The role of the physical environment in promoting healthy living was the focus of a gathering last week in the Peel Region, which encompasses three of Toronto's western suburbs. Participants discussed the challenges of adapting suburban environs.
Tess Kalinowski
discusses the new approach to tackling obesity being undertaken in the Peel Region, where leaders want to move treatments from the doctor's office to the streets. "Instead of scolding people to eat right and exercise," says Kalinowski, "the region
wants its planners and policy makers to start designing communities that
intrinsically promote healthier living - with more stairs, transit,
enticements to walk or cycle, and easier access to healthy food."
"In the same way cities once put money and muscle into improving
sanitation - building sewers and water treatment plants - to stop the
spread of infectious disease, they must now play a role in preventing
chronic disease, said Dr. David Mowat, Peel's medical officer of health,
who was part of a Friday gathering in Mississauga called Healthy Peel
by Design."
Participants recognized the added burden of meeting this challenge in the "sprawling, low-density communities such as Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon," but Peel is ahead of other regions in recognizing the obstacles and offering resources for designing places that promote healthy, active lifestyles.
"We have engineered the physical activity out of our busy lives, Mowat
pointed out. 'Our rates of obesity are a normal response by normal
people to an abnormal environment.'"
FULL STORY: Peel Region ready to fight obesity with urban design
The Shifting Demographics of Covid-19
For most of the Covid-19 pandemic, Black Americans died at much higher rates than White Americans. That trend has reversed at times during the past year.
To Carpool or Not to Carpool: That is the Question for Transit Workers in Toronto
Controversy erupts in Toronto after the TTC informed transit employees that it isn't safe to carpool to work…driving people around on transit.
What Would a 'Run Score' Look Like?
A writer in Toronto imagines how the city would be evaluated according to a "Run Score"—a fast-paced version of the Walk Score.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie