Though the Local Government Act mandates public hearing processes and other ‘appropriate consultation’ when developing or adopting certain strategies, plans and bylaws, there is a growing expectation among community members that they will be invited to provide more meaningful input into the decisions that affect them—and an expectation that the input they provide will meaningfully impact the final decision.

Housing Needs Reports are now mandatory for all local governments in British Columbia. These reports include recommendations for future housing development, meaning they have the potential to impact health and well-being. Using our newly-released Healthy Housing Action Guide as a starting point, this pre-recorded webinar outlines new government regulations, the UBCM funding program, and some of the ways local governments, health authorities and community partners can integrate health and equity into housing processes in their communities.

How can residents living in high-rise buildings better connect with one another? Through a PlanH grant, the City of Vancouver has been working to help residents living in higher-density buildings feel more connected to one another. In fall 2017, they took a diverse group of stakeholders from the housing, public health, municipal, private and non-profit sectors on a Hey Neighbour! field trip to tour friendly buildings in Vancouver.

Emma Seppälä, Ph.D. is a science journalist, author and the associate director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University. In this video Seppälä discusses the findings of her areas of expertise in the science of happiness, social connection, and compassion. 

Rishi Manchanda has worked as a doctor in South Central Los Angeles for a decade, where he’s come to realize: His job isn’t just about treating a patient’s symptoms, but about getting to the root cause of what is making them ill—the “upstream" factors that can influence personal health such as accessible food and air quality. 

This PlanH short video showcases the powerful work being done on the City of  Vancouver's ‘A Healthy City For All’ strategy - an integrated, multi-sectoral approach to collaboration towards a healthier city. The initiative includes 13 goals, with associated targets and indicators to track progress and outcomes over ten years. With goals including affordable housing for all, being and feeling safe and included, and being free to express ourselves, the strategy should make a dramatic difference in Vancouver residents' health and wellbeing in every area of their lives.

This PlanH short video showcases the amazing work being done in Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Hope to ensure that all children have a chance to form healthy habits early in life. These three communities are using a community-based participatory approach and common consistent messaging for kids to make the healthy choice the easier choice around healthy eating and physical activity.

This PlanH short video showcases the amazing work being done around the Collaborative School Travel Planning initiative in the Comox Valley. This initiative supports families to consistently choose active transportation in the Comox Valley by influencing the design of the built environment.

This PlanH short video highlights the important work being done by the Kamloops Food Policy Council (KFPC).  They engage the entire community around social, environmental and economic issues through food security programs, policies and partnerships. The KFPC was one of the very first food policy councils in Canada and boasts an impressive roster of programs, including community gardens, Farm to School BC, the Gleaning Abundance Project, and community kitchens.

This PlanH short video celebrates the accomplishments of Granisle, a small northern BC community that serves as a vivid demonstration of how age-friendly policies improve health and wellness for community members of all ages. Granisle residents and community partners have demonstrated that becoming age-friendly creates a healthy community for all through community engagement, building infrastructure and inclusive programs.