Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Grey Bruce Health Unit
Municipal Policy...What's Health Got To Do With It?
Creating healthy communities through policy development is the focus of the Municipal Policy...What's Health Got To Do With It? workshop today in Elmwood. Presented by the Grey Bruce Healthy Communities Partnership and the Grey Bruce Health Unit, the workshop examined the Complete Streets concept, streets designed for all ages, abilities and modes of travel; offered updates on the impact of local and provincial smoke-free legislation; and a review of healthy food and beverage choices in municipal recreation facilities.
The Complete Streets report co-authors, Nancy Smith Lea and Sonya Devellis from the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation, offered six key recommendations tailored to Grey Bruce. In addition to the health, safety and environmental benefits of Complete Streets, there are economic and business benefits, including increased property values, the potential for tourism promotion and lower maintenance and operations costs for municipalities. While there are local challenges, there are opportunities such as enhancing connectivity to existing trails and shorelines, promoting tourism in all seasons and ways to revitalize main streets in support of local businesses.
Tobacco Education and Enforcement Officer, Al Hawes, outlined recent changes to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and Grey County’s new smoking by-law and the impact they have to support healthy municipalities.
Consultant Kevin Ng presented the findings of a review of food and beverage choices at municipal recreation facilities throughout Grey Bruce. Ng’s report catalogues food offerings at recreational facilities and spaces and provides an action plan to built policies to support healthy choices.
Media Contact:
Laura Needham RD, BASc
Public Health Dietitian
Grey Bruce Health Unit
1-800-263-3456 or 519-376-9420 ext 1267
l.needham@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
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