Healthy communities

A healthy community exists through the efforts of many people, organizations, and sectors working together. There isn’t a single definition of a healthy community, as each one has its own unique traits and history of supporting collective health and well-being. However, experience in Canada has shown that healthy communities share common features.

Healthy communities are places where people:

• Have access to the resources and opportunities that support their basic needs and physical, mental, cultural, and social well-being.
• Can reach their full potential.
• Work together to improve life for everyone.
• Embrace diversity and foster a sense of belonging.
• Consider resiliency, sustainability, and the needs of future generations in their decision-making.

Health factors are everyday conditions that impact our wellbeing. They include the conditions in which people are born, grow up, live, work, play, learn, and age. By focusing on these conditions and the connections between them, communities and leaders can create better opportunities to improve health and well-being. Factors like where we live and work, our education and income, and social supports shape 75% of our health. Only about 25% is shaped by health and social services. Some of these determinants include:

• Access to resources: Availability of essential services such as healthcare, education, safe housing, and opportunities for employment and economic stability.
• Community engagement: Opportunities for people to participate in decision-making processes, volunteer, and contribute to community activities and initiatives.
• Cultural and recreational activities: Availability of cultural events, arts, and recreational activities that enhance the quality of life and provide opportunities for leisure and personal growth.
• Economic opportunities: Access to stable employment, fair wages, and economic development initiatives that contribute to financial stability and reduce poverty.
• Effective communication: Open channels for sharing information within the community, which helps build trust and cooperation.
• Equity and inclusion: Efforts to ensure that all community members have equal access to resources and opportunities. This includes embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued.
• Health services: Accessible and culturally safe health care services, including preventive care and wellness programs.
• Healthy behaviours: Support for healthy living through nutrition, physical activity, and wellness programs, as well as efforts to reduce risky behaviors.
• Resilience and sustainability: Practices and policies that promote environmental sustainability, preparedness for emergencies, and adaptability to change.
• Safe and healthy environment: Clean air and water, safe neighborhoods, well-maintained public spaces, and access to parks and recreational areas.
• Social support networks: Strong relationships and community connections that offer emotional support, promote social interaction, and encourage community involvement.

We are listeners, facilitators, and connectors. Here are some examples of how we can work with you.

1. Support communities to identify community health priorities and create action plans

   We want to understand your community health priorities. We can meet in-person or virtually to discuss ways to collaborate. We can also attend committee meetings and deliver presentations to Councils and community organizations.

   Our engagement strategies are inclusive, take a whole community approach, and build on the existing strengths of your community. By involving us, community members can focus on generating ideas, building connections, and creating action plans, while we plan, organize, and deliver to suit your needs.

2. Explore community granting opportunities

   We can help you find local, provincial, and national grant opportunities for your community health projects, including several Northern Health grants.

   Subscribe to our Healthy Communities E-Brief for updates on grant opportunities.

3. Connect you with community health data and evidence

   We can connect you to valuable knowledge and experience through our relationships within Northern Health. For example, we can connect you to:

   • Community health evidence to guide your planning and decision-making
   • Expertise on topics such as injury prevention, food security, climate change, and more.

4. Co-develop public policy to promote health and improve quality of life for all

   We participate in working groups and respond to local governments’ requests for feedback on land use and public policy documents.

We pride ourselves on upholding the following values. We are:

Community centred

We prioritize community input and assets to better understand and respond to community health priorities. We focus on strengths and resources, rather than deficits and needs. By building on existing assets, such as physical resource and the strengths and capacities of people, organizations, and institutions, we work alongside communities to support their priorities and nurture community-led action.

Committed to reconciliation

We prioritize reconciliation in our work and are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Indigenous communities. We aim to uphold Indigenous rights to health and enhance the health and well-being of the Indigenous people and communities we serve.

Collaborative

We act as connectors, building strong partnerships across various sectors such as health, environment, agriculture, sports and leisure, education, social, faith, culture, language, government, and business. Our engagement is designed to be inclusive and collaborative. We work with community members to define issues, generate solutions, take action, and evaluate success and learning.

These five key areas form the foundation of our work:

• Asset-based community development
• Community engagement
• Healthy public policy
• Multi-sectoral collaboration
• Political commitment

• Community granting - Northern Health
• Community health information - Northern Health
• Healthy Communities E-brief library - Northern Health
• Healthy Communities information sheet - Northern Health
• Healthy people in healthy communities: Local governments collaborating with the Northern Health Healthy Communities team - Northern Health
• Understanding Northern Health - Northern Health

External resources

• BC Healthy Communities resources - BC Healthy Communities
• Healthy Built Environment Linkages Toolkit - BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)
• Healthy Social Environments Framework - BC Healthy Communities

• Northeast
  Erin Powers
  Lead, Healthy Communities
  10115 110 Avenue,
  Fort St. John, BC V1J 6M9
  Erin.Powers@northernhealth.ca
  Phone: 250-219-5720
• Northern Interior
  Jeff Kormos
  Lead, Healthy Communities
  500-299 Victoria Street,
  Prince George, BC V2L 5B8
  Jeff.Kormos@northernhealth.ca
  Phone: 250-645-3134
• Northwest
  Lana Pestaluky
  Lead, Healthy Communities
  3412 Kalum Street,
  Terrace, BC V8G 4T2
  Lana.Pestaluky@northernhealth.ca
  Phone: 250-641-7045
• Regional Community Granting program
  Breanne Frenkel
  Coordinator, Community Granting program
  500-299 Victoria Street,
  Prince George, BC V2L 5B8
  Breanne.Frenkel@northernhealth.ca
  Phone: 250-961-0253

For more information about the communities we serve, see the Northern Health map.