- About
- Research
- Publications
- Latest Updates
- FHS researchers engage Surrey residents on 15 minute neighbourhoods
- Tessa Williams on how cities can progress from equity rhetoric to action
- Aayush Sharma on building 15-minute neighbourhoods for inclusive and healthy communities
- Zarah Monfaredi on dismantling stereotypes through kitchen table talks
- Contact
Research
An equitable city is one where all residents have fair access to and participation in the life of the city. Our social identities, including gender, shape our everyday experiences in our cities. However, women, girls, and gender-diverse people are often not prioritized, represented, or engaged in city design.
Women and gender diverse people face many unique challenges in cities related to mobility, transportation, housing, childcare and safety. For example, these groups take on more of the mobility of care (travel related to household responsibilities, including escorting children or supporting elders) and are more likely to experience harassment in public spaces. City design, including land use (e.g., where services, schools, and community centres are located) and transportation (e.g., safe infrastructure for walking and cycling) can support or impede one’s experience of a city. For example, design features like lighting and social environments are especially important for women, girls, and gender-diverse people to be able to access transportation and public amenities.
REACH-Cities (REsearch and ACtion for Healthy Cities) is a 6-year research program supported through Dr. Meghan Winters’ Canadian Institutes of Health Research Applied Public Health Chair, Sex and Gender in Healthy Cities. The REACH-Cities program is responsive to the needs of partners, to address urgent questions and timely opportunities. Ultimately, the work aims to identify and implement practical ways to incrementally embed equity considerations into city planning processes and advance the work of healthy and equitable cities.
Core Themes
- Population Health Intervention Research: Developing case studies to create evidence on the implementation and impacts of city policies, programs, or changes to the built environment.
- Methods and Tools for Intersectoral Action: Developing and/or sharing novel approaches for integrating equity into decision-making in local, national, and international settings.
- Training for Healthy Cities: Fostering a generation of researchers and practitioners who are equipped with the expertise to catalyze action toward cities that promote health and health equity.
CURRENT PROJECTS
