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Working with Municipal Planners: A Window of Opportunity Kim Bergeron, PhD Candidate

Working with Municipal Planners: A Window of Opportunity Kim Bergeron, PhD Candidate Queen’s University PARC Symposium March 4, 2008 Toronto, Ontario. Key Messages. Make a friend with a Planner.

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Working with Municipal Planners: A Window of Opportunity Kim Bergeron, PhD Candidate

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  1. Working with Municipal Planners: A Window of Opportunity Kim Bergeron, PhD Candidate Queen’s University PARC Symposium March 4, 2008 Toronto, Ontario

  2. Key Messages • Make a friend with a Planner. • Help planners put cars in perspective. Encourage them to consider infrastructure decisions to be about PEOPLE! • Consider using the Active Communities Charter to develop a unified strategy. • Look at the issue through a different lens. • Increase your knowledge on many things!

  3. Designing Active Communities • Built and social environments support and enable healthy active living. • Created when community stakeholders place value on and work towards: the health, safety and quality of life for all individuals to develop healthy, safe and environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods. • Vibrant and economically successful because they encourage healthy activity, social interaction and citizen engagement.

  4. Active Communities Provide the overriding framework for interest groups promoting active living. This includes the promotion of: Walkable Communities Cycling Friendly Communities Active Transportation Non-motorized waterway activities Trails Municipal Official Plans It is the “glue” that binds the different interest groups together for a common goal!

  5. Active Communities Charter Describes the principles and values characteristic of active communities and provides a rationale for adopting a focus on creating active communities. Available at: http://www.hkpr.on.ca/uploadedFiles/ActiveCommCharter.pdf

  6. We have an Open Window! Urban Planners need to meet the requirements within the provincial planning policies that refer to: • developing complete communities • addressing urban sprawl • protecting farmlands and green spaces • reducing traffic congestion • incorporating mixed land use in developments • intensification and other planning decisions

  7. Ontario Planning Documents • Ontario Planning Act • Specifically sections 2. h), o), q) and 51.(24) (25) • Ontario Provincial Policy Statement (2005) • Part V – 1.0 Building strong communities • 1.5.1 Healthy, active communities should be promoted • Places to Grow • “Building complete and strong communities” • “Growth Plans” • Municipal Official Plans

  8. Planners are asking themselves… “What can we do to ensure that people in every community have what they need to lead healthy lives?” Physical Activity Promoters ask themselves the same question! We need to find a common language between the two professions. A Joint Glossary of Terms is being developed!

  9. Draft Checklist for Planners To encourage the development of communities that support and promote physical activity opportunities. It offers specific principles and criteria that work towards increasing the design of active communities. Designed to reflect the “gold standard” of municipal planning decisions for the creation of active communities.

  10. Knowledge is Power Increase your knowledge about the: Ontario Professional Planners Institute Association of Municipalities in Ontario Canadian Institute of Planners Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal These are just a few that impact on health and the built environment!

  11. Knowledge is Power Increase your knowledge on how the municipality functions and who is responsible for what. Municipal Briefing Tool http://www.hkpr.on.ca/uploadedFiles/Muni%20Briefing%20Report.pdf

  12. Opening the Window Wider The development of an urban planning and public health framework to increase the design of active communities. Collecting data from planners, health professionals, physical activity interest group members, municipal elected officials and staff, & Government of Ontario policy staff in selected Ministries. Consider participating in this study!

  13. Closing Remarks Walk through the window with: A new lens, language and perspective. Armed with knowledge of: • The Ontario Planning Legislation • How the municipalities functions • Planner’s language Use the tools provided!

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