context collaboration among many partners multiple level advisory committees public health...
TRANSCRIPT
Context
• Collaboration among many partners
• Multiple level advisory committees
• Public Health involvement since the beginning
Regional Growth Management Strategy (RGMS)
• Action Plan for Housing• Eastside Development• Countryside Line• Cultural Heritage Landscapes• Rapid Transit and TDM• Reurbanization Corridor• Greenlands Plan• Human Services Plan• Health & the Built Environment
Multiple Components
HEALTH
ECONOMY
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
Built EnvironmentThese areas relate primarily to “hard”
Infrastructure & services
Human Services PlanningThese areas relateprimarily to “soft”
Infrastructure & services
ECONOMY
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
Built Environment“hard”
Infrastructure & services
Human Services Planning“soft”
Infrastructure & services
Healthy Food System
Urban AgricultureUrban Form & Physical Activity
Family Health PlanEMS PlanClinical Services Plan
Population Health ProjectionsRural Health StudyHealth of Immigrants in WRHealth in Urban Neighbourhoods
HEALTH
Public Health
↑ Chronic Disease
↑Demands & Access Issues
↑DisparitiesRural
Limited income
Immigrants
↓Air Quality
Impacts of Growth
Public Health
Immigrants, Growth & Health
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031
Immigrant % (Highest Growth )Immigrant % (Reference )Immigrant % (Lowest Growth )
Visible M inority % (Highest Growth )Visible M inority % (Reference )Visible M inority % (Lowest Growth )
Immigrants Living on Low Income by Year of
ImmigrationWaterloo Region, 2001
9.7% 8.9%
13.5%
20.3%
33.5%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
Canadian-born
Before1986
1986-1990 1991-1995 1996-2001
Year of Immigration
% o
f P
op
ula
tio
n L
ivin
g o
n L
ow
Inc
om
e
Public Health
Urban Neighbourhoods & Health Outcomes
Public Health
Health disparities exist and they are strongly and consistently associated with a specific subset of social-economic indicators.
10 socio-economic characteristics were associated with all adverse health outcomes.
9 of these were associated with low EDI scores
Urban Form, Physical Activity and Health
Public Health
Neighbourhoods in the Study
Inner-city• Walk more days/week• More purposive
walking• Likely walk or cycle to
work• Drive 42 min/day• Destinations matter –(especially food retail)
• Walk with someone• Own more vehicles• Likely drive to work• Drive 74 min/day
Suburban
Public Health
Rural Health and Rural Access to Services
Protecting farm land from development = Farm Viability
Loss of Rural Culture & StressRural residents have a strong sense of connection to the land and history, and a sense of community
Smaller farms are disappearing, and those left are finding it increasingly difficult to compete
Farmers are facing a great deal of stress and financial concerns, resulting in many pursuing off-farm incomes
"Young people end up leaving -- they see no future in farming
Public Health
Towards a Healthy Community Food System
Reliable Access to Healthy Food
Improved Dietary Habits
Reduced Chronic Disease
71% of urban population does not live within reasonable walking distance of a supermarket
46% does not live within walking distance of either a supermarket or a convenience store.
How will increasing densities and re-urbanization affect food access?
• even during the peak season, produce grown in Waterloo Region is not readily available to residents
• audits of supermarkets and convenience stores found number of food items grown or raised in Region to be low
• Missed opportunity
Rural and Urban Problems are Linked
Public Health
Air Quality and Growth
Already much focus on “walkable” communities to improve air quality
Focus further on purposive walking by encouraging neighbourhood retail
Encourage food retail for additional impact.
• Greater reliance on local food is another untapped mechanism to improve air quality
• Imports of 31 commonly-eaten foods travel an average of over 4,500 km to Waterloo Region, and generate an average of 1.8 kg of greenhouse gases for every kg of food imported
• Imports of studied foods generate over 50,000 tonnes of GHG emissions annually, equal to 16,000 cars on roads
Evolving Goals
Slow escalation of chronic disease• Increase healthy food options in re-urbanized areas • Increase purposive walking in urban areas
Improve air quality • Reduce ozone precursors associated with food transport• Increase purposive walking in urban areas
Reduce health disparities• Strengthen rural communities – improve farm viability• Increase employment opportunities for new immigrants• Support action to reduce poverty
Influence land use policy
Join up advocacy efforts
Walk the Talk
Increase CitizenAction
Surveillance &Monitoring
Public Health
www.region.waterloo.on.ca/ph
Resources
Health Status & Research
Public Health