October 2010 - Our Voice in Action

Report on the OPHA Fall Forum

The OPHA Fall Forum, Taking Action on the Built Environment: Building Health Public Policy, held September 28th – 30th at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto was a resounding success. Over 285 delegates were in attendance at the innovative forum, which provided an opportunity for public health and other professionals to discuss strategies to advance healthy built environment policies.

Dr. David Mowat, Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel Public Health, gave a compelling introduction to the public health challenges associated with current built environments, and led a dynamic panel discussion about opportunities to address these issues. Panelists included the Honourable Glen Murray, Minister of Research and Innovation; Dr. Bob Nosal, Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region; and David Oikawa, Manager of Community Planning for the City of Toronto. Daniel Leeming provided a planner’s perspective with his presentation, Public Health and our Built Environment: Drawing the Roadmap for Change.

Kim Bergeron, Ph.D. Candidate at Queen’s University, introduced the delegates to the process that would unfold in the think tank session discussions. The five session themes were:

  • Improving Access to Recreation in the Built Environment;
  • Healthy and Sustainable Transportation Choices: from Vision to Reality;
  • Building Access to Healthy Food;
  • Healthy Housing Environments — Access, Equity and Quality; and
  • Building Safe Communities for the Prevention of Injury and Violence.

At the end of the four-hour sessions, Kim facilitated a summary discussion about the outcomes of the deliberations.

A summary of the proceedings of the think tank discussions and recommended actions is being developed by Michelle Manarina. This document will be distributed to attendees and used by the OPHA Built Environment Workgroup and the OPHA Advocacy Committee of the OPHA Board of Directors. The final report will be available in early December.

Keynote and Think Tank Session presentations from the Fall Forum are available for download.

 

Long Gun Registry to Remain Intact

OPHA’S advocacy on the long gun registry is successful: the legislation to scrap the long gun registry was defeated. Thank you to the OPHA Violence Prevention Workgroup for their unwavering commitment to effective gun control. Review OPHA's submission to Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security regarding Private Members' Bill C-391 an Act to Amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act.