Vancouver is Canada’s healthiest city
photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouvergo/2275022746/
More than a collection of streets and buildings, cities provide work, homes and culture for the majority of Canadians. Likewise, cities can be powerful determinants of health. The air we breathe, the number of doctors available to us—even the number of nearby parks and fitness centres—all impact our well-being. By analyzing the components of a vigorous metropolis, we also provide a blueprint for the programs we should be advocating for across the country.
To determine Canada’s healthiest cities, Best Health compared two municipalities in each province—for a total of 20—using exhaustive data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Statistics Canada, Environment Canada and others. (See our chart, criteria and expert data sources.) We went beyond the typical mortality stats to measure the comprehensiveness of smoking bans, the availability of OB/GYNs and mammography, and other issues uniquely important to Canadian women.
While these results aren’t scientific, they do provide a revealing snapshot of the relative vitality of cities across the nation. “The quality of the place where you live can influence a lot of different aspects of health,” agrees Dr. Indra Pulcins, director of health reports and analysis at CIHI in Toronto.
We learned that when it comes to healthy cities, west actually is best: Our top four are all in Canada’s two westernmost provinces. But if you live east, take heart: Canada is one of the healthiest and most livable nations in the world according to the United Nations, and it’s possible to live a healthy life in almost any community, countrywide.
#1 Vancouver
Nestled between B.C.’s Coast Mountains and the Georgia Strait, Vancouver took the top spot in five different categories, and had a top-five finish in five others. The city boasts the lowest number of overweight residents, the lowest rates of heavy drinking, the best community care, a tight smoking ban (there was a five-way tie for toughest), and is privileged to have the highest number of general and family physicians per 100,000 people.
Consistently ranked among the best of the best for its livability by organizations such as The Economist Intelligence Unit and the Mercer Quality of Life Survey, Vancouver has a lot to offer, affirms resident Alisa Smith, 36, co-author of The 100 Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating. For one, it’s not hard to find healthy food. “There are a bunch of different organic food stores and lots of farmers’ markets, and in the last two years they’ve even opened a winter market,” she says. It’s a great city for a delicious stroll, too. “I like to walk along the oceanfront to Granville Island,” says Smith. “You can buy from the fishermen at the docks. Plus, Go Fish restaurant nearby serves some of the freshest fish tacos and salmon soups that you can find.”
#2 Victoria
Perched on the southern tip of wild, wonderful Vancouver Island sits our runner-up, edged from the top spot by a mere three points. Victorians breathe some of Canada’s cleanest air, they’re the most likely to get active, and they eat nutritious fare. Not surprisingly, the Garden City has the second-lowest level of overweight people and is tied for the second longest life expectancy. Plus, the city racked up top five finishes in a number of other categories, including community care, low levels of heavy drinking and high numbers of mammogram machines.
“It’s very easy to get around in Victoria. I don’t have a car, and I’ve never felt that I needed one,” says Melanie Laverick, 32. She’s the manager of Cascadia Whole Foods Bakery and a 14-year resident. “Everything is close by and accessible by bike or public transit.” And, she adds, it’s nice not to have to worry about smog days. “We’re right on the ocean, and that sea breeze kind of sweeps everything away.” Noting that it only snows about once a year, Laverick says Victorians’ high level of activity is aided by the city’s mild, temperate climate. “There’s so much to do outside, and you can bike, jog and be active in all seasons. Even in the winter, it’s pretty damn warm compared to the rest of Canada.”
read more – http://www.besthealthmag.ca/get-healthy/article/canadas-healthiest-cities