December 2010 - Constituent Society and Partnership Corner

Health Promotion Ontario (HPO)

by Ellen Wodchis and Tom Martin, HPO Executive members

Health Promotion Ontario (HPO) had an unprecedented attendance at their September 30, 2010 Conference, Taking Action on the Built Environment: Building Healthy Public Policy, which focused on food security as it relates to the social determinants of health. The goal for the 2010 HPO Annual Conference was to consider food security as a root cause for poor nutrition, rather than personal choice, and the importance of creating a supportive food secure environment as the foundation for healthy eating programs.

Attendees packed the conference hall to its maximum capacity to listen to our four speakers who all provided an excellent balance of public health and community health perspectives on food security as a social determinant of health. Thank you to our speakers: Dr. David McKeown (Medical Officer of Health – Toronto Public Health), Krystal Taylor (Community Dietitian and Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Coordinator – Somerset West Community Health Centre), Moe Garahan (Executive Director – Just Food Ottawa), and Katherine Pigott (Manager – Region of Waterloo Public Health).

Our speakers emphasized that:

  • Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their food preparation abilities, dietary needs, and food preferences for an active and healthy life;
  • Food security is a key ingredient of the social determinants of health and, as such, is directly connected to the other determinants, particularly income; and
  • Without addressing food security as part of our built environment we cannot have long-term sustained success in the area of healthy eating and wellness.

The 2010 HPO Conference was held in collaboration with the Ontario Public Health Association and was in planning for many months. Attendees came from a wide range of disciplines and organizations, some being key leaders in health promotion. There was a good cross-section of health promotion professionals working in health units, community health centres, and academia.

Feedback was collected and the Planning Committee is pleased to use this thoughtful information in planning for next year’s conference. Some comments that participants provided indicated:

  • The majority found out about the conference through OPHA. Many indicated how helpful it was to have a joint conference as they may not have been able to attend both separately.
  • The majority felt that the presentations were informative and relevant enough that they would mostly likely use what they learned in their jobs.
  • Overall, participants felt that the conference was comprehensive in nature and the speakers were well represented from all sectors and regions of Ontario.

Thanks to all those who provided comments - it will be put to good use. Thanks to the hard working Conference Planning Committee and all the others who helped with the planning of this event. We look forward to planning the 2011 HPO Conference.