Creating healthier communities

Where people live has as much influence on health as how they live. Working in collaboration with municipalities and community partners can help ensure individuals and families live in communities that support and promote health, quality of life, and prevent health problems.

The following are six elements of a healthy built environment:

To support land use decisions that prioritize healthy neighbourhood design where all residents can live, work, play, connect, and access amenities. Consider the many benefits of planning for the diversity and growth of the community including Indigenous peoples, as well as refugee and immigrant populations.

• Measuring Welcoming Communities: A Toolkit for Communities
• Measuring Inclusion Tool for Municipal Governments

To support transportation planning that includes active transportation networks and routes with a variety of transportation options that are safe, connected, efficient, accessible, and affordable for a diverse population with varying needs and abilities.

• Guide to Navigate Challenges to Implementing Active Transportation Infrastructure
• Guide to Accessible Festivals and Outdoor Events
• Age Friendly Rural and Remote Communities
• Resources, Best Practices and Evidence for Integrating Health and Transportation in Canada

To support land use planning decisions that protect natural elements and increase easy access to green spaces, trails and parks for residents of all ages, abilities and cultural groups for both health and climate benefits.

• Factsheet: Advancing tree equity and growing community canopies
• Factsheet: Making the case for trees in your community
• Getting Nature on the Balance Sheet: Recognizing the Financial Value Provided by Natural Assets in a Changing Climate

To support land use and transportation planning decisions that increase equitable access to affordable, healthy food options for a larger, more diverse population using various modes of transportation. Also to protect agricultural land, facilitate near-urban and urban agriculture, and increase the capacity of our local food system.

• PROOF – Identifying Policy Options to Reduce Household Food Insecurity
• Policies and Actions for Creating Healthier Food Environments
• Municipal and Community Level Food System Actions and Land Use Planning Policy and Governance Tools

To support land use planning decisions that consider a variety of housing forms and mixed income housing developments that are resilient and sustainable.

• Strategies for Responding to Community Opposition to Affordable Housing (Summary Report and Full Report)
• The Distinct Housing Needs of Rural Communities – Fact Sheet
• New Direction: A Framework for Homelessness Prevention
• Performance Measurement for Economic Development

To support local climate action planning, projects, and policies that support risk reduction, preparedness, mitigation, and adaptation.

• Guide for Integrating Climate Change Considerations into Municipal Asset Management
• Municipal Climate Lens Tool
• Climate Communications Playbook