Tuesday, February 2 from 10:00–11:30am PST
Intended for community planners and decision makers, this session provides information about the value of equity in supporting healthy processes and policies, and offers guidance on the application of equity in community economic development processes. Staff from BC Healthy Communities and Simon Fraser University’s Community Economic Development team will facilitate discussions on the intersections of health, well-being and economic recovery. 

In support of the launch of our new Equity Action Guide and upcoming webinar, we've developed a visual Quickstart Guide for Local Governments. Use this printable resource as a visual reference for action areas within local government, as primer for those on your team who may be new to the concept of equity in government policy and planning, or as a quick reference summarizing the more in-depth content of the Equity Action Guide.

As human beings we tend to thrive when we are socially connected. As we grow older, social networks tend to decrease over time, potentially leading to social isolation and loneliness. In this article, we look at the issue of social connectedness through the lens of the eight domains of Age-friendly planning. Read the story.

This year's Poverty Reduction Planning & Action program grant stream is open for applications March 5, 2021. The program supports local governments in reducing poverty at the local level through assessments, plans and projects. Considering applying? Check out our article, 5 things to know about the TogetherBC Poverty Reduction Strategy Funding.

The First Nations Health Authority is providing Winter Wellness Grants to support community-led, virtual celebrations in honour of Winter Solstice. First Nations communities, schools, and health and social organizations that provide wellness services to Indigenous people in B.C. are eligible for up to $1,000 to conduct their own virtual/online celebration. Applications close February 15. Visit the FNHA's website for more information.

Looking for other sources of funding for your Healthy Communities work? Check out the Other Funding Opportunities page on our PlanH website for information on current funding opportunities in a variety of Healthy Community topic areas.

The current public health orders restricting gatherings and events require local governments to make some changes to how meetings and public hearings are currently conducted. With the public now restricted from attending all local government meetings and public hearings in person, the Province has issued a document providing guidance on local government obligations to provide opportunities for the public to comment and participate, as well as tips and recommendations for making it happen. Looking for more ideas and resources to support physically distant community engagement? We've compiled a list of resources and links on the BCHC website.

Across the province, local governments are changing how they make public policy—integrating processes and tools to examine how inequities might unintentionally result from their decisions. However, many of the strategies employed to reduce the health impacts of COVID unintentionally create disproportionate economic, cultural, and other impacts on communities already facing inequities. To help decision-makers consider these factors when creating policies and plans, Human Impact Partners has developed an Equity Lens tool for COVID decision-making. Though the tool was developed for a US context, the ideas and principles therein hold value for communities in B.C. Access the tool.