Health & Well-Being Informed City-Building And Design Practices: A Survey Of Saskatoon City Councillors And Employees
| dc.contributor.author | Muhajarine, Nazeem | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ramamoorthy, Sahana | |
| dc.contributor.author | Janzen, Cora | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-12-17T01:57:33Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-12-17T01:57:33Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-10 | |
| dc.description | Research Brief | |
| dc.description.abstract | Saskatoon is on the cusp of a major urban transformation that will propel it to the forefront of Canadian cities as a modern, inclusive, equity-driven, and sustainable city. As of July 2021, Saskatoon had an estimated population of 282,900, with a youthful median age of 36.8 years, one of the lowest among Canadian Census Metropolitan Areas. Approximately 10.4% of the population identifies as Aboriginal, and the city experiences substantial annual population growth driven by international migration. The city’s vision encompasses a significant evolution in public spaces, mobility, land use, built form, and overall public realm enhancements. A cornerstone of Saskatoon’s strategic development is the “Growth Plan to Half a Million”, which outlines a comprehensive framework for future expansion. This plan integrates various initiatives, including the Bus Rapid Transit Plan, Corridor Planning Program, Active Transportation Plan, and related implementation activities. These initiatives aim to transform public spaces and mobility while supporting sustainable changes inland use, built form, and public realm improvements. Decisions at the municipal level have profound implications for health and well-being of people in Saskatoon. Effective neighbourhood design, which prioritizes complete, compact, and connected communities, directly benefits public health. Transportation networks that promote active travel, diverse and affordable housing options, and accessible food systems all contribute to a healthier urban environment and, in turn, people. Additionally, developmental initiatives that integrate and preserve natural green spaces play a key role in enhancing community health and well-being. Despite these opportunities to improve community health and well-being, a significant challenge persists: not all municipal professionals fully incorporate health considerations into their work. While it is recognized that the municipal government currently lacks direct funding and a specific mandate related to health, neglecting health and well-being implications indecision-making hinders the city’s potential for healthy growth and presents a substantial obstacle to achieving the health and well-being benefits of integrated approach. The insights gained from this survey of municipal councillors and employees will be instrumental in understanding and improving the integration of health and well-being evidence into city-building and design decision-making in Saskatoon. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | CIHR - Healthy Cities Research Initiative (HCRI) – Planning Grants for Implementing Healthy Urban Policy | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Muhajarine, N., Ramamoorthy, S. & Janzen, C (2024). Health & Well-Being Informed City-Building And Design Practices: A Survey Of Saskatoon City Councillors And Employees. Research Brief. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/spheru_healthy-cities-research-brief-activity-7255332691498209280-vHMb/ | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10388/16345 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of Saskatchewan - College of Medicine, SPHERU | |
| dc.subject | Saskatoon | |
| dc.subject | public property enhancements | |
| dc.subject | municipal level decisions | |
| dc.subject | public health | |
| dc.subject | integrated approach | |
| dc.title | Health & Well-Being Informed City-Building And Design Practices: A Survey Of Saskatoon City Councillors And Employees | |
| dc.type | Technical Report |