Stewardship Forum
The Power of Green: Health, Wellness & Nature
A ‘Friends of the Credit’ Stewardship Forum and Volunteer Appreciation Event
Keynote Address
Video Clip from Keynote Address
Dr. David Mowat,
Medical Officer of Health, Peel Public Health
The relationship between nature and human health is complex. Degradation of the natural environment, through land use practices, climate change, pollution or other means will impact public health. Actions to protect, restore and enhance the natural environment can contribute to human health and well-being.
Increasing rates of chronic illness such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer are associated with our land use patterns. Climate change is predicted to have wide-ranging effects on public health. Dr. Mowat will review why land use is a public health issue, the role the natural environment has in public health, the importance of protecting the natural environment and the role of public health professionals in this issue.
About Dr. David Mowat
Dr. David Mowat is the Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel. In this role, he is responsible for protecting and promoting the health of the 1.3 million residents of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga.
During his career, Dr. Mowat has held positions in public health at local, provincial and national levels. Prior to joining The Region of Peel in 2007, Dr. Mowat was Deputy Chief Public Health Officer at the Public Health Agency of Canada, where he had responsibilities for strengthening public health practice, including knowledge translation and the development of the public health workforce. In this role he has participated in many federal/provincial/territorial committees and national initiatives; including, the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health, Field Epidemiology Program, Public Health Chairs, MPH Programs and schools of public health and the Naylor Report.
Previous appointments include Consultant in Maternal and Child Health in the Ministry of Health of Newfoundland, Medical Officer of Health for Kingston and area, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, and senior positions at Health Canada.
Dr. Mowat received his medical training at the University of Edinburgh, and a master’s degree in public health from the University of California at Berkeley. He is also a fellow in public health and preventive medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and a Fellow (by distinction) of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal Colleges of Medicine (UK). He is an adjunct faculty member at McMaster, Queen’s and the University of Toronto.
Presentations Available for Download
The Value of Nature to Human Well-being
Tatiana Koveshnikova, Credit Valley Conservation
A Healthy Dose of Green: A Prescription for a Healthy Population
Azadeh Chobak, Trees Ontario
Conservation Youth Corps in Review
Shawn Verge, Credit Valley Conservation
Let your Green Show
Andrea McLeod, City of Mississauga & Liliana da Silva, Region of Peel
Mainstreaming Biodiversity: Restoration Ecology for Human Health Care
Dianne Watkins, P.O.W.E.R. Halton
Working Together: Health & Forestry
Barb Davies, York Region
How is Credit Valley ConservationPreparing for Climate Change
Amanjot Singh, Credit Valley Conservation
Landscape Character, Species and Benefits to People
Lionel Normand, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
The Social and Therapeutic Benefits of Forests
Jim McHardy, Kinark Child and Family Services
Sprouting Sustainable Living
Carolyn Bailey and Rahul Mehta, EcoSource and Peel Environmental Youth Alliance
Event Sponsors:
