The Trails of Simcoe County: A The Trails of Simcoe County: A Symposium of Trail Symposium of Trail

Development April 13, 2010Development April 13, 2010Presentation byPresentation by Sherry Diaz Sherry Diaz

Public Health NursePublic Health Nurse

Chronic Disease Prevention, Healthy Lifestyle Chronic Disease Prevention, Healthy Lifestyle ProgramProgram

Simcoe Muskoka District Health UnitSimcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

Rates of Chronic Disease in Simcoe Rates of Chronic Disease in Simcoe Muskoka are a ConcernMuskoka are a Concern

Stand up if you know Stand up if you know someone who has someone who has been impacted by:been impacted by:

Heart diseaseHeart disease

CancerCancer

Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes

Chronic Disease ImpactChronic Disease ImpactIn Canada, 16 million people live with chronic diseases. These In Canada, 16 million people live with chronic diseases. These

diseases seriously affect their quality of life and cause diseases seriously affect their quality of life and cause premature death.premature death.

Type 2 diabetes at one time more prevalent in the older adult Type 2 diabetes at one time more prevalent in the older adult population is now is being seen in younger adults and even population is now is being seen in younger adults and even children.children.

The number of Canadians who are overweight or obese has The number of Canadians who are overweight or obese has also steadily increased.also steadily increased.

Research links unhealthy food Research links unhealthy food choices and sedentary lifestyles choices and sedentary lifestyles with the risk for chronic disease.with the risk for chronic disease.

A A sedentary lifestyle is just sedentary lifestyle is just as dangerous to our health as as dangerous to our health as smoking a pack of cigarettes smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.a day.

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

If you have an apple and I If you have an apple and I have an apple and we have an apple and we exchange these apples, then exchange these apples, then you and I still each have one you and I still each have one apple. But if you have an apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have then each of us will have two ideas.two ideas.

What makes a community healthy?What makes a community healthy?

A healthy community is one A healthy community is one that embraces the belief that embraces the belief

that that health is more than health is more than merely merely an absence of an absence of disease; a disease; a healthy healthy community includes community includes those elements that enable those elements that enable

people to maintain a high people to maintain a high quality of life and productivity.quality of life and productivity.

Qualities of a Healthy Qualities of a Healthy CommunityCommunity

Clean and safe physical environment Clean and safe physical environment Peace, equity and social justice Peace, equity and social justice Adequate access to food, water, shelter, income, safety, work Adequate access to food, water, shelter, income, safety, work

and recreation for all and recreation for all Adequate access to health care services Adequate access to health care services Opportunities for learning and skill development Opportunities for learning and skill development Strong, mutually supportive relationships and networks Strong, mutually supportive relationships and networks Workplaces that are supportive of individual and family well-Workplaces that are supportive of individual and family well-

being being Wide participation of residents in decision-making Wide participation of residents in decision-making Strong local cultural and spiritual heritage Strong local cultural and spiritual heritage Diverse and vital economy Diverse and vital economy Protection of the natural environment Protection of the natural environment Responsible use of resources to ensure long term sustainabilityResponsible use of resources to ensure long term sustainability (Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition)(Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition)

Sustainable CommunitiesSustainable Communities

Sustainable community development is Sustainable community development is about human well-being; that is, enabling about human well-being; that is, enabling people to lead healthy and economically people to lead healthy and economically productive lives in a clean environment, productive lives in a clean environment, without compromising the ability of future without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needsgenerations to meet their own needs (Public (Public Health Agency of Canada)Health Agency of Canada)

Action is NeededAction is Needed

Action is needed to increase the capacity for Action is needed to increase the capacity for residents to make healthy choices and decrease residents to make healthy choices and decrease the barriers to physical activity and healthy eating. the barriers to physical activity and healthy eating.

It is our shared responsibility to ensure individuals, It is our shared responsibility to ensure individuals, families and commmunities in Simcoe Muskoka are families and commmunities in Simcoe Muskoka are the healthiest possible….we must work the healthiest possible….we must work collaboratively and strategically to increase collaboratively and strategically to increase opportunities for residents to make healthy opportunities for residents to make healthy choices. I call on everyone to act now for a healthy choices. I call on everyone to act now for a healthy future. future.

(Dr. Charles Gardner, Medical Officer of Health)(Dr. Charles Gardner, Medical Officer of Health)

Achieving a Healthy CommunityAchieving a Healthy Community Community wide participation Community wide participation Broad involvement of all sectors of the Broad involvement of all sectors of the

community community Local government commitment Local government commitment Creation of healthy public policies Creation of healthy public policies

All sectors of the community are inter-related and All sectors of the community are inter-related and share their knowledge, expertise and share their knowledge, expertise and perspectives, and work together to create a perspectives, and work together to create a healthy communityhealthy community

What is generally the first step?What is generally the first step?

