Here is an overview of the various activities we planned for the Public Health 2026 Conference in Montréal:
1. Session: Equity-Informed Responses to the Growing Public Health Threat of Wildfires and Smoke: Perspectives from the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health
Presented by: the six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health
Wednesday, March 11, from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wildfires in Canada are becoming more frequent and severe, disproportionately affecting Indigenous Peoples. While the urgent threat of increasing wildfires has received much attention, the threat of wildfire smoke to population health has been underappreciated. Recent studies suggest wildfire smoke has immediate and long-lasting public health impacts and may be the costliest climate-related impact in Canada. This session will review the latest evidence and necessary interventions and discuss the many roles of public health practitioners in preparation, response, and recovery.
