Health and the City

Date: April 7, 2010

Time: 4 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (4-7 p.m. - activities and workshops; 7-8:30 p.m. - Health Champions Award ceremony, speakers, entertainment and prize draw)

Location (to be confirmed): Bathurst Heights SS (640 Lawrence Ave. West. North York, ON. M6A 1B1)

 World Health Day is an annual event observed worldwide on April 7 to draw attention to particular priorities in global health. The World Health Organization selected "urbanization and health" as its theme for the World Health Day 2010 to recognize the effect urbanization has on our collective health globally and for all of us individually. Life in big cities is associated with many health challenges related to water and air quality, environment, violence and injury, insufficient infrastructure, isolation and lack of supporting networks, which can lead to unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, mental health issues, tobacco and drug use, harmful use of alcohol, etc. To learn more, please visit the World Health Day 2010 website.

Since a lot of the health issues that accompany life in big cities are at the core of our work at New Heights Community Health Centres, we are now in the process of organizing a World Health Day event. It will be a great opportunity to bring the community together and address urban health issues through various fun and informative activities. The event will be for both Lawrence Heights and Bathurst-Finch communities with activities to take place primarily in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood (the exact location to be confirmed). A shuttle bus will be provided for Bathurst-Finch residents to facilitate their participation in the event.

Here are some of the activities we are planning to have: cooking contest, collages/drawings around the theme of health, drumming circle, dancing and fitness workshops, panels and discussions, activities for women (massage clinic, workshop/discussion on emotional well-being, henna painting), activities for youth (violence prevention workshop, karaoke, talk with athlete and Lawrence Heights community activist Jacob Zorzella), activities for seniors (Healthy Aging panel, fitness and drama workshops). We also plan a lot of exciting activities for children and free childcare will be provided. Great food will be served and we will hold a prize draw for the event participants.

As part of its World Health Day 2010 celebration, New Heights Community Health Centres would like to acknowledge the great work done by various community members to improve health in our communities. We are excited to issue a Call for Nominations for the Health Champions in our Community Award. If you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their work in the community, please nominate this person to receive the Health Champions in our Community Award. To learn more about the award and how to nominate a health champion, please click here. Health Champions will be honoured at a special award ceremony. The ceremony will also feature local community performers and speakers.

Stay tuned for further updates. If you have any questions and suggestions or would like to be involved in the World Health Day event, please contact Oleksandra Budna at 647-436-0385 or obudna@newheightshealth.org