1. ECOHEALTH IN ACTION WORKSHOP Nov 9, 2017
Policies to Promote Health and Wellbeing through Greenspace
Greenspace & Ecohealth Toolkit
We have heard a lot this morning about the importance of greenspace to healthy communities and healthy environments
We know that municipalities, public health units, conservation authorities and others have an incredibly important role to play in promoting community health outcomes and healthy environments
This presentation focuses on some of the critical work that is being advanced at the municipal level to support the achievement of health-based outcomes through effective greenspace policy
ECOHEALTH IN ACTION WORKSHOP
Nov 9, 2017

2. Greenspace and Ecohealth Toolkit
The Greenspace and Ecohealth Toolkit is an EcoHealth Ontario initiative (EcoHealth Steering Committee) with support from Forests Ontario (and funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation)
Toolkit Purpose
The purpose of the Toolkit is to promote the adoption of policies at local and provincial levels that reflect and support healthy ecosystems for healthy communities
With a focus is on improving health and wellbeing through greenspace provision, design and access the Toolkit includes a series of case studies from mun/health units/CAs who are making the connection by incorporating greenspace & health policies within their strategic documents.
We will be providing an overview of the toolkit,
showcase some municipalities who have already taken steps to make the connection between ecohealth and greenspace provision, design and access
and present some of the municipal and other planning tools that will move ecohealth and greenspace forward (legislative tools and a playbook – the playbook being a step by step process on how to achieve healthy communities through healthy greenspace)

3. Why Do We Need It?
“Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Robert Frost COMMUNICATE SHOWCASE PROMOTE
Nothing like this has been developed to date yet…lots of exceptional examples of innovation on the ground
Toolkit is needed for three reasons:
To communicate the important connection between greenspace and health
To showcase work that is already underway as well as the diversity of policies, programs and practices that are in place
To promote the continued evolution of ecohealth at the community level by profiling tools to those who are interested in realizing health outcomes

4. How was the Toolkit Developed?
Request for policy examples
Case studies of innovative policies, programs and practices
Web-based review of other jurisdictions
Toolkit
Ecohealth
The toolkit was developed through a collaborative process.
Lura Consulting and Planning Solutions were retained by EHO (lead coordinating group) to work with an advisory group (municipal and CA representatives, academics, planning organizations, public health organizations, planning practitioners, public health practitioners, provincial government representatives) to develop the Toolkit
Advisory Group helped to identify candidates/exemplary policies for inclusion - cases that showed promise, innovation, strong linkages between health and greenspace access, provision and design, and were representative of a broad geographical range.
We have worked with the selected ‘case study municipalities’ and secured input on the case studies from them directly
We scanned websites of various jurisdictions
We made a number of changes to the document to ensure it is simple, straightforward and easy to read
Toolkit Workplan and Timelines
2016:
Meetings of Advisory Group (May, June and Sept)
Spring to Fall: Selection of Case Studies
Presentations and getting feedback
October: OPPI Symposium
November: Latornell Symposium
Jan 2017: Webinar & Feedback (via survey)
2017
February: Further Toolkit Revisions
March: Toolkit Finalized and Posted on EHO Website
Ecohealth Ontario & Advisory Committee

5. Intro: Purpose of the Toolkit
The introduction covers a brief introduction to greenspace and advancing health outcomes. As mentioned there are other bodies of work that reflect the evidence-base on the benefits that greenspace can provide to community health.
This chapter covers:
How we build and manage communities affects community health
Greenspace makes us feel good but it does more than that…it improves our health
We are familiar with ecosystems benefits of noise reduction, clean air, moderating temperature and soils health, but there are community health benefits too
Communities can be built in ways that encourage/discourage healthy behaviours
Things like Active transportation, walkable communities designs etc. recreation safety
Greenspace helps to express the socio-cultural, economic, environmental and political priorities as well as the fabric and functions of our communities
Much work has been happening to advance healthy communities as well. But the explicit nexus btw green space + community health is still formative
Ecosystem + Benefits = Healthy People

