Many of us don’t understand how extensive the public health system is in Canada. When we think of our health, we think of attending doctor’s appointments, going to the hospital, and getting medications for our ailments. But public health happens before we even step into a doctor’s office. It is silently working behind the scenes, on our roads, our food production pathways, our water systems, and in countless other areas to ensure that our communities remain healthy and strong.
When public health is working, it’s never top of mind. We don’t think about those ‘what ifs’ — until they happen to us.
Public health is the backbone of the services we may take for granted, like safe drinking water, injury prevention, organ donor programs, and even travel safety alerts. It helps to prevent illness through health services such as immunizations, or screening for early detection of cancers, and other potentially life-threatening illnesses. Public health protects us from unseen threats like circulating diseases or outbreaks, contaminated foods, or poor air quality. It promotes better wellness for all with equity-driven initiatives that recognize how determinants of health affect us individually and collectively — like how education, age, gender, finances, geography, housing, or culture all play a role in our lives.
One of our most well-known and important principles in Canada is universal healthcare, first established by Tommy Douglas in Saskatchewan and then adopted across the country. The understanding that everyone deserves unbiased and accessible healthcare that won’t bankrupt our families is at the core of who we are, and something we are very proud of as Canadians.
This is why, in particular with recent world events, public health matters now more than ever. We all want to know that the health programs, services, and innovative research that Canada is known for will continue to be part of our shared experience.
As the only charitable organization in the province actively fundraising for public health, we rely on our donors to help fund essential programs like:
- Accessible care for people with infectious or chronic disease.
- Wastewater surveillance as a tool to combat the toxic drug poisoning crisis.
- Indigenous-driven health and wellness initiatives.
- Ground-breaking work in youth mental health.
- Research initiatives aimed at finding solutions to the climate crisis.
And we are putting public health into action by participating in the Vancouver Half Marathon! This coming June 22 we will walk, run, and have fun, to raise money and promote the importance of public health. You can support us by making a donation, or joining in on race day! Remember, your donation helps fund the important programs we’ve mentioned, as well as many others that are designed to create a healthier and more equitable future for everyone in BC and beyond.
