
Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium: Moving Research to Action for Healthy Kids
An incredible group of speakers from across North America came to London June 2017 to share their latest work and insights related to children’s health and the built environment in 3 key areas: access to healthy food, promoting healthy physical activity including active travel and play, and healthy outdoor play and mobility. We are inviting practitioners, policymakers, health promoters and providers, community service and care providers, designers and planners, educators and all others interested in providing healthy built environments for children, to join us for this informative and collaborative workshop. Collectively we will work to move evidence from research and successful interventions into action that will provide healthier environments for children in all communities.
Purpose
The purpose of the workshop is to provide an effective forum for knowledge exchange and relationship building among leading researchers, policymakers, and practitioners concerned with children’s health and the built environment. This intimate workshop and symposium will feature presentations on the latest in research evidence around healthy children’s environments, as well as successful initiatives and interventions taking place around the world. Collectively we will discuss strategies for utilizing evidence from research and interventions to drive environmental and policy change, and to outline an action plan for next steps.
Overview of Workshop & Symposium
The last 10 years has produced the largest body of evidence to date verifying that the physical environments of children’s homes, schools, neighbourhoods and cities can profoundly impact their healthy development. It is now time to translate this research knowledge into decisive action – to guide interventions, direct new practices, and support policy changes that will provide healthier, safer and more vibrant communities for our children.
In 2010, the Human Environments Analysis Laboratory (HEAL) of Western University hosted an international workshop on Children’s Health and the Environment to solicit the latest in research efforts, and to identify gaps in knowledge and evidence. In June 2017, the HEAL will once again gather an international group of leading researchers, practitioners and policymakers in London, Ontario to examine how research evidence is underscoring successful interventions, informing best practices and providing healthier environments for children in Canada and around the world.
Each day of this 3-day workshop will focus on a key issue related to children’s healthy environments. Day 1 will explore practices and policies that improve children ‘s access to healthy food environments, including at school and in their communities. Day 2 will focus on efforts to create home, school and community environments for healthy physical activity, including active travel and active play. Day 3 will emphasize initiatives and practices creating healthy outdoor and natural environments, including strategies for improving children’s access to nature and ‘risky’ outdoor environments.
This 3-day international workshop aims to provide an engaging and effective forum for knowledge exchange and mobilization between a cross-disciplinary group of researchers, practitioners and policymakers concerned with healthy environments for children and youth. Workshop participants will hear of successful initiatives and interventions taking place around the world, and will collectively discuss strategies for utilizing evidence from research and interventions to drive environmental and policy change.
Who Attended?
The audience for this workshop included a diverse group of Canadian and international researchers, policymakers and practitioners who are concerned with providing environments supportive of the health and well-being of children and youth. The paper sessions, roundtable discussions, poster sessions, and planned networking opportunities will be of particular interest to policymakers, professionals and academics in the fields of architecture, education, epidemiology, geography, landscape architecture, planning, political science, psychology, public health, and sociology. We are planning for a diversity of participants, as one of the desired outcomes of this workshop is the initiation of new interdisciplinary research or project teams to pursue additional interventions or initiatives aimed at improving the quality of built environments for children and youth.
Our Primary Sponsor for this event was The Lawson Foundation.
Podcasts From the Event:







































January 6, 2020
Creative Collaborations in Education for Health Outcomes! Rachel Schofield Martin presents many innovative ideas for nutrition and health education being deployed and tested in District scolaire francohpone...
December 23, 2019
Dr. Mariana Brussoni from the University of British Columbia and the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit presents 'Rethinking risk: The importance of outdoor risky play for children's health'The Children’s...
December 9, 2019
Dr. Candice Nykiforuk from the University of Alberta presents at the CHEWS Public Lecture event at the London Public Library's Wolf Performance Hall.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop &...
November 25, 2019
In this video, Dr. Cathy Jordan from the University of Minnesota and the Children & Nature Network presents: Advancing the Evidence Base for the Field: Children & Nature Network's Research Activation...
November 11, 2019
In this video, Shawna Babcock from Outdoor Play Canada presents Galvanizing an outdoor play moment in Canada.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was held at Western...
October 28, 2019
In this video, Michael and Chantelle from TNC/SEAS program present on Supporting Emerging Aboriginal Stewards: Inspiring the next generation of leaders and stewards.The Children’s Health and the Environment...
October 14, 2019
In this presentation, Brenda Simon from Earth Day Canada presents: The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) pilot project: Bringing adventure play to recess and lunch hour.The Children’s Health and the Environment...
September 30, 2019
In this video, Cam Collyer and Heidi Campbell from Evergreen and Dr. Janet Loebach present: Thriving Outside: Supporting healthy outdoor play ad nature engagement through naturalized school playgrounds.The...
September 16, 2019
Pierre Harrison from Play, Learn, Think presents 'Play advocacy through provision and training'The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was held at Western University...
September 2, 2019
Yvette Scrivener and Karen Gair from Childreach present 'WILD CHILD Program: taking parents, children and programming outside!'The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS)...
