As I presented to city council, I believe that this committee plays an important role in building a healthy Kitchener. I won’t repeat my presentation here so please read about why we need this committee. You may also like to read an earlier post where I look in more detail at what a “healthy” community means and how the committee is relevant to the responsibilities of the City of Kitchener.

But it’s not important because I think it is. The  City of Kitchener’s strategic plan is called “A Plan for a Healthy Kitchener (PDF)” and so it is the foundation of the city’s strategic vision. Here is where you can learn more about the strategic plan and how it came about.

Interested in learning more about a Safe and Healthy Community?

If you would like to learn more about what a “safe and healthy community” means and integral concepts, you might read some of the following resources:

Healthy Community

• What makes a community healthy? – Ontario Healthy Community Coalition (OHCC)
• “Healthy Communities” Backgrounder – OHCC
• World Health Organiztion website on Urban Health 
• Wellesley Institute Website | Advancing Urban Health

Crime Prevention

• Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region: Getting to the Roots of the Causes of Crime / 2010 – 2014 Community Plan

Social Determinants of Health

• Government of Canada’s look at the Social Determinants of Health
• Addressing Social Determinants of Health in the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)
• Validating “Addressing Social Determinants of Health in the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)” – Region of Waterloo Public Health
• Opportunities Waterloo Region website (coaltion to reduce and prevent poverty)
• Stepping It Up: Moving the Focus from Health Care in Canada to a Healthier Canada – Health Council Canada

How a city is Designed & Developed

• Neighbourhood Design in Kitchener
• Jane’s Walk – related to the work of urban activist Jane Jacobs including her influential book “The Death and Life of American Cities“
• Project for Public Spaces
• Richard Florida’s website (author of The Rise of the Creative Class Revisited)

I’m sure there are more resources that could be added here. If you have a suggestion, please let me know.