WDGPH developing program, partnering with municipalities to help build healthy communities

GUELPH – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) wants to help municipalities plan communities that can contribute to healthy living.

To that end, it has developed a built environment program, is forming partnerships with its member municipalities and is commenting on planning proposals. Built environment includes the planning and design of homes, schools, workplaces, greenspaces and recreation areas. 

It also includes the planning and design of neighbourhoods and transportation systems – all with an eye to creating conditions that contribute to health and avoid conditions that promote disease.

“The goal is to support in creating compete communities with amenities close to home, a range of housing types, transportation and jobs,” health promotion specialist Alexandra Fournier told the board of health on March 4.

She added these qualities support positive health outcomes.

Fournier said the team has been working with municipalities to help them develop land use planning policies that can require these kinds of features.

Public health staff also attend public meetings to hear concerns raised by citizens and see the planning applications as presented.

In 2024, 14 municipalities requested comment from public health and that doubled in 2025, Fournier said.

Public health comments covered things like including sheltered and secure bike parking, outdoor seating in parks and public spaces to accommodate a variety of ages and abilities, preserving and expanding tree canopies along sidewalks and trails and including community gardens in parks or developments to support food security.

In her report, Fournier notes some of the planning proposals on which public health has given its opinion:

– a backyard chicken bylaw in Mono;

– downtown streetscape plans for Erin, Orangeville, Guelph and Puslinch;

– green development standards for Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph;

– National Building Code of Canada;

– transportation master plans for Centre Wellington, Erin and Orangeville;

– subdivision applications in Guelph, Melancthon and Orangeville; and

– zoning bylaws in Guelph.

Board member Campbell Cork, who is also a Wellington County councillor, observed that often municipalities will take cash in lieu of parkland because they are so cash-strapped.

He was concerned that would leave developments without parks or green space.

“We always look for dedicated greenspace or at least access to it,” Fournier responded.

“The reality is there are a multitude of factors that go into these decisions and each municipality has its own process.”

Fournier said WDGPH is doing more research on healthy built environments and is also helping municipal planners develop guidelines and liaising with other health units in the province on the issue.

WDGPH “will continue to support local municipal partners and planning departments to design communities that are inclusive, age-friendly and promote positive public health outcomes,” she wrote in her report. 

“This will be achieved by continuing to provide evidence-informed recommendations on municipal land use planning policies and projects for which several opportunities are already underway in 2026.”

The board received the report for information.