Celebrating Municipal Awareness Day

May 19 is Municipal Awareness Day.  Throughout our discussions with people in the region, we have heard about the importance of municipal infrastructure.  For example, some communities in this area have been on boil water advisories for quite some time.  This is not only annoying to people but they are also concerned about using the water for cooking and cleaning purposes.  In other communities, water quality is quite high.  Recreation is another aspect that comes out when discussing community health and well-being.  Some communities have infrastructure such as parks and trails that can help to keep people healthy while other communities do not.  On this Municipal Awareness Day, think about the services offered by your community.  What's working well and what needs to be improved?

In the Bonavista Area

Yesterday's focus groups in Bonavista and Port Union went well.  We had sessions with health providers, the Bonavista Area Primary Health Care Advisory Committee and community partners. 

During the community partners session, in particular, I was struck by how much people appreciated the opportunity to have a say into the health needs of their communities and how much they value the importance of working together to improve the health of communities.  It was a very snowy night and it was great to see that people made the effort to have their say and to participate in the process.

On the Road...To Bonavista

Off to Bonavista for three focus group sessions today. 

Bonavista has a tremendous history and it's one that they have managed to protect and it's also one that seems to be paying major dividends.  Bonavista is probably one of the most visited towns in the province.  Starting with its discovery by John Cabot in 1497, Bonavista's close access to the rich fishing and sealing grounds to the north of the peninsula made it the home to the Spanish, Portuguese, French and English during the 1500s. In the most recent past, with the challenges in the fishery, the town has suffered from declining population and high unemployment rates.  Many people see the tourism sector as a way to help address this situation.

Today, we'll learn what some people think of the health of their communities.

1000 Cities; 1000 Lives

Yesterday was World Health Day as proclaimed by the World Health Organization (WHO) with celebrations going on for the whole week.  This year's theme focuses on health and urbanization.  By 2030, six out of every 10 people will be city dwellers, rising to seven out of every 10 people by 2050.

As part of the theme, cities are invited to open a portion of their streets to people for a physical or mental health activity and close them to motor vehicles.  It could be an opportunity for  physical exercise, meeting family, friends and community, health checks, eating healthy local food or visiting local attractions.

The World Health Day has a goal of 1000 Cities: 1000 Lives:   get 1000 cities to sign up for the challenge and identify 1000 individuals who are champions of health in your community.   Who are the health champions in your community?  Could your community participate in an initiative like this?

You Don't Need A Title to be a Leader

Mark Sanborn has written a book entitled You Don't Need A Title to Be a Leader.  Sanborn says leadership is shown through our everyday actions and the way we influence the lives of those around us.

Sanborn argues that leaders:

- act with purpose rather than getting bogged down by mindless activity
- Care about and listen to others

- Look for ways to encourage the contributions and development of others rather than focusing solely on personal achievements

- Create a legacy of accomplishment and contribution in everything they do

Sanborn states that influence and inspiration come from the person, not the position.  Are you a leader?  Who are the leaders in your community?

Community Spotlight: Port Blandford

Port Blandford is a beautiful little community next to Terra Nova National Park.   It has its history in the railway.  The town has a population of 535 (2006 Census) down from 580 (a decline of 7.8%).  The 2006 income for every man, woman, and child (personal income per capita) in Port Blandford was $22,000. For the province, personal income per capita was $22,900. After tax personal income per capita, adjusted for inflation, was $14,700 for Port Blandford in 2006. For the province it was $14,900 (Statistical information taken from Community Accounts).

Census 2006 reported 44.4% of people 18 to 64 years of age in Port Blandford do not have a high school diploma compared to 25.1% of people in the entire province.



Many people in the province are familiar with the Town of Port Blandford thanks to the Twin Rivers Golf Course and its proximity to the National Park. 

Determinants of Health Close to Home

In the past few weeks, lunch hour at at least one Eastern Health office in Clarenville sees a number of employees grab their sneakers and head to the Events Centre for a few laps around the track. 

Not only is this great exercise, it also fosters social supports (they have great chats as they go around) and excerise is a great personal health practice as a way of coping with stress. 

The Heart of the Community in Come-By-Chance

To officially launch our needs assessment, Eastern Health recently held meetings in three areas in the region.  At one of these meetings, the Mayor of Come-By-Chance, Joan Cleary, took the opportunity to show us around the Town Hall and talk about some of the innovative things happening in her area. 

The upstairs part of the Town Hall includes a post office, the offices and council chambers associated with the Town of Come-By-Chance, Eastern Health's community health clinic and a General Practicioner's office (Dr. Pete Cleary). 

Downstairs, the Family Resource Centre has an area for their use.  There's a recreation centre (pictured above) which includes two big screen TVs (so there's no arguments over watching TV versus playing games!) Snacks and drinks are available for purchase.  The area also includes pool tables and they host various events.

And finally, there's a gym for use by people in the community.  Those who have signed up to participate get a key so that they can access the gym facility at any time.

This Town Hall is truly the centre of the community!  In one building, there's a focus on a lot of determinants of health:  health services, seniors/youth/teens, social support networks, healthy child development and social environment.  In the future, we will have a posting about some of the great stuff that this town offers its citizens.

Bringing the Determinants of Health to Life

So where do we see the determinants of health in action? 

Last night, on the local news, there was a segment about the central Newfoundland town of South Brook.  Their claim to fame is the commitment they have to losing weight (over 700 pounds lost by townspeople to date).  They also learn about healthy eating, have set up a gym in the firehall and tacked up their swimsuits on the wall for motivation.  Participants who were interviewed spoke about feeling empowered and how they help to motivate each other. 

Here we have a number of determinants of health at work. The involvement of many people in the town means that there is a strong Social Support Network in place.  People encourage each other to get out and walk or go to the gym.  The Social Environment is at play because the whole community has come together to support this initiative.  In fact, the gym in the firehall is made up of exercise equipment donated from people in the town.   Participants decided to take part in this initiative and consequently, through their own  Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills are having an impact on their health.  You could also say that Healthy Child Development is at work; people probably have more energy and may be in a better mood and they are serving as great role models for their children.

Community Spotlight: Chance Cove

Chance Cove is a beautiful little community with a population of 325 (2006 Census) with strong historical ties to the fishery.  The 2001 Census has the population of Chance Cove at 335, a decline of 3%. The unemployment rate for May 2006 for people aged 15 and older in Chance Cove was 13.3% while the provincial unemployment rate for that same time period was 18.6%. 

One of the most positive indicators for Chance Cove has to do with education of its residents; 87.2% of resident have a high school diploma, a certificate or degree.  Census 2006 reported 12.8% of people 18 to 64 years of age in Chance Cove do not have a high school diploma compared to 25.1% of people in the entire province. 

Chance Cove is home to a beautiful hiking trail along the shoreline and offers spectacular views.  Pictured at left is a summer view from the trail at Green Head.  Pictured above is Chance Cove's Municipal Building (with post office).