File photo of a Town of Coaldale sign (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Coaldale joins AHS on Healthy Communities by Design pilot

Feb 17, 2021 | 11:30 AM

COALDALE, AB – The Town of Coaldale is joining in on a pilot program with Alberta Health Services (AHS).

‘Healthy Communities by Design’ offers public health information and guidance to municipalities in the province. That can then be used to help shape communities that better support healthy lifestyles.

“By partnering with AHS in this Healthy Communities initiative, the town shows a desire to look inward and make improvements where they are needed to improve the overall health of the population,” said Dr. Vivien Suttorp, the Medical Officer of Health in the AHS South Zone.

“Health outcomes such a life expectancy, cancer rates and infant mortality rates often differ between geographies and also within communities. One of the best ways to decrease these differences is, first of all, to understand a community and what’s important to the people who live there: the culture, access to recreation and healthy food choices, education and more.”

Through the program, the Town of Coaldale will be able to utilize the expertise of AHS health professionals. That includes dietitians, health promotion facilitators, public health inspectors and medical officers of health.

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They will be able to assist with drafting or improving existing portfolios related to tobacco/alcohol reduction, healthy eating, sun safety, walkability and physical activity.

The Town of Coaldale will not have to pay for any of the services brought forward as part of the pilot program, and officials do not need to implement any of the suggestions given during the process.

“People and their communities are closely linked. Creating healthy communities can help shape the future of wellness in our province and empower all Albertans to live healthier lifestyles,” stated Grant Hunter, MLA for Taber-Warner.

“I look forward to working with our community partners to improve the wellness of Coaldale residents, their families and our community as a whole.”

The ‘Healthy Communities by Design’ program first began in 2016. Since that time, about 100 communities in Alberta have participated. AHS used the community of Pincher Creek as an example.

After participating in the program, the Pincher Creek Wellness Committee decided that UV exposure posed a health hazard that could be mitigated.

To address that issues, the committee developed a program that has enabled community groups to rent shade tents for their events. Sunscreen dispensers were later set up at key community gathering places, like the town’s spray park and rodeo grounds.

Coaldale’s Director of Planning and Community Development, Spencer Croil, hopes the initiative will highlight recent work done by town staff, such as expanding pathway networks and the town’s focus on better recreational opportunities such as incoming the multi-use rec centre.

“It will also highlight areas where we can continue to improve,” Croil told Lethbridge News Now.

He’s not sure exactly what that will mean, as the town’s participation in the program is in the early stages.

“It could be better access to healthier food choices or a slightly different type of neighborhood layout or it could be as simple as creating areas for shade as was the case in Pincher Creek,” he commented.

“Only time will tell and we’re certainly excited to embark on the investigation with the community to see what this does mean for Coaldale.”

Croil is anticipating a public consultation process to take place some time later in the spring.