Peterborough Public Health Releases Report
Written by Communications, July 25, 2018
To Support the City and County Official Plan Review Process
Today, Peterborough Public Health launches two reports developed to support the City and the County of Peterborough with their Official Plan review processes. Each report has been designed to give the municipalities’ public health recommendations, which were developed based on emerging research and local data analysis. “I am extremely pleased to present both the City and the County of Peterborough with a comprehensive report for their Official Plan reviews” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “These reports signify Peterborough Public Health’s commitment to provide the City and the County of Peterborough with evidence, local data, and policy examples to assist with their Official Plan review” adds Dr. Salvaterra.
Starting on January 1, 2018, Peterborough Public Health began operating under the new Ontario Public Health Standards, which includes requirements for local Boards of Health to support municipalities with their Official Plan reviews. Locally, the City and County of Peterborough are both in the process of developing new Official Plans which will give direction for local land use decisions from now until 2041. Janet Dawson, Health Promoter at Peterborough Public Health and lead author of the two documents states “there is growing evidence demonstrating that the way our communities are planned, designed, and built can support healthier lifestyles and behaviours; thereby reducing the amount of chronic diseases and conditions. Many policy levers to do this are at the control of municipalities in areas such as planning, transportation, parks and recreation, and housing”. Peterborough Public Health identifies the Official Plan review as an opportunity to consider how residents of all ages and abilities can thrive, be healthy, and resilient in this community. “We are excited to release these reports to our local municipalities and hope that the information will educate, raise awareness, and encourage the implementation of the key policies that will help make the City and County of Peterborough a healthy community for all current and future residents” adds Dawson.
Links to both reports are available on the Plans & Reports section of the PPH website:
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For further information, please contact:
Janet Dawson, Health Promoter
705-743-1000, ext. 392