6. Drawing the Connection between Health & Greenspace
The Benefits of Greenspace
The Key Determinants of Health
Chapter Two attempts to draw the connection between ecosystem services and concept of health and well being as well as the key determinants of health.
This wheel illustrates the relationship among the ecosystem, the services it provides and community health. The systems are connected in numerous ways and influenced by confounding factors (DOH)
1. Ecosystem Services such as
Clean air / H20, food/ timber, soil nutrients, habitats and plants
Contribute to our Health and Well Being such as
Mitigating exposure to pollutants, Security and safety, food and nutrients, social
2. The centre of the diagram represents the determinants of health, that Linkage to Key Determinates of Health
The Key determinants of health include: Income/ social status, education and literacy, social networks, employment, socialal environment , physical environment, personal health, healthy child development, biology + genetics, health services, gender, culture
How can the provision, access and design of greenspace help to advance health?
3. Public Policies + decisions made at all levels of government can have significant impact on community health
4. Municipalities have a significant role in infrastructure to support health as land owners convenes of services
5. The toolkit tries to balance the information needs as there is significant research to draw the linkages between greenspace and community health. There are some great resource: A Systematic Review of The Impact of Green Space on Heat and Air Pollution and Green City: Why nature matters to health – a literature review that summarizes the evidenced-based research of the benefits of greenspace on mental + physical wellbeing. The toolkit aims to provide a snapshot + reference to this body of research without diving in too far.

7. Municipal Planning Tools
Chapter 3: Public Health and Municipal Planning Tools
Different Communities…Different Approaches to Policy Development
There are a variety of Planning Tools that can be used to Advance Ecohealth Greenspace Policies
Illustrates that you need to be working at multiple levels to be most effective. Also multiple entry points to take action.
The Toolkit aims to examine how SOME of these tools are being used to advance ecohealth through greenspace, design and provision

8. Public Health Tools Legislation/Mandate Supporting Tools
Health Protection & Promotion Act
Climate Change & Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Guidelines
Public Health Standards
Health Equity Impact Assessment
The following show the parallel public health tools that are also advancing greenspace and community health that can be leveraged . These make the linkage and incorporate the key determinates of health
Health Protection + Promotion Act:
Provides for the organization delivery of public health programs + services, the prevention of the spread of disease + promo + protect of health of people in Ontario
Ontario Public Health Standards
Outline requirements for fundamental public health programs and services + services – assessment, surveillance, health promotion, policy devo, disease + injury prevention + health protection
Outlines role of the Board of Heath in terms of assessment, planning, delivery, management and evaluation of programs and services
CC + HVA
Framework to support and adaptive + resilient public health system that anticipates / addresses / mitigates risk impacts of climate change
HEIA
Designed to support equity – looking at right care, right place, right time
Min. health + long term care
Relationship between Planning + public health (course offered through OPHA and OPPI)
Healthy Environments
(Health Hazard Prevention & Management)
Chronic Disease Prevention

9. Case Studies – Effective Connections
Region of Peel
City of Kingston
Simcoe Muskoka District HU
York Region
City of London
Prince Edward & Hastings HU
County of Huron
City of Ottawa
Credit Valley Conservation
City of Brampton
City of Toronto
Toronto & Region Conservation
Town of Aurora
City of Thunder Bay
Stockholm
Town of East Gwillimbury
Municipality of Chatham-Kent
City of Vancouver
Chapter 4: Effective Connections between Community Health and Greenspace
The Process of Selecting Case Studies
Geographic range
Lower / upper / single tier
Types – rural, urban small, large
Partner agencies
Balance agencies
Good Practices from Ontario
Note geographic context, covers CAs and health units
Future toolkits could cover institutional examples

