3/9/2013 6:41:53 PM

March 4, 2013
Toronto Public Health is inviting the public to nominate individuals and organizations for the 2013 Public Health Champion Awards. Toronto’s Board of Health established these awards in 2008 during its 125th anniversary.

"The Public Health Champion Awards are an opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of organizations and individuals who are working to protect and promote the health of all Torontonians," said Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health. "The awards honour those who are working to reduce health inequities so all residents can achieve better health, strengthen partnerships between health care providers, and respond to emerging health care needs."

Nominations will be adjudicated by a committee of the Board of Health based on demonstrated achievement in one or more of four areas:
• providing leadership in efforts to reduce health inequalities
• fostering partnerships and collaboration to improve the health of the population
• building community capacity through innovative health promotion strategies
• achieving impact by acting as a catalyst for change.

With a proud tradition of recognizing the innovative and inspiring achievements on a wide range of public health issues, previous Public Health Champion Awards winners includes:
• Individual category: Lillie Johnson, 2009 winner, a retired nurse and educator, founding member of Sickle Cell Association of Ontario and leading advocate on behalf of people with sickle cell anemia
• Organization category: The Stop Community Food Centre, 2010 winner, a community hub where neighbours participate in a broad range of programs that provide healthy food, as well as foster social connections, build food skills and promote civic engagement.

Nominations are open until April 30, 2013. Nomination forms, eligibility guidelines and a list of previous winners are available on the City’s web site at http://www.toronto.ca/health. This year's recipients will be honoured at an awards ceremony in June 2013.