Real & Perceived Barriers to an Active Real & Perceived Barriers to an Active LifestyleLifestyle

Lack of awareness of the importance of physical activity Lack of awareness of the importance of physical activity

Lack of understanding that physical activity can be added upLack of understanding that physical activity can be added up even 10 even 10 minutes at a time to meet daily recommendationsminutes at a time to meet daily recommendations

Lack of understanding of the range of activities that constitute physical Lack of understanding of the range of activities that constitute physical activity – you don’t need to be a marathon runner!activity – you don’t need to be a marathon runner!

Belief that physical activity is competitive, organized sport-based, Belief that physical activity is competitive, organized sport-based, expensive, or requires specific skills and athletic abilitiesexpensive, or requires specific skills and athletic abilities

Increased Increased "non-active" time spent on TV, video, computer games and "non-active" time spent on TV, video, computer games and surfing the internetsurfing the internet

Lack of time, energy and interest, skill, sidewalks or facilitiesLack of time, energy and interest, skill, sidewalks or facilities

Excessive cost, long term illness, disability, fear of injury or safety, weatherExcessive cost, long term illness, disability, fear of injury or safety, weather

Lack of knowledge of the definition, features and values of health Lack of knowledge of the definition, features and values of health promotion e.g. use of the term “Walkable Community” or “Active promotion e.g. use of the term “Walkable Community” or “Active Transportation”Transportation”

A Walkable Community is…A Walkable Community is…

Defined as a community where walking, biking, and Defined as a community where walking, biking, and other modes of human-powered activity is other modes of human-powered activity is supported and encouraged in the daily living of supported and encouraged in the daily living of residents.residents.

It is a community that features a medium density It is a community that features a medium density mix of housing, stores, businesses, schools, and mix of housing, stores, businesses, schools, and destinations in walking distance with paths, trails destinations in walking distance with paths, trails and sidewalks that connect neighbourhoods to and sidewalks that connect neighbourhoods to one another. In addition, walkable communities one another. In addition, walkable communities are attractive, invite further exploration, and are are attractive, invite further exploration, and are places where people feel safe.places where people feel safe.

It is an important aspect of a healthy and vibrant It is an important aspect of a healthy and vibrant community.community.

Active Transportation vs. Recreational Active Transportation vs. Recreational Physical ActivityPhysical Activity

Recreational physical activity is Recreational physical activity is defined as exercise, sports, defined as exercise, sports, recreation or hobbies occurring recreation or hobbies occurring during leisure time.during leisure time.

Physical activity for utilitarian Physical activity for utilitarian reasons (often referred to as reasons (often referred to as active transportation) active transportation)

is non-motorized, human-powered modes of transportation is non-motorized, human-powered modes of transportation such as walking, cycling and wheeling to and from places such as walking, cycling and wheeling to and from places such as work, school, shopping, carrying out such as work, school, shopping, carrying out errands errands for visiting friends. Essentially, it is building physical activity for visiting friends. Essentially, it is building physical activity opportunities into everyday life.opportunities into everyday life.

Different Built Environments Different Built Environments

Recreational physical activity requires e.g. baseball Recreational physical activity requires e.g. baseball diamonds, tennis courts, arenas, soccer fields, diamonds, tennis courts, arenas, soccer fields, recreation centres etc.recreation centres etc.

Utilitarian physical activity requires e.g. Utilitarian physical activity requires e.g. environments with connecting sidewalks, bicycle environments with connecting sidewalks, bicycle lanes, pathways etc. along with amenities within lanes, pathways etc. along with amenities within reasonable distances.reasonable distances.

What can support both recreational and What can support both recreational and utilitarian physical activity? utilitarian physical activity?

Simcoe Muskoka walkON SurveySimcoe Muskoka walkON Survey

A walkON survey was conducted in order to A walkON survey was conducted in order to understand the current levels of understand the current levels of awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Simcoe Muskoka residents practices of Simcoe Muskoka residents regarding walkable communities.regarding walkable communities.

walkON surveywalkON survey

Questions were asked about physical Questions were asked about physical activity levels in general as well as for activity levels in general as well as for both recreational and utilitarian purposes both recreational and utilitarian purposes

e.g. “In a typical week in the past 3 month, e.g. “In a typical week in the past 3 month, how many hours did you usually spend how many hours did you usually spend walking to work or to school or while doing walking to work or to school or while doing errands?’errands?’

