Jan 16, 2013- 11:38 AM
With the funds, the health unit will be better equipped to build stronger, healthier communities by reducing the barriers to good health and helping to address key concerns like physical inactivity and poor nutrition, said Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci.
The province’s Healthy Communities Fund (HCF) provides support to not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, public health units, Aboriginal and First Nations organizations who form partnerships to deliver programs and develop policies focusing on at least two factors that improve health.
The health unit took a leadership role in helping develop the local Partnership Stream of the Healthy Communities Fund. Some 120 representatives from community agencies across the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts came together and identified local community health priorities and a vision for working toward implementing physical activity and healthy eating policies.
The partnership advisory groups have been working toward local policies that ensure affordable and accessible recreation activities for all and increased availability of activities across neighbourhoods. In addition, groups have been working toward developing food policy councils that connect people from food, farming and community to provide ideas, actions and policy recommendations to support a healthy food system.
“We are certainly very proud and appreciative of the efforts by the Partners for Community Wellness to identify community needs and take action,” said Sutcliffe in a news release.
“The McGuinty government is committed to improving the overall well-being of individuals and their broader communities,” concluded Bartolucci. “Our Healthy Communities Fund supports collaborative projects that will help Sudburians enhance and maintain their most valuable asset – their health.”
