Places

What is Places?

“Places” refers to the environment around us in which we live, work, learn and play. While the natural, social and economic environments also play a role in influencing the behaviours of individuals and communities, within a community Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) scope we will focus on the physical environment. This includes both the built environments and the natural spaces within them such as: 

Why are Healthy Places Important?

Healthy places are achieved when the built and natural environment provide equitable opportunities for citizens to practice healthy behaviours such as: 1) Healthy eating, 2) Being physically active, 3) Meaningfully connecting with community members.

Incorporating healthy places in our communities is important because they can:

• Increase social cohesion
• Encourage healthier populations
• Increase active transportation
• Increase sense of belonging
• Create a stronger connection with the land

The physical environment within Places greatly impacts the ability and opportunity for communities to access and participate in healthy behaviours. By investing to create healthy places, communities can help encourage and support healthy behaviours among citizens.

Healthy Places For All

While age and genetics have some impact, it is primarily the physical and socio-economic environments in which we live, learn, work and play that determine if, and how often, we are physically active.

PlanH, 2021

When creating healthy community places, it’s important to consider how they can be built or designed to improve equity. Whether they be new or existing, indoor or outdoor, aim to design places that support community access and create opportunities for all People to participate in healthy eating and active living (HEAL) activities. 

Consider these four key areas to help build healthy places that everyone can enjoy!

Community Spotlights

Kinsmen Club of Vulcan Reimagines Green Park Spaces

The K-9 school received a Communities ChooseWell Healthy Community Grant to purchase bike and scooter racks, as well as locks, headlamps and reflector kits to get students riding to school. Plus, West Haven’s health and wellness lead teacher, Trevor Henderson, worked collaboratively with the City of Leduc and Ever Active Schools to get new infrastructure installed, including two painted crosswalks, improved signage and updated crossing lights, making the entire community safer for active transport. “The changes we made are going to be here long after I’m done teaching.” 

read more!

Leduc’s West Haven Public School Builds an Active Transport Legacy — One Bike Rack at a Time

The K-9 school received a Communities ChooseWell Healthy Community Grant to purchase bike and scooter racks, as well as locks, headlamps and reflector kits to get students riding to school. Plus, West Haven’s health and wellness lead teacher, Trevor Henderson, worked collaboratively with the City of Leduc and Ever Active Schools to get new infrastructure installed, including two painted crosswalks, improved signage and updated crossing lights, making the entire community safer for active transport. “The changes we made are going to be here long after I’m done teaching.” 

read more!

Continue Exploring Places!

Built environments are the human-made places in which we live, work, learn and play.

Built Environments

Built Environments

Built environments are the human-made places in which we live, work, learn and play.

Green spaces are the places that make up the greenery and natural world around us.

Green Spaces

Green Spaces

Green spaces are the places that make up the greenery and natural world around us.

Historic and contemporary policies like the Indian Act, Band Membership and Hunting and Treaty Rights, continue to have a large influence on Indigenous communities and their ability to create healthy places.

Indigenous Voices in Places

Indigenous Voices in Places

Historic and contemporary policies like the Indian Act, Band Membership and Hunting and Treaty Rights, continue to have a large influence on Indigenous communities and their ability to create healthy places.

Asset Mapping is a tool that communities can use to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the places that currently exist in their community.

Asset Mapping

Asset Mapping

Asset Mapping is a tool that communities can use to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the places that currently exist in their community.