City of Toronto recognizes inaugural Canadian Public Health Week

This week, the City of Toronto will join cities and organizations across the country in recognizing the inaugural Canadian Public Health Week.

Mayor John Today has officially proclaimed Canadian Public Health Week in Toronto starting tomorrow. The proclamation supports the Canadian Public Health Association’s inaugural Canadian Public Health Week, an opportunity to recognize the many important contributions that public health makes to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of residents.

Canadian Public Health Week runs from Monday, April 4 to Friday, April 8, 2022. The CN Tower and Toronto Sign will be illuminated blue-green and blue respectively in observance of this occasion on Monday, April 4.

While clinical health services play an invaluable role focussed on individuals, public health works to improve health outcomes of the whole population through partnerships, policy, advocacy and services. Areas of focus in public health include communicable disease control, the drug strategy, sexual health, vaccine preventable diseases, dental and oral health, environmental health, food safety, child health and development, chronic disease and injury prevention, and healthy communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the City of Toronto and communities across the globe acutely aware of how critical public health is to protecting and promoting the health of all residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. In the course of its efforts against the virus and its variants, Toronto Public Health (TPH) embarked on the largest vaccination campaign in the city’s history, administering more than 6.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine – a number that continues to rise – while maintaining other critically important public health functions. In June 2021, TPH and its Team Toronto partners set a North American single-dose clinic record of more than 26,700 doses administered in a single day at Toronto Vaccine Day at Scotiabank Arena.

Throughout its history, Toronto has proven to be a leader in public health initiatives. In 1834, three out of the nine bylaws first passed by the newly incorporated Toronto City Council had to do with public health, including establishing Toronto’s first Board of Health. It is this historical commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of communities that ranks Toronto among the best cities in the world to live. By continuing on this path, TPH ensures that residents across all Toronto communities continue to thrive, remaining vibrant and healthy.

Access resources and learn more about TPH programming on the City’s Health & Wellness webpage (www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/) and find out how you can get involved with Canadian Public Health Week at www.cpha.ca/cphw.

Quotes:

“The past two years have underlined for residents of Toronto and communities worldwide the critical importance that public health agencies play in keeping people safe and healthy. It’s my honour to proclaim April 4 to 8 as Canadian Public Health Week in Toronto as we recognize and give thanks to our Toronto Public Health colleagues for their irreplaceable role in responding to COVID-19 and protecting Torontonians year-round.”
– Mayor John Tory

“Whether it’s providing school immunization programs; helping to protect people from the flu; making sure our restaurants, pools, beaches and personal service settings are safe; or most recently responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, my team at Toronto Public Health continues to step up to help keep our city and its residents safe, healthy and strong. I’m grateful to work alongside a team of such dedicated professionals that I’m proud to call my colleagues.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health

“Toronto is a leader in public health initiatives, and we have much to be proud of as we recognize the inaugural Canadian Public Health Week. The team at Toronto Public Health has worked tirelessly for more than two years in response to COVID-19, and to run the largest immunization campaign in our city’s – and our country’s – history. I know all Torontonians will join me in thanking them for all they have done, and continue to do to keep our city safe.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of Toronto’s Board of Health

Source City of Toronto