West Toronto Ontario Health Team and Humber College’s Office of Sustainability Collaborate for “Climate & Health Hackathon Event”
TORONTO, ON (Monday, Sept. 18, 2023) – The West Toronto Ontario Health Team (WTOHT) is pleased to announce its Climate & Health Hackathon event in collaboration with Humber College’s Office of Sustainability. The event, which runs from October 13 to 15 is a direct response to the recent wildfires that adversely impacted the health and well-being of many Canadians, including those living in Toronto, and in particular, the city’s most vulnerable residents. The hackathon aims to tackle the challenges posed by climate change, focusing on poor air quality, extreme heat, and extreme cold. This marks a significant leap forward in the OHT’s objective to find sustainable solutions to improve population health through active community involvement.
Participants will be tasked with developing innovative solutions to enhance the overall health and living conditions of West Toronto residents during periods of adverse climate conditions. The hackathon is open to community members, including post-secondary and secondary school students. A grand prize of $1500 will be awarded to the winner along with the opportunity to partner with a local healthcare organization to implement their idea.
“This past summer was the hottest summer on record and one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in recent years. To build climate resilience for next summer and beyond, we are excited to invest in our community to develop collaborative solutions that reflect the needs of our communities,” says Kashtin Fitzsimons, Executive Director, West Toronto Ontario Health Team. “We believe this model for community engagement can become the future for addressing critical health challenges.”
“For those who have trouble breathing during smoky air conditions, or who can’t find a place to cool down, or warm up – climate change becomes an emergency. Through the Climate & Health Hackathon, we are bringing together community members to deeply understand and address their needs to build solutions that address the negative health effects of extreme climate conditions,” said Marcia Diakun, Partners for Better Care Council Co-Chair, West Toronto Ontario Health Team.
Event Details
The Hackathon event will begin on Friday, October 13 with a kick-off presentation by Dr. Imara Rolston, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, followed by a performing arts segment by West Neighbourhood House’s Health Action Theatre by Seniors (HATS). Both presentations will provide participants with context on how climate change impacts health, urban communities and vulnerable populations such as seniors. Participants will have the opportunity to form teams and select their topics of interest.
Teams will commence work on their ideas in-person on Saturday, October 14. Throughout the day, they will receive mentorship from local community health centres, experts and other representatives to help align their ideas with the challenges posed by the event. Teams will present their innovative solutions to a panel of judges on Sunday, October 15.
The event will take place at Humber College's Lakeshore Campus, providing an ideal setting for collaboration and innovation. While the event is open to all, Humber College students will have the added incentive of earning a Co-Curricular Record Credit for their participation.
Location: Humber College Lakeshore Campus, G Commons 3252 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke
Times:
o Friday: 6 to 9 p.m.
o Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
o Sunday 12 to 5 p.m.
About Humber College’s Office of Sustainability
Humber College is a public College of Applied Arts and Technology located in Toronto, Ontario emphasizing hands-on, career-focused learning. Humber offers a wide range of credentials including bachelor's degrees, diplomas, certificates and postgraduate certificates.
Humber’s Office of Sustainability provides national leadership in developing sustainable campuses, and act as a hub for campus engagement and information. The department fosters a culture of sustainability by incorporating sustainability in their standard operating practices. Through their green campus initiatives, waste reduction and recycling, education, and student and community engagement, the department collaborates with campus partners to improve the health and resilience of the natural areas surrounding the College.
About Dr. Imara Rolston
Dr. Imara Ajani Rolston is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health where his current work focuses on the intersections of racial justice, equity and climate resilience. For over 15 years, and across 13 Sub-Saharan African countries, he has worked at different levels of global, national and local AIDS response, pursuing new insights into the relationship between grassroots organizing and health promotion. Imara is currently engaged in translating learning and insights from years of AIDS intervention into the creation of new frontiers for community-led climate resilience across Toronto’s Neighborhood Improvement Areas (NIA’s).
Imara holds a B.A from the University of Toronto in Political Science and Sustainable Development and a M.A in Adult Education and Community Development from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. He earned his doctorate in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He was a LSE Centre for Human Rights Doctoral Fellow and a City of Toronto Urban Fellow. Imara is currently a CivicAction 2019 DiverseCity Fellow.
Read more about Dr. Imara Rolston here.
About West Neighbourhood House’s HATS
West Neighbourhood House is a multi-service neighbourhood centre that has been serving downtown West Toronto since 1912. They are a secular, nonprofit, registered charity that works with the community to address critical issues through personal and social change. West Neighbourhood House strives to find solutions rooted in community strengths, collaboration, local impact and equitable public policy. Among many programs offered by West Neighbourhood House, Health Action Theatre by Seniors (HATS) stands as an innovative, community-based health care program for seniors that uses a form of educational theatre to raise awareness about difficult issues facing older adults. This educational theatre is performed by volunteer seniors, and also promotes a positive problem-solving forum for both audience and participants.
About the West Toronto Ontario Health Team
Ontario Health Teams are part of a provincial government initiative dedicated to building a connected health care system. The West Toronto Ontario Health Team is a group of 35 organizations in the West Toronto area, which helps coordinate care between hospitals, primary care, home and community care services, long-term care homes, congregate settings and other services to deliver an improved and seamless healthcare experience for those receiving care in West Toronto. The West Toronto Ontario Health Team seeks to make health and social care delivery equitable through their vision of working collaboratively with patients, caregivers and the community.
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