Lawrence Loh

Loh grew up in London, Ontario to Malaysian parents of Chinese descent. He grew up speaking English at home and not Mandarin.[2] When Loh was 14, the family briefly moved back to Malaysia in Petaling Jaya for five years. After relocating back to London, Ontario Loh attended University of Western Ontario for his undergraduate degree and also medical school.[2] He subsequently completed residency at the University of Toronto in Public Health and Preventive Medicine.[2]

Loh practiced family medicine in Brampton before specializing in public health.[2] Loh was offered the job of Associate Medical Officer of Health for Peel Region by Eileen de Villa (then Medical Officer of Health for Peel, who went on to become Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto).[2]

Loh has been the Medical Officer of Health for Peel Region throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][4]

Loh's office rose to prominence in April 2021 when he ordered all schools in Peel Region closed, in defiance of Ontario Premier Doug Ford,[5] and ordered an Amazon Fulfillment Facility closed, both of which were accomplished through Section 22 orders.[6][7]

Loh was recognized in the Senate of Canada by Senator Victor Oh in May 2021, on the occasion of Asian Heritage Month. In his intervention, Senator Oh hailed Loh as a hero in the community, citing that Loh's "forward thinking and resolve [...] were instrumental in containing COVID-19 transmission in one of the country's hardest Regions."[8]