City calls for program ideas to mitigate the effects of the overdose crisis
May 25, 2017 – The City of Vancouver is committed to supporting initiatives aimed at mitigating the effects of the overdose crisis across the City. To this end, the City is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for projects to be funded from its 2017 Contingency Budget for the Opioid Crisis.
Deadline for receipt of EOIs is 5:00pm (PST) on Friday, June 9, 2017.
The EOI calls for organizations to apply who have innovative program ideas to mitigate the effects of the crisis and require funds for implementation. In the below EOI you will find criteria and questions to guide the development of your EOI.
Mayor’s Task Force on Mental Health and Addictions Transition to New Urban Health Leaders Action Council
February 21, 2017 – The Mayor’s Task Force on Mental Health and Additions provided its final report to Vancouver City Council. Council approved a number of grants to respond to mental health and addictions needs, and to create an Urban Health Leaders Action Council integrating mental health and addictions efforts with the Healthy City for All Leadership Table.
Healthy City Action Plan Progress
February 21, 2017 – Vancouver City Council received an interim update on Healthy City trends and pressures and action taken to date. Council will receive a full report back late in 2017.
Council approves $1 million contribution to St. Paul’s Mental Health Hub
November 1, 2016 – Vancouver City Council approved a $1,000,000 Innovation Fund grant to St. Paul’s Foundation for a Mental Health Hub, in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health Care and Vancouver Police Foundation. The hub will include new clinical care beds and a transitional care centre to provide support and referrals.
Fentanyl crisis update
September 21, 2016 – Vancouver City Council received updates from Vancouver Coastal Health on the number of fentanyl deaths and overdoses, and measures being taken to increase first responder awareness and access to Naloxone.
City of Vancouver committed to become a living wage employer
September 21, 2016 – Vancouver City Council unanimously committed to a plan to implement a living wage policy for staff and contractors at the City of Vancouver, with a report back on certification process by July 2017.
New Start: A Strategy for Immigrants & Refugees in Vancouver
September 21, 2016 – Vancouver City Council received an update from the Vancouver Immigration Partnership on the New Start strategy, identifying priority actions to enhance newcomers’ access to services; to strengthen intercultural and civic engagement; to build welcoming and inclusive workplaces; and to support governments and public institutions addressing needs.
School food update
September 21, 2016 – City Council received an update on school meals program provisions and granted an additional year of funding ($80,000) to Strathcona Community Centre Association’s community breakfast program.
Unveiling of the West End Sex Workers Memorial
September 16 2016 – The West End Sex Workers Memorial Committee, with support from the City of Vancouver, unveiled a memorial lamp post to honour the lives of sex workers in the West End who were adversely affected by municipal actions taken in the mid-1980s.
Healthy City Strategy implementation update
June 15, 2016 – Vancouver City Council received updates on the Healthy City Strategy and approved investments in projects related to nine Healthy City goals, including a mental health hub at St. Paul’s Hospital.
View presentations:
2015
Vancouver moves forward with Healthy City Strategy Phase 2 Action Plan
July 8, 2015 – Vancouver City Council approved the first four-year action plan for the Healthy City Strategy. The Action Plan sets out 19 high-priority actions for the City and partners to undertake from 2015 to 2018 to make progress on the goals of A Healthy City for All. Council also directed staff to report back on progress in 2017.
City of Vancouver recognized for excellence in planning
June 19, 2015 – The City of Vancouver won gold for the Healthy City Strategy from the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) as part of their 2015 Awards of Excellence in Planning.
- Read the full news release here
2014
Council approves Healthy City Strategy Phase 1
October 29, 2014 – Vancouver City Council approved A Healthy City for All: Healthy City Strategy 2014-2025 – Phase 1. The first phase of the strategy sets out a vision, principles, long term goals, targets, and indicators. Staff will report back to Council with Phase 2, the first four-year action plan, in 2015.
Talk Healthy City for All on Breakfast Television July 23, 24, 25
July 22, 2014 – Ideas for creating a Healthy City for All will be discussed on City TV Breakfast Television July 23, 24 and 25. Tune in, learn about the goals, and share your ideas. Our ideas forum has reopened until August 2.
The Talk Healthy City for All forum is now closed.
Talk Healthy City for All: Round Two
June 6, 2014 – Hundreds of ideas have been shared since we launched Talk Healthy City for All on April 24. Nine first-round winners were sent to the Social Innovation Exchange Ideas Festival and the THNK Creative Leadership Workshop on May 30.
Share your ideas by June 30 and you could win:
- A one-month membership at the co-ed YWCA Health + Fitness Centre
- A three-month membership at the Greater Vancouver YMCA
- A OneCard pre-loaded with a one-month adult Flexipass for admission to Park Board- and participating fitness centres, pools, and rinks
- A one-night stay for two at the YWCA Hotel Vancouver
- A pair of tickets to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Fall Season 2014 at the Orpheum Theatre
Vote, comment, and add your ideas to help us reach our Healthy City for All targets.
Update on Talk Healthy City for All presented to Council
May 14, 2014 – Staff presented an update on Talk Healthy City for All, the public engagement on the Healthy City Strategy where you can share bold and innovative ideas for reaching the Healthy City Strategy targets by 2025.
Host your own Healthy City for All Ideas Lab with our kits
May 13, 2014 – Host your own conversation with friends, neighbours, or coworkers! Our do-it-yourself kits have all the materials you need to develop bold and innovative ideas for reaching our Healthy City for All targets. Contact us at healthycity@vancouver.ca or 604-873-7487 to request a kit.
