her 18 years in this position, she had responsibility for public health, land ambulance and long-term care in a Region of over 1 million people.

Helena has been actively involved with numerous community organizations including the Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation, the York Centre for Children, Youth and Families, the York Region District Health Council, Giant Steps Toronto and the Newmarket Stingrays Swim Club. She has volunteered with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council and mentored foreign-trained professionals.

For her community service, she has been awarded the “Outstanding Alumni Mentor Award” from the University of Toronto’s Public Health Sciences Alumni association; the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Local Public Health Agencies; the “In Celebration of Women” award for her Medical Leadership in York Region; the Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence in Environmental Planning.

Helena first moved to York Region in 1980 where she now lives with her partner Hershel. She is the mother of 2 adult children, Natasha and Nicholas.