About the Project:

This project examined integration of health and equity into local planning processes in Regina. A growing body of evidence has shown that the way cities are designed—through housing, transportation, land use, and access to services—has a significant impact on both physical and mental health, and health equity. However, despite this evidence, health considerations have not always been systematically integrated into urban planning policies and practices.

This study used qualitative methods, including interviews with urban planners and policy decision-makers, along with a review of municipal policies and programs, to better understand how health and equity are considered in planning processes. The research explored how planners perceived the relationship between health, equity, and urban design; identified barriers to integrating health and equity into urban planning decisions; examined challenges in using health evidence in policy and decision-making; and assessed how planners evaluate the impacts of their policies on health and equity.