Project Goals and Outcomes
What is the purpose of Growing Healthy Places?
Growing Healthy Places aims to improve evidence-based physical activity and food literacy approaches by improving access to physical activity, nourishing food, and overall quality of life for children in the City of Mississauga, particularly in underserved urban communities. It focuses on engaging communities in supporting food literacy and security and increasing access to physical activity opportunities to support the health and well-being of school-aged children.
Who will benefit from Growing Healthy Places?
Growing Healthy Places is designed to support school-aged children (ages 6–13) in the City of Mississauga, particularly those living in underserved urban areas where food insecurity and limited access to physical activity opportunities and spaces are prevalent.
What are the main goals of Growing Healthy Places?
The key goals are to increase physical activity and access to nourishing food, thereby improving the overall quality of life for children in the City of Mississauga. This will be achieved through community initiatives that focus on providing access to nutritious food and safe places for physical activity.
How will Growing Healthy Places be implemented?
Growing Healthy Places will involve co-designing, implementing, and evaluating tailored solutions in the City of Mississauga that meet the specific needs of the community. This will include working closely with local interest holders, building trust and fostering collaboration between various service providers.
How will the success of Growing Healthy Places be measured?
Growing Healthy Places will be tracked and evaluated at three different points, with progress monitored until 2027. This will ensure that the initiatives are having a real and sustained impact on the health and well-being of children in the region.
What are the expected outcomes of Growing Healthy Places?
Growing Healthy Places aims to enhance food literacy and security and to promote physical literacy through providing access and opportunities to nutritious food and to safe learning spaces for physical activity; contributing to overall improvements in the quality of life for children. By supporting food literacy and security and creating supportive environments for physical activity, Growing Healthy Places seeks to improve children's health outcomes and foster stronger communities.
When will the expected outcomes be achieved?
The expected outcomes are connected to a wide range of physical, socio-cultural and mental health benefits and include improvements in food security, access to nutritious foods, enhanced health and physical literacy, accessible physical activity opportunities and increased community engagement. Timelines for achieving these outcomes will vary depending on the specific initiatives, but measurable progress is expected over the course of Growing Healthy Places. Regular evaluations will track progress and adjust strategies as needed.
Project Scope and Timelines
Why this, why now?
Food insecurity is an ongoing and growing challenge that affects many communities, and the urgency to address it has never been greater. In recent years, food insecurity has worsened due to economic pressures, rising food prices and disruptions caused by global events.
Moreover, physical activity is essential to living a long, healthy and productive life, and provides a wide range of physical, socio-cultural and mental health benefits. Yet, most people in Canada aren’t getting the recommended amount. Using a holistic multi-level approach, this project aims to drive innovation through partnerships to provide both immediate relief and long-term solutions to combat these issues.
The knowledge and skills acquired will provide children and youth with the physical literacy and health literacy they need to lead a healthy and active life every day. By gaining a deeper understanding of transferable movement skills and strategies, children and youth within these communities will strengthen their overall well-being, supporting physical, mental, and emotional development. In school community settings, improving these competencies through age-appropriate, adaptive, and responsive approaches ensures that all learners are meaningfully engaged in ways that reflect their developmental needs. These efforts also help children and youth identify and acquire the skills needed to get, understand, and use information to make informed decisions about their health. When supported through authentic and meaningful approaches that reflect the unique context of the school community, this learning becomes more impactful and enduring.
What is the timeline for Growing Healthy Places?
Growing Healthy Places will run over three years, with progress being tracked and evaluated at three key times, extending until 2027. This will ensure that initiatives have a lasting impact on children's health and well-being in the City of Mississauga.
How does this initiative support long-term health outcomes for children?
By prioritizing physical activity, healthy eating, and access to nutritious food and safe spaces for exercise, Growing Healthy Places aims to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and depression in children. This foundational work will contribute to improved lifelong health outcomes.
What specific programs or changes might this initiative bring to the community?
Community involvement is key to the success of Growing Healthy Places. Children aged 6-13 and their parents/caregivers, local residents, organizations and interest holders will co-create solutions and actions. We will be working directly with communities to identify what those actions are and how they leverage existing community strengths, capacities and assets while also responding to local needs. These can include but are not limited to nutrition programs, school gardens, outdoor play programs, walking programs and/or built environment and design improvements. We are looking forward to actively listening to and learning from community members to find out what solutions they think can be most successful and have the biggest impact!
How are the initiatives being selected, and can community-driven initiatives be included?
Initiatives are selected based on evidence, community needs and best practices. We prioritize community-driven solutions to ensure that the initiatives are relevant, impactful and tailored to the unique needs of the population. Local input and involvement are crucial to the success of the initiatives, and we welcome ideas and feedback from the community.
How can the public get involved or learn more about Growing Healthy Places?
The public can stay informed about the progress of Growing Healthy Places through updates from the partnering organizations. Community engagement efforts will provide opportunities for individuals to get involved and support Growing Healthy Places’ goals.
Project Partners
Which organizations are involved in Growing Healthy Places?
Ophea and 8 80 Cities are the local implementation partners that will be leading the community engagement and co-design process. Brock University is the lead research and evaluation partner, and Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. is the funder and global network partner.
With our extensive experience in school-based health programs at Ophea, and 8 80 Cities' innovative work in urban planning and community engagement, we are well-equipped to be optimal partners. Together, we bring a unique blend of expertise and passion to support this initiative.
What is the relationship between this initiative and Novo Nordisk's global Cities for Better Health (CBH) Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative (COPI)?
This initiative is the Canadian implementation of Novo Nordisk’s global CBH Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative (COPI), which focuses on creating cross-sector partnerships to promote health and well-being among children. Five cities across five countries are involved in this global effort. The CBH initiative further strengthens the partnerships in this project by bringing a global perspective and cross-sector approach to addressing childhood health and well-being.
Will there be direct marketing to children, and what is the role of corporate sponsorship?
There will be no direct marketing to children. Overall communications will be approached with caution, ensuring that all materials are age-appropriate, ethical and aligned with Growing Healthy Places’ goals. Corporate sponsorship plays a role in supporting Growing Healthy Places, but it will be managed transparently to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure the integrity of the project.
Why was Mississauga chosen for this project?
Mississauga was selected for a number of reasons. The City has made a strong commitment to advancing healthy city initiatives both in the Mayor's office and at City Council. The City of Mississauga also offers unique insights into how access to nutritious food and availability of accessible physical activity opportunities affect diverse populations in urban communities, and Mississauga is an ideal location to pilot solutions that can be expanded across the region.
What role will the City of Mississauga play in this initiative?
The City of Mississauga will have a central role in the co-design, implementation and evaluation of the initiatives. Growing Healthy Places will work closely with local municipalities, schools and community organizations to create effective and tailored solutions that address the unique needs of the region.
How will the community be involved in Growing Healthy Places?
Community involvement is key to the success of Growing Healthy Places. Local residents, organizations and interest holders will co-create solutions to ensure the initiatives are tailored to the needs of the community. Building respectful, collaborative relationships will help foster trust and ensure that the initiatives are sustainable.