Let's Seize this Game Changing Moment for Healthier People and Planet

Today, June 15, 2021 marks an important moment for our province. We are “re-opening”. Many of us have yearned to hug our loved ones, socialize, travel, be at the office, and much more. Since March 2020, untold suffering has plagued many of us, as we have witnessed death, experienced mental health crises, violence, poverty, and other difficulties. 

I hope that all of us have a chance to deeply reflect on this moment. What would we like to keep from the pre-pandemic times and what would we like to change? From a public health perspective, poor income distribution and steep social inequities, create poor population health outcomes-- falling along the lines of money and power so that the rich and powerful enjoy the fruits of better mental and physical health status.

 As a public health professional, I envision a world in which every one of us experiences vibrant mental and physical health. This pandemic has shown us that many changes are possible. We thought it would never be possible to stop airplane travel--yet we did. We thought it was near impossible to do our work outside of the office, and yet we did. 

Let’s not waste this opportunity to be creative about our health future! Let’s bring people from all sectors of our society together to create a plan for a healthier province that includes environmental, social, economic, and health benefits for all. From this plan let’s create a healthier world for people and the environment.