You help people who just come here and would like to start new and better life in Canada – get a good job, education, and also contribute back to Canadian society.
Many of us have heard about the alarming trends when it comes to children’s health. According to a recent survey, only 9% of boys and 4% of girls are meeting the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.**
It is also no surprise that people living in poverty are at greater risk when it comes to their health. In fact, as the gap between high and low income Canadians grows, so does the ‘health gap’ – the connection between low income and poor health is well proven.**
The same is true for many new Canadians, who are generally in good health when they arrive in Canada. But over time, their health deteriorates due to a combination of stress, changes in diet, and lack of activity, until their health is worse than the overall health of non-immigrants. Additionally, more than a third of food bank users are newcomers to Canada.
At NYCH, we believe healthy people build healthy communities that grow and thrive. Everyone deserves to enjoy being active, eat nutritional food, enjoy loving, respectful relationships, and have access to the health care resources they need. Our programs introduce nutritional advice, cooking tips and gentle exercise, in addition to helping participants build friendships and connections.
Another way to improve health is to ensure that people feel comfortable exploring the activities and resources in their communities. Toronto is a big city with a lot to offer – this is exciting, but can also be confusing. We provide information on local activities they might not know about and ways to be active that are free and accessible. This connects people to their city and helps them to learn about opportunities that may be new for their families.
**Toronto’s Vital Signs® 2011 Report