August 19, 2019
Dr. Jennifer Vanos from the University of San Diego presents 'Biometric evaluation of the health impacts of children's environmental exposure'The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium...
July 22, 2019
Dr. Mariana Brussoni from the University of British Columbia and the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit presents 'Rethinking risk: The importance of outdoor risky play for children's health'The Children’s...
July 8, 2019
Dr. Dan Rainham from Dalhousie University presents 'Considering the impact of contact with nature on attention in children'The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was...
June 24, 2019
Dr. Jason Gilliland presents 'Benefits of Connecting Children with Nature: Highlights from a Systematic Review of the Evidence'The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS)...
June 10, 2019
Kate Berry from Green Communities Canada presents 'Provincial priorities for mobilizing Active School Travel'The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was held at Western...
May 27, 2019
Vicky Kyriaco from the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority presents 'Active Transportation Policies and Initiatives for Busing Consortia: Ottawa's School Active Transportation Program'The Children’s...
May 13, 2019
Emily Van Kesteren and Tara MacDaniel from the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Pam Ewart from the Elgin-St. Thomas Public Health Unit present 'School Travel Planning: Walking in Partnership for Supportive...
April 29, 2019
Laura Zeglen from Green Communities Canada presents School Travel Planning in Active Construction Zones: A Pilot Project at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS)...
April 15, 2019
Russell Brownlee from 30 Forensic Engineering presents School Site Planning and Designing for Safety at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was held at Western...
March 18, 2019
Dr. Jamie Spinney from the University of South Dakota presents Community & Behavioural Change: The Importance of Context at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium...
March 4, 2019
Dr. Linda Rothman from the Hospital for Sick Children presents The Decline in Active School Transportation: A Systematic Review of the Correlates of AST and Change over Time at CHEWS. The Children’s Health...
February 18, 2019
Dr. Jason Gilliland and Dr. Andrew Clark from Western University and the HEALab, team up with Josh Archer from the City of London to present 'How does free access to recreation opportunities impact children's...
February 4, 2019
Linnaea Jasiuk from Right to Play presents 'Improving Aboriginal Child and Youth Outcomes through the Promoting Life Skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) program' at CHEWSThe Children’s Health and the Environment...
January 21, 2019
Dr. Trish Tucker from Western University presents 'Supporting Physical Activity in Childcare Environments' at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was held at...
January 7, 2019
Loretta Ryan from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute presents 'Healthy Communities and Planning for the Public Realm' at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium...
December 24, 2018
Dr. Candice Nykiforuk from the University of Alberta presents 'Rural and Remote Community Environments & Health: A Canadian Call to Action' at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop...
December 10, 2018
Dr. Dan Rainham from Dalhousie University presents 'Advancing Intervention to Reduce Risk of Obesity in Children' at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was...
November 26, 2018
In this presentation, Dr. Mary McKenna and Suchitra Roy from the University of New Brunswick compare and highlight the variations that exist between provincial food policies across Canada.The Children’s...
November 12, 2018
Dr. Leia Minaker from the University of Waterloo presents 'Kids in cities, kids in towns. Kids in food swamps: drown, drown, drown'https://youtu.be/YtV9K_yX_PU ...
October 29, 2018
In this video, Dr. Lana Vanderlee from the University of Toronto presents 'Food environment impacts on children: International and Canadian perspectives.'The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop...
October 15, 2018
Dr. Anita Cramp from Middlesex-London Health Unit and Nadine Devin from Middlesex Country HKCC present 'The Use of Awards and Incentives to Encourage the Adoption of Supportive Environmental Practices'...
October 1, 2018
Dr. Danielle Battram from Brescia University College presents 'Nutrition Ignition! A Comprehensive School-Based Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Program for School-Aged Children and Their Families'...
September 17, 2018
Stephanie Segave presents 'Recent Interventions of the Ontario Student Nutrition Program Southwest' at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was held at Western...
September 3, 2018
Andrew Fleet from Growing Chefs! Ontario discusses filling gaps in food education from the front lines.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium (CHEWS) was held at Western University...
August 20, 2018
Dr. Jess Haines from the University of Guelph presents 'Supporting Parents of Preschoolers in Creating Healthy Home Environments' at CHEWS.The Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop & Symposium...
August 6, 2018
Dr. Rachel Engler-Stringer from the University of Saskatchewan presents 'Lessons for Children's Food Environments at Home and at School: Contexts and Interventions for Health Equity' at CHEWS.The Children’s...
July 23, 2018
Dr. Sarah Woodruff, from the University of Windsor, presents School Nutrition Programs: Lesson learned from evaluating the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program.The Children’s Health and the Environment...
July 9, 2018
In this talk from the CHEWS conference, Adriana Poulette and Kaylia Marquis discuss how the Khanawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Program is changing community.The Children’s Health and the Environment...
June 25, 2018
In this engaging presentation, titled Creative Collaborations in Education for Health Outcomes!, Rachel Schofield Martin presents many innovative ideas for nutrition and health education being deployed...
June 11, 2018
Donna Smith, RD, from the OPHA Nutrition Resource Centre, presents: The Nutrition Resource: Facilitating research into action to create healthy food environments for children and youth.The Children’s Health...