London, ON – Community leaders, municipal planners and officials from the City of London, Middlesex County, the Middlesex-London Health Unit and other agencies are meeting this afternoon to discuss ways to make our communities more healthy and active. Creating Healthy Active Communities – The Power of Partnerships is a half-day forum organized by the Healthy Communities Partnership Middlesex-London and the Heart and Stroke Foundation which runs from 1:00 to 4:15, at London’s Civic Gardens Complex.
Among the attendees will be Deb Matthews, Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Middlesex County Warden Brad Richards, London City Councillor Denise Brown and the Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Christopher Mackie. The afternoon will feature presentations from a number of local speakers, on a wide range of topics including:
- safe school travel planning;
- how the built environment affects children’s well-being;
- how the built environment in rural settings influences communities;
- how urban design affects transportation;
- how grassroots groups can play a role in increasing the use of active transportation;
- how to increase physical activity in Middlesex County;
- how London’s Road Safety Strategy is making it safer for Londoners to lead active lifestyles.
“We are on the threshold of a new era where communities that support active lifestyles across the lifespan are being created right now,” says Bernie McCall, Public Health Nurse with the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Chair of the Healthy Communities Partnership Middlesex-London.
The Creating Healthy Active Communities forum will provide information about how projects that are currently underway in London and Middlesex County – and others in the conceptual and planning phases - will influence what our communities can become in the future.
"Our children are our future and we need to work together to create heart-healthy communities for our kids," says Mark Holland, Director, Health Promotion and Public Affairs, with the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “By increasing their access to healthy food and physical activity through coordinated advocacy efforts we can ensure our kids grow up healthy where they live, learn and play.”
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-663-5317 ext.2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)
Spokesperson:
Bernie McCall, Public Health Nurse, Middlesex-London Health Unit and Chair of the Health Communities Partnership Middlesex-London