Natalie Godden, Manager of Family & Leisure Services and Bruce Knox, Healthy Communities Fieldworker presented on the Healthy City Strategy, a copy of this presentation is appended to the agenda. At the meeting of November 26, members were invited to review the discussion guide and provide edits to bring back for discussion.
Implementation strategies will be going to CSJ Council in January for approval, with community engagement occurring throughout 2021. Goals reviewed and subsequent discussion include:
Healthy City Strategy Chart
The 6 Pillars of Healthy Neighbourhoods & People, Urban Design, Environment, Housing, Inclusion, and Transportation were discussed. It was suggested to add bullets to each pillar to ensure accessibility is clearly defined as a focus of the Healthy City Strategy. For example, “Accessible & Affordable Housing” under the Housing pillar.
Healthy Neighbourhoods & People
Supporting Asset: Neighbourhood Services, Identity & Place-Making
- Discussion around what "place-making" means. It was noted as a process where strengthening public spaces and supporting healthy living to connect with a good quality of life occurs.
It was noted that this is similar to the 8-80 Cites initiative.
Supporting Asset: Safety
- 1.4 Change “Improve the safety of neighbourhoods and streets” to “Improve the safety and accessibility of neighbourhoods and streets”. More than physical barriers. Want to lead in Inclusion.
- Safety includes physical safety, social safety, and harm reduction.
Supporting Asset: Mental & Physical Health
- 1.8 “Work with Partners to increase social programs and resources for new parents, guardians, and caregivers that support mental health” to “Work with partners to increase social programs and resources for parents, guardians, and caregivers that support mental health”. Not all parents are new parents. (ie. Grandparents taking care of grandchildren).
- Add Gender segregation in various areas. (ie. Community sports can be alienating for nonbinary youth in the process of transition.)
Supporting Asset: Early Childhood Development & Lifelong Learning
- 1.10 “Work with partners to design programs & services that support early childhood development. Action: Work with Eastern Health & NLESD and External Partners to host early education programming for young families”. Take out the word “young families” to “families”. So many different versions of families. Ie. Grandparents raising children, mid-aged parents.
- 1.11 “Support and connect parents and guardians with access to information and education that promotes early childhood development”. Education for parents and children. NLAD noted they have new program called “Family Communication Program” recently set up for the deaf to educate parents/children.
Supporting Asset: Arts & Culture
- 1.13 “Diversify arts and culture across the City of St. John’s”. The question was asked, what does diversify mean? With the following clarity provided; getting outside downtown area and into more neighbourhoods, include different groups. Need to change the word “Diversity” to explain the intent. Expand our exposure to normalize things including making it accessible, affordable, include under-used groups, different forms of arts and culture, and making it more affordable.