Recap of #HealthyCity4All Twitter chats on Storify
May 9, 2014 – Since launching Talk Healthy City for All on April 24, we've held several #HealthyCity4All Twitter chats to get people thinking about goal areas of the Healthy City Strategy. Read the discussions on Storify, below.
Public event: Healthy People Healthy Places, June 6
April 29, 2014 – Join us for an inspirational morning of knowledge sharing and dialogue on planning and designing our communities for greater health and well-being.
Talk Healthy City for All
April 24, 2014 – How can we make Vancouver a place where all people are thriving? We need your bold ideas and actions to make this a reality! Vote, comment, and add your ideas to help us reach our Healthy City for All targets.
The Talk Healthy City for All forum is now closed.
Win a workshop scholarship or a chance to discuss your idea
Share your ideas, and you could win a chance to discuss your idea at the Social Innovation Exchange Ideas Festival on May 30, or learn the skills to turn your idea into action with a scholarship to attend the THNK Creative Leadership workshop hosted by FUEL on May 30!
Healthy People Healthy Places: new date
April 23, 2014 – Healthy People Healthy Places will be taking place at a later date, likely in the first half of June. Stay tuned for a new date. A full refund will be available to delegates who cannot attend the new date.
Talk Healthy City for All: launching soon
March 31, 2014 – How can we create a healthy city of all?
Vancouverites will soon be asked for innovative ideas for reaching our Healthy City for All 2025 targets. Check out the draft goals and targets, and sign up to be notified by email about online and in-person engagement opportunities coming this spring. Help us build a healthy city where everyone is thriving!
DTES Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
February 26, 2014 – With help from the SIA Reference Group, the Social Impact Assessment was prepared as part of the Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan Process to examine how future developments and land use changes could affect the low-income community in the area. The SIA identifies impacts before any development is implemented to help maximize the positive effects on a community while minimizing the negative.
New award recognizes leadership in making Vancouver a healthier city
February 21, 2014 – The City of Vancouver launched the inaugural Awards of Excellence, a new awards program recognizing outstanding civic achievements. Award categories include the Healthy City for All Award, which pays tribute to outstanding leadership by an individual or organization in working towards creating a healthier city.
City supports "A GP for Me" initiative
February 19, 2014 – The City is supporting an initiative by the BC Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC to help Vancouver residents find a family doctor, and support patient-doctor relationships.
2013
Help shape future programs and services in your community
December 1, 2013 – Everyone knows we are what we eat, but our health and well-being are closely linked to where we live and what we do. The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health are key partners in an ongoing effort to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for Vancouver residents. Add your voice to the discussion by filling out the My Health My Community Survey. Your information will help shape future programs and community services that will benefit you, your family, and your community.
Mayor convenes Roundtable on Mental Health and Addictions
October 2, 2013 – Over 100 stakeholders took part in a Mayor’s Roundtable on Mental Health and Addictions at the SFU Wosk Centre for Dialogue. Mayor Gregor Robertson opened the Roundtable, which included service providers, front-line workers, academics, and people living with mental illness and addictions.
Speakers included Dr William Horner of the UBC Department of Psychiatry, and Dr Michelle Patterson of At Home/Chez Soi, a research project examining the role of housing and support services for people with severe mental illnesses.
Two people living with mental illness who have experienced homelessness also shared their experiences.
Update on the draft strategy presented to Council
July 2013 – Staff updated Council on the development of the draft strategy framework. Further consultations and engagement on the draft strategy will take place over the fall of 2013, and the final strategy will be presented to Council in early 2014.
Memorandum of Understanding with Vancouver Coastal Health
March 2013 – The City has signed a Memorandum of Understand (MOU) with our key partner, Vancouver Coastal Health, to develop a formal commitment to enhance our collaborative efforts in seven priority areas:
- Early care and learning
- Healthy housing options
- Food security and sustainable food systems
- Active living and getting outside
- Healthy service
- Social connectedness
- Healthy built environment
Watch for our first joint action, coming fall 2013.
2012
Draft strategy
September 2012 – The City is developing a draft Healthy City Strategy in consultation with key stakeholders. Sign up for news, events, ways to get involved and updates on the Healthy City Strategy.
Partnership Agreement with Vancouver Coastal Health
August 2012 – The City of Vancouver is working with our key partner Vancouver Coastal Health to develop a formal commitment to enhance our collaborative efforts in seven priority areas:
- Healthy housing options
- Food security and sustainable food systems
- Early care and learning
- Active living and getting outside
- Healthy services
- Social connectedness
- Healthy built environment
Healthy People, Healthy City Summit 2012
June 22, 2012 – Healthy People, Healthy City 2012 brought together over 300 people from a broad range of sectors to participate in the launch of the development of a Healthy City Strategy for Vancouver. The summit featured presentations by local people representing programs involved in groundbreaking work in urban health and well-being including topics that highlighted:
- Youth leadership development
- Supportive housing
- Neighbourhood food networks
- Methadone maintenance therapy
- Urban Aboriginal employment
- Physical literacy for kids
- Hoarding solutions
- School-based substance use prevention
- The intersections between older adult health, mobility and the built environment
Keynote speaker Andre Picard — award-winning public health reporter at The Globe and Mail and acclaimed public policy consultant — joined other leaders in health and social sustainability to outline ideas for what needs to happen to create a healthier Vancouver.