Toronto often ranks among the best cities in terms of fulfilling the requirements of a healthy city. According to the World Health Organization (2022, para. 2), “a healthy city is one that continually creates and improves its physical and social environments and expands the community resources that enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential.” Toronto is a green city with many parks, gardens, and other green spaces. As well as that, the city encourages an active and healthy lifestyle.
Toronto offers a vast choice of opportunities to participate in activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. The city has many parks that offer different sports fields and playgrounds. Citizens are encouraged to take long walks or to cycle (Hassen, 2022). Canadians living in areas where more people use bicycles or take public transit to work were less likely to report being overweight or obese than those living in neighborhoods where fewer people use active modes of transportation. The Canadian government has funded many projects and initiatives that promote an active lifestyle in Toronto (Government of Canada, 2022). According to the City of Toronto (2022, para. 1), “cycling is one of the fastest growing transportation modes in Toronto. The city is working to make travel by bike safer and more inviting, which helps ease congestion on streets and transit, creates a cleaner environment, and promotes physical activity.” The city council supports cycling by building infrastructure with safe bike lanes and bike parking facilities and carrying out other campaigns promoting cycling confidence.
As well as that, Toronto encourages other active sports, such as paddle sports, hiking, walking, football, hockey, tennis, and so on. Toronto’s waterfront is a destination for various activities, including canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. Parks and recreation facilities can be booked by citizens for social gatherings and special events; this promotes social activities in the city. Whether it is a sports activity, social gathering, BBQ, or wedding ceremonies, recreation facilities in Toronto enable and encourage them all. As well as that, the city has a calendar for different social activities for the citizens to participate in.
A nutritious diet and adequate food supply are central to good health. In Canada, food security is more prevalent in urban areas such as Toronto. The city has a food strategy that promotes a healthy food system. It aims to eliminate hunger, food pricing that favors healthy and sustainable choices, sustainable diets, and prioritization of health and the environment (Toronto Food Strategy, 2018). With these strategies in place, Toronto is a healthy city regarding food nutrition.
In terms of health screening, hospitals in Toronto are a part of the Canadian National Health System and offer free healthcare. As for health promotion skills, health professionals in Toronto identified them with autonomy and social determinants (Hassen, 2022). Health promotion practices are targeted at individual and collective activities (Heidemann et al., 2018). With free health screening and immunization availability, Toronto is an example of a health-focused city. Immunization is also a part of health promotion in Toronto (Heidemann et al., 2018). Toronto Public Health offers immunization clinics to provide free “hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, meningococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines” (City of Toronto, 2022, para. 1). Immunization and vaccination of the citizens are free of charge, and citizens are highly motivated to take them.
The city of Toronto promotes and encourages a healthy lifestyle in schools and universities. Students are encouraged to follow a healthy diet and exercise actively from an early age. According to the city of Toronto (2022, para. 2), “the Healthy Schools approach is integrated school-based health promotion that incorporates health and health messaging into all aspects of school activities and engages the school community at large.” Healthy children are believed to be better learners, and better-educated children are healthier. Thus, encouraging a healthy lifestyle in the early stages promotes a healthier future. Home, school, and community partnerships enable children to see and participate in different sports and activities.
The opportunities in Toronto that encourage a healthy and active lifestyle include walking and cycling areas, sports areas in parks, water activities, free healthcare, and early education on health. These opportunities are available to the general public and free of charge. Some sports like football and hockey require membership. However, there are other activities that do not require any payment or membership. Hiking, walking, and cycling are free of charge and do not require any special equipment.
Active programs in Toronto are accessible for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and others. Many activities are specifically for seniors; the city runs Older Adult Centres across the city that offer recreational, social, and educational programs for seniors. Activities can include cards, crafts, day trips, fitness programs, and guest speakers. The City of Toronto (2022, para. 1) “is committed to improving quality of life for seniors, building and sustaining communities that ensure seniors’ needs are met, and that they are supported to live full and healthy lives.” There could be barriers for the elderly to utilize the resources for a healthy lifestyle. However, there are hotlines available that provide social support services. There is also a fund that is available to pay for certain medication and medical items such as hearing aids, walkers, hospital beds, and so on. This helps the elderly to overcome the barriers to a healthy lifestyle.
Consequently, Toronto is an excellent example of a health-oriented city. The city provides the population with walking and cycling areas, recreational parks with sports areas, and water activities. These activities include but are not limited to paddle sports, hiking, walking, football, hockey, and tennis. The Canadian government has funded many projects and initiatives promoting an active lifestyle, believing they will reduce obesity among the citizens. Moreover, Toronto’s initiatives promote social events that can take place in many recreational facilities. More importantly, these activities are free of charge and mostly do not require any special equipment and assistance.
Nutrition and food security are also prevalent in Toronto. The city has a food strategy that is aimed at eliminating hunger. Health screening is free for the population, and the city promotes healthcare. As well as that, it is believed that healthy children make better learners and better-educated children are healthier. Thus, the city encourages early health education. Toronto Public Health offers immunization clinics to provide free vaccines and immunization. All the opportunities are available for the general public and free of charge. Moreover, active programs in Toronto are accessible for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and others. Overall, by promoting free healthcare such as vaccinations and immunization, an active lifestyle, and the inclusion of vulnerable populations, Toronto is a model health-oriented city.
References
City of Toronto (2022). Cycling in Toronto.City of Toronto. Web.
City of Toronto (2022). Healthy Schools.City of Toronto. Web.
City of Toronto (2022). Seniors Health Services.City of Toronto. Web.
Government of Canada (2022). Promoting physical activity.Government of Canada. Web.
Hassen, N. (2022). Leveraging built environment interventions to equitably promote health during and after COVID-19 in Toronto, Canada. Health Promotion International, 37(2).
Heidemann, I. T. S. B., Cypriano, C. D. C., Gastaldo, D., Jackson, S., Rocha, C. G., & Fagundes, E. (2018). A comparative study of primary care health promotion practices in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Cadernos de Saude Publica, 34. Web.
Toronto Food Strategy (2018). Toronto food strategy 2018 report.Toronto Food Strategy. Web.
World Health Organization (2022). What is a healthy city? World Health Organisation. Web.