This article presents "a dynamic approach to planning, strategizing, and monitoring change processes using approaches that are asset based, framed by the Appreciative Inquiry approach [which Animators will recognize as similar to the 5Ds] to work with people and change,…

Imagine that you've been asked to do something completely new. Something beyond your experience or skills. How would you react? Would you be excited about the prospect of learning something new? Or would you feel stressed and overwhelmed? This article…

Learn how and why communicating and modeling hopefulness about the future can strengthen both positive individual and community behaviors. Read More

The Case for Healthy Places is a free report of peer-reviewed research on healthy placemaking initiatives that offers evidence-based guidance, recommendations, and case studies for health institutions, community organizations, and other partners.  Produced with generous support from Kaiser Permanente and Anne T.…

This report discusses several elements of the built environment that can impact mental health and wellbeing. The "built environment" refers to the human-made or modified physical surroundings in which we live, work, and play. Although the built environment may not…

Explore how cities and communities are taking a community-based approach to COVID recovery. Read here

We know that adult-child relationships, other early experiences, and environmental exposures influence child well-being. An increasing number of policies and programs around the world now reflect that understanding by supporting children’s early learning and nutrition to improve their readiness to…

Communities today are shaped and impacted by a myriad of complex issues – the effects of climate change, deteriorating infrastructure, an aging population, growing debt levels at the household, government and corporate levels, rising inequality, and growing rates of loneliness…

In a poll conducted in April, 54% of Canadians felt physical distancing had left them feeling lonely or isolated. With the closure of our social infrastructures, it seems there is growing evidence that our neighbourhoods plays a huge role in…

Research is clear about the need to collaborate and build partnerships to make sustainable change in our communities. However, building a successful group takes time, resources, relationships and trust. In this guide, you will find five steps, and key resources…

As cities and communities start to look at recovery, how do we learn from what has happened and move forward in a better way? Many recovery models have been created to help the economy thrive or to reduce risk management…

Learn some of the basic ways that Social Innovation operates, and what it can look like in the Canadian landscape. If you have an interest in social innovation, this article could spark some ideas, and give impetus to joining the…

This resource developed by the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health helps increase understanding of how the physical and social environments impact the mental health of individuals and populations, as well as the roots of positive mental health promotion. …

A new research study from the University of Exeter confirms that children with mental health needs require urgent support from primary school onwards to avoid exclusion, which can be both cause and effect of poor mental health. Article

New substance use stigma resources are now available on the Government of Canada website. This includes: Communicating about Substance Use in Compassionate, Safe and Non-Stigmatizing Ways A Primer to Reduce Substance Use Stigma in the Canadian Health System Infographic Reducing…

Access to health services is a major challenge in many rural communities within Canada. Rural public libraries can serve as centres for health resources. Read Article

This article written by Dr. Dan Bilsker shares findings from his review of men’s health, particularly in regards to suicide .A key factor identified is reluctance to accept therapeutic help. To this end, Dr. Bilkser recommends several self care websites:…

A six acre solar farm on the Ermineskin Cree Nation is the backdrop of five short films created by Indigenous teenagers. A key factor in the stories told is the importance of the sun in Cree traditions and practices, and…

Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMHP) is a coalition of individuals and professional representatives from agencies concerned with infants and their families. IMHP is dedicated to promoting optimal mental health outcomes for infants through developing and supporting best practices through education…

This article describes a documentary produced in Alberta that explores the culture of men repressing their feelings and the risk of closeting emotions. Alberta is home to a lot of male-dominated industries like farming, oil and gas and construction, which…

“When we feel safe at work, then we feel empowered to be creative, to take risks, to ask questions, and to share ideas. To be truly successful, we need to know that our teams have our backs and will not…

Stephanie Chamberlain and Carole A. Estabrooks at the University of Alberta have described a population that require supports in communities: persons that grow older and can no longer make health and financial decisions for themselves — but also doesn’t have…

Good design can overcome the isolating nature of urban settings See article