Pertinent Survey FindingsPertinent Survey Findings

A majority of survey respondents felt that their A majority of survey respondents felt that their ability to be physically active was affected by ability to be physically active was affected by their neighbourhood.their neighbourhood.

They highest percentages went to:They highest percentages went to:

having roads, sidewalks, and pathways that were having roads, sidewalks, and pathways that were in good condition, that were connected to each in good condition, that were connected to each other, and that were well-lit at night.other, and that were well-lit at night.

as well as having parks within a 5-10 minute walk as well as having parks within a 5-10 minute walk from their neighbourhood.from their neighbourhood.

Pertinent Survey FindingsPertinent Survey Findings

Survey participants were asked the question, “Do you have Survey participants were asked the question, “Do you have trails or pathways within a 5-10 minute walking or cycling trails or pathways within a 5-10 minute walking or cycling distance of your home?”distance of your home?”

For those who answered “no”, a second question was asked For those who answered “no”, a second question was asked about the degree to which they would support “adding about the degree to which they would support “adding trails or pathways to their neighbourhood or community”trails or pathways to their neighbourhood or community”

Over one third (35%) of respondents do not have trails or Over one third (35%) of respondents do not have trails or pathways with 5-10 minutes walking or cycling distance for pathways with 5-10 minutes walking or cycling distance for their home. Almost three quarters of these (75%) would their home. Almost three quarters of these (75%) would support adding trails or pathways to their neighbourhood or support adding trails or pathways to their neighbourhood or community.community.

Over two-thirds (68%) of respondents found that having Over two-thirds (68%) of respondents found that having trails or pathways within a 5-10 minute walking or cycling trails or pathways within a 5-10 minute walking or cycling could affect their ability to be physically active.could affect their ability to be physically active.

Pertinent Survey FindingsPertinent Survey Findings Survey participants were also asked whether they Survey participants were also asked whether they

had ever read about or heard the term “walkable had ever read about or heard the term “walkable community” and 69% of the respondents had not community” and 69% of the respondents had not heard or read it.heard or read it.

Having heard the term “walkable community” Having heard the term “walkable community” was not a factor in being physically active in a was not a factor in being physically active in a typical week but it could influence the number of typical week but it could influence the number of days of physical activity. This was statistically days of physical activity. This was statistically significant and highlights the importance of significant and highlights the importance of awareness-raising and knowledge building awareness-raising and knowledge building initiatives.initiatives.

Relevant Survey RecommendationsRelevant Survey Recommendations

Partner with other agencies to add and build upon the findings Partner with other agencies to add and build upon the findings of the surveyof the survey

Conduct social marketing campaigns that highlight the Conduct social marketing campaigns that highlight the concept of walkable communities, introducing the concept concept of walkable communities, introducing the concept of walking or cycling as the principle transportation mode of walking or cycling as the principle transportation mode for common trips to locations that are taken on an almost for common trips to locations that are taken on an almost daily basis.daily basis.

There needs to be a shift from personal or individual action There needs to be a shift from personal or individual action towards community or group action on behalf of improving towards community or group action on behalf of improving the walkability of the neighbourhood.the walkability of the neighbourhood.

Promote walkability surveys with community partners to Promote walkability surveys with community partners to facilitate the evaluation of people’s own neighbourhoods, facilitate the evaluation of people’s own neighbourhoods, and to identify the existence or lack of supportive and to identify the existence or lack of supportive infrastructure and nearby services.infrastructure and nearby services.

Communications ToolsCommunications Tools

Include media relations, print materials, Include media relations, print materials, audio-visual presentations, advertising, audio-visual presentations, advertising, special events, internal communication, special events, internal communication, speeches, e-communications etc.speeches, e-communications etc.

What communication strategies to What communication strategies to increase awareness in the community do increase awareness in the community do you or your organizations use?you or your organizations use?

Communication EffectivenessCommunication Effectiveness

Communication and mass media campaigns have Communication and mass media campaigns have an important role to play in influencing an important role to play in influencing community consciousness, awareness, knowledge community consciousness, awareness, knowledge and behaviour.and behaviour.

Use special events to build awareness and Use special events to build awareness and enthusiasm. Special events encourage people to enthusiasm. Special events encourage people to try a new way of getting around, even for just one try a new way of getting around, even for just one day e.g. commuter challenge, International car-day e.g. commuter challenge, International car-free Day, International Walk to School Month, free Day, International Walk to School Month, Bike to Work Week and other events tailored to fit Bike to Work Week and other events tailored to fit local circumstances.local circumstances.