10. Case Study: York Region
Greening Strategy
Protection, restoration and creation of green infrastructure – contributing to sustainable health communities.
Regional Official Plan
New community areas to be designed to reduce urban heat island effect and consider integrating green and white roofs, greening to provide shade
- Several strategic documents work together to advance the concept of healthy greenspaces and population health benefits
Vision 2051: blueprint to guide Region in creating strong, caring, safe communities, with sustainable living
8 key themes including:
Creating Places where everyone can Thrive
Liveable Communities + complete communities
Resilient natural environments + agriculture
Living Sustainably
Healthy active living through design
Health protection
Affortable food
Sustainable living choices
ROP similar direction
Greening Strategy
Protection, restoration and creation of green infrastructure – contributing to sustainable health communities.
- Develop internal partnership with Health Protection and Healthy Living to maximize synergies and messaging
Land securement enhancement and rehabilitation, leadership and innovation; stewardship + education
Secure 1000 ha of enviro lands
Report through state of infrastructure reports on a regular basis

11. Case Study: Town of East Gwillimbury
Secondary Plan Checklist
ensures connectivity between natural heritage areas and enhances accessibility to natural areas
Draft Plan of Subdivision:
trees and/or landscaping sufficient to reduce the heat island effect
Egwill’s Thinking Green Development Standards build on York Region’s New Communities criteria and Sustainability Strategy – considering all aspects of the community together, and specifically how protection of the environment leads to healthier people
Approach to planning that considers how protection of the environment leads to healthier people
Example of a Measure on the checklist: The Secondary Plan ensures connectivity between natural heritage areas and enhances accessibility to natural areas.
The Draft Plan of Subdivision: Trees and/or landscaping sufficient to reduce the heat island effect

12. Case Study Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Healthy Community Design Policy Statements for OPs
tool to connect community health to land use
short, medium and long-term implementation options
Trailblazing + Innovative resources – connect comm. health + wellbeing
Healthy Community Design Policy Statements for OPs
useful tool to connect community health to land use
provides short, medium and long-term implementation options
Similar in other PHHs
Policy statements focus on goals and objectives corresponding to 5 health issues by built environment 1) Environment 2) Injury and safety 3) physical activity 4) sun safety 5) goof success, social cohesion and well being.
Example OP Policy statement:
Design standards shall be developed that require the use of natural and/or naturalized landscapes to improve air and water quality throughout the community.

13. Case Study: Brampton
Multi-faceted approach to guide land use planning and decision-making through:
Official Plan
Strategic Plan
Sustainable Community Development Guidelines
Natural Heritage and Environmental Management Strategy
Valley Naturalization Planting
Parks and Recreation Master Plan
OP vision for urban community focuses on sustainability city building + place making
Strat plan – 4 pillars: (1) good gov’t, (2) move + connect, (3) smart growth, (4) strong community
Environmental Master Plan + Natural Heritage and Environmental Management Strategy (NHEMS): improve protection, enhancement and restoration of NHS includes open space – recreations areas healthy active living
Sustainable Development Guidelines: criteria to access devo. applications healthy sustainable communities.
Valley Naturalization Planting Program (2003 – 2016) has naturalized approximately 161 ha in the NHS by planting over 29,000 native trees; 224,000 native shrubs; and 100,000 native perennials, as illustrated in Appendix F of the NHEMS Background Report. The program demonstrates Brampton’s commitment and capacity to enhance the NHS to improve ecological health and diversity. The long-term challenges for open space naturalization include: maintaining open space for active recreation needs, securing funding to support naturalization programs, educating Council and the community to understand the benefits of naturalization, and engaging the community to assist in implementation. This ongoing program costs about $1 million/year which is 90% funded from Development Charges…

14. Case Study: Thunder Bay
Adopted a multi-pronged approach to advance community health, community design and natural areas priorities using a variety of strategic documents and implementation tools:
Corporate Strategic Plan
Implementation Plan
Working Together for Healthy Kids Strategy
Urban Design and Landscape Design Guidelines
Strat Plan (Becoming our Best) – health + enviro. 4 goals: lifestyle, environment, economy, governance
Implementation Plan: milestones, progress updates 4 months annually
Aligns with working for Kids Strategy.
Urban Design + landscape guidelines provide detailed direction

