Environments

Built Environment

The "built environment" refers to the human-made or modified physical surroundings in which people live, work and play. A healthy built environment promotes physical activity, mental health and social well-being, prevents injury and increases health equity. A healthy built environment consists of five broad areas:

  1. Healthy Transportation Networks
  2. Healthy Natural Environments
  3. Healthy Food Systems
  4. Healthy Neighbourhood Design
  5. Healthy Housing

The links below offer more information on the built environment:

Truth and Reconciliation

The history of colonization in Canada includes policies that stripped Indigenous people of their culture, language and identity.

The term "colonialism" speaks to the current political, social and philosophical factors resulting from colonization. It is, perhaps the most important predictor of the persistent health gap we observe today between Canada’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Indigenous populations across Canada generally experience poorer economic, social and health outcomes than non-Indigenous populations.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was created in 2008 to document the history and impacts of residential schools. In 2015, the Commission released its report including 94 calls to action regarding reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous people.

To learn more about Truth and Reconciliation click here.