Recognize and reward local successes.Recognize and reward local successes.

Marketing the Message: ConsiderationsMarketing the Message: Considerations

Consider all population groupsConsider all population groups

Understand the target populations you wish to reach Understand the target populations you wish to reach

Explain the link between health, active transportation and the Explain the link between health, active transportation and the environment environment

It is not about restricting the use of motorized vehicles but about It is not about restricting the use of motorized vehicles but about enhancing healthy travel choices and opportunitiesenhancing healthy travel choices and opportunities

Transform an automobile reliant communityTransform an automobile reliant community

Identify links and extensions of existing bikeways, sidewalks and Identify links and extensions of existing bikeways, sidewalks and trailstrails

Focus on a variety of settings including schools, workplaces, Focus on a variety of settings including schools, workplaces, neighbourhoods and facilitiesneighbourhoods and facilities

Additional ConsiderationsAdditional Considerations Private businesses can provide funds, equipment Private businesses can provide funds, equipment

and/or expertise for special events, building and/or expertise for special events, building projects, facility and trail construction.projects, facility and trail construction.

Many provincial grant programs exist. Many provincial grant programs exist.

Business leaders can serve as personal Business leaders can serve as personal ambassadors for active living.ambassadors for active living.

Mass media are important partners for creating Mass media are important partners for creating awareness and disseminating physical activity awareness and disseminating physical activity messages, campaigns and events.messages, campaigns and events.

Community Level Strategies to Build Community Level Strategies to Build AwarenessAwareness

Internal communications among peers/colleaguesInternal communications among peers/colleagues

Hosting public information sessions and Hosting public information sessions and workshopsworkshops

Building support for public policy related to health Building support for public policy related to health and the built environmentand the built environment

Organizing local pedestrian advocacy groupsOrganizing local pedestrian advocacy groups

Influencing planning policyInfluencing planning policy

Working with the mediaWorking with the media

What to Take AwayWhat to Take Away Know that it takes time to influence behaviour Know that it takes time to influence behaviour but every effort moves people along stages but every effort moves people along stages of change of change

It’s a win-win opportunity if we work together to It’s a win-win opportunity if we work together to raise awareness about active transportation and walkable raise awareness about active transportation and walkable

communitiescommunities

Be awareBe aware of the ways in which you can support active living of the ways in which you can support active living

Make it easyMake it easy for residents to make healthy choices for residents to make healthy choices

Be InvolvedBe Involved in raising awareness about active transportation in raising awareness about active transportation

Speak outSpeak out for changes in the community that support for changes in the community that support healthy livinghealthy living

Resources and Key Messages Found at:Resources and Key Messages Found at:

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit – Call The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit – Call Health ConnectionHealth Connection or visit or visit www.simcoemuskokahealth.orgwww.simcoemuskokahealth.org

walkON Survey walkON Survey http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Libraries/HU_Library/walkONFinalReport090827.sflb.http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Libraries/HU_Library/walkONFinalReport090827.sflb.ashxashx

Canadian Fitness & Lifestyle Research Institute Canadian Fitness & Lifestyle Research Institute http://www.cflri.ca/eng/active_transportation/index.phphttp://www.cflri.ca/eng/active_transportation/index.php

Transport Canada – Travel Options in Small & Rural CommunitiesTransport Canada – Travel Options in Small & Rural Communitieshttp://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/programs/environment-urban-guidelines-practitioners-improvingtravelhttp://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/programs/environment-urban-guidelines-practitioners-improvingtravelsrcomms2009-menu-1656.htmsrcomms2009-menu-1656.htm

Green Communities Canada – Active & Safe Routes SchoolGreen Communities Canada – Active & Safe Routes Schoolhttp://greencommunitiescanada.org/pages/SustainableTransportation.phphttp://greencommunitiescanada.org/pages/SustainableTransportation.php

Walk & Bike for Life Walk & Bike for Life http://www.8-80cities.org/http://www.8-80cities.org/

walkON http://www.walkon.ca/welcomewalkON http://www.walkon.ca/welcome

iCANwalk http://icanwalk.ca/iCANwalk http://icanwalk.ca/

Physical Activity Guides/Recommendations for Various Age Groups Physical Activity Guides/Recommendations for Various Age Groups http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pag-gap/index-eng.phphttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pag-gap/index-eng.php

Green Municipal FundGreen Municipal Fundhttp://www.sustainablecommunities.fcm.ca/GMF/http://www.sustainablecommunities.fcm.ca/GMF/