15. Case Study: Credit Valley Conservation Authority
Strategic Plan Goals:
5. Connect communities with nature to promote environmental awareness, appreciation and action
6. Promote land uses, development approaches and infrastructure that factor in the importance of the natural environment to society, the economy and the well-being of residents
Very strategic goals that lead to action – connecting and protecting greenspace and human health
Strategic Plan Goals:
5. Connect communities with nature to promote environmental awareness, appreciation and action
6. Promote land uses, development approaches and infrastructure that factor in the importance of the natural environment to society, the economy and the well-being of residents

16. Advancing Ecohealth policy using Collective Impact
5 Keys to Success
Common Agenda
Multi-Sectoral Actions
Communications and Engagement
Monitoring and Evaluation
Leadership and Coordination
Chapter 5: Playbook – Advancing Ecohealth policy using Collective Impact
We have used the principles and keys to success of Collective Impact theory to develop the playbook (or set of actions) for advancing health through greenspace.
Common Agenda: All participants share a common vision and goals for change including a common understanding of the problem and a joint approach and commitment to solving the problem through agreed-upon actions.
Multi-sectoral Actions: A diverse set of stakeholders, typically across sectors or departments, coordinates a set of actions that are mutually reinforcing and contribute to achieving the collective vision.
Communication and Engagement: All players commit to sharing information about ecohealth and greenspace, and engage in frequent, open dialogue to promote actions that advance ecohealth and greenspace and create common motivation.
Monitoring and Evaluation: A mechanism is established to monitor, measure and report on progress. This includes creating a set of performance measures that are used not only for communicating progress and success but for learning and improvement.
Leadership and Organization: For successful implementation, an individual or team is responsible for advancing ecohealth and greenspace within the organization. This person or team has a specific set of skills to serve the entire initiative and provides ongoing support by guiding the initiative’s vision and strategy, supporting aligned activities, encouraging monitoring and measurement, building public will, advancing policy, and mobilizing resources.

17. Advancing Ecohealth through Greenspace
Playbook provides insight based on Municipal Readiness
On Our Way
Just Starting
Well On Our Way
Assessing Municipal Readiness:
This section on municipal readiness is a tool for you to better understand the municipal or organization you are working with? Where are they at on the spectrum? Comfortable taking risks? Leading? Prefer to be part of the majority or don’t want to change unless they absolutely have to.
Innovation and vision are evident at the community level across Ontario
Numerous examples of municipalities, health units and Conservation Authorities who are making the connection between greenspace and human health and well-being
There are also however, tremendous opportunities to do more…Chapter 5 – The Playbook

18. Playbook for Integrating, Enhancing and Advancing Greenspace
Background Research
Form a Team
Shared Vision
Create an Organizational Norm
Form Partnerships
Develop Multi-Sectoral Actions
Develop a Communications & Engagement Plan
Develop an Evaluation Framework
Lead and Coordinate
Table 2 – Playbook for Ecohealth and Greenspace
Provides a list of Collective Impact actions for organizations that are just starting/ on their way/ and well on their way:
Common Agenda:
Background Research
Form a Team
Shared Vision
Create an Organizational Norm
Multi-Sectoral Actions:
Form Partnerships
Develop Multi-Sectoral Actions
Communication and Engagement
Develop a Communications & Engagement Plan
Monitoring and Evaluation
Develop an Evaluation Framework
Leadership and Coordination
Lead and Coordinate

19. Toolkit Conclusions
Greenspace policy, programs and practices provide important leverage to support health outcomes
Case Studies offer a snapshot of some innovations underway at the community level
A ‘health through greenspace’ effort is beginning to emerge across the Ontario landscape
Public health agencies and others play an important role in achieving health-based outcomes…

20. Thank You!
For more information on Ecohealth Ontario visit our website: