Skip to main content
Log in
Account
Log out
Subscribe
Donate
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Climate Solutions
  • Special reports
  • Podcasts
    • Hot Politics
    • Maxed Out
    • The Salmon People
    • CanadaLANDBACK
    • Race Against Climate Change
  • Newsletters
    • The Weekly
    • Zero Carbon
    • All newsletters
  • Conversations
  • News
  • Team
  • About

Melissa Lem

Photo of Melissa  Lem
Vancouver, B.C.
Opinion
  • @Melissa_Lem‏
  • RSS feed
About Melissa Lem

Dr. Melissa Lem is a Vancouver family physician who also works in rural and remote communities across Canada. President-elect of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, and Director of Parks Prescriptions for the BC Parks Foundation, she is a passionate advocate for the health benefits of time spent in nature. A senior writer for the CBC, she was the resident medical expert on CBC-TV’s hit lifestyle show Steven and Chris for four seasons and continues to educate diverse audiences on air. Her work has also been published by the Vancouver Sun, Toronto Star, Montreal Gazette, The Narwhal and National Observer. She was the inaugural winner of University College’s Young Alumni of Influence Award at the University of Toronto, and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia.

8 Articles

Canada is at a crossroads and the Wet’suwet’en are in its crosshairs

The Wet’suwet’en still have access to a pure, clean water supply, unlike so many other Indigenous Nations. Why risk adding them to the list of those burdened with boil water advisories?
Opinion | January 21st 2022

A vote against thermal coal exports is a vote for climate

One fossil fuel has remained mostly out of the spotlight so far, writes family physician Dr. Melissa Lem, unacknowledged by three of the five major parties’ platforms: thermal coal.
Election 2021
Opinion | September 15th 2021

Parenting our way through climate and COVID-19 crises

As our children step into the colliding crises of the climate emergency and COVID-19 pandemic, it will take all the knowledge and skill we have as parents to keep them and our communities safe and healthy.
Opinion | September 17th 2020

Physician mothers on the front lines of a crisis 

Doctor and mom: this potent combination makes these women some of the most effective leaders in our fight against both the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
Coronavirus in Canada
Opinion | May 12th 2020

IN OUR OPINION: It’s time we treat the climate like our health

Opinion | November 21st 2019
BC Wildfire Service

Climate change: This century's greatest health threat

Our health demands that rural and urban populations come together to fight the climate crisis.
Opinion | August 19th 2019

Clean power, right in the heart of fracking country

In 1974, Don Pettit chased a dream a thousand kilometres north to Dawson Creek.
Race to a Safer World
News | May 27th 2019

Avoiding the “F” word: How “natural” is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)?

In October, the B.C. government celebrated a decision by private-sector investors to proceed with LNG Canada, a $40 billion infrastructure project in Kitimat to export “natural” gas. Why are so many media and government announcements  studiously avoiding the “F” word?
Opinion | November 2nd 2018

Support award-winning independent journalism with your subscription today

  • Canadian Association of Journalists Awards
    • Winner
    • Canadian Association of Journalists
    • Data journalism award
    • Human rights reporting award
    • Outstanding investigative journalism
  • Michener Award
    • Finalist
    • Michener Award
    • Meritorious public service journalism
    • 2019 & 2016
  • National Newspaper Award
    • Winner
    • National Newspaper Award
    • Columns (2021)
    • Business reporting (2016)
  • Canadian Journalism Foundation
    • Finalist
    • Canadian Journalism Foundation Award for Climate Solutions Reporting
Canada's National Observer
  • Jobs
  • Freelance for Us
  • Masthead
  • Video
  • Advertise
  • Search
  • Help
  • Contact
  • The Trust Project
  • Ethics
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Admin
Subscribe Newsletter Donate
Trust Project logo
© Observer Media Group 2023
Log in
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Climate Solutions
  • Special reports
  • Podcasts
    • Hot Politics
    • Maxed Out
    • The Salmon People
    • CanadaLANDBACK
    • Race Against Climate Change
  • Newsletters
    • The Weekly
    • Zero Carbon
    • All newsletters
  • Conversations
  • News
  • Team
  • About
Search
Account
Log out