Answer:
Promoting healthy communities is at the heart of
what local government is about. It means creating
places and spaces that cultivate belonging, inclusion,
connectedness and engagement. It means creating
a well-planned built environment that supports
healthy behaviours and choices. It means a vibrant
social environment in which people can live, work,
learn and play. In short, it means striving to create
the conditions in which all citizens, no matter where
they are in life, can thrive, now and in the future.
While there are many influences on our lives today,
it is at the local level where policies and plans
are made and can directly affect the health and
well-being of our citizens. Local governments have
a unique role to shape the local conditions that
have an impact on the health of individuals and
communities. My hope is that together we can build
healthy communities across British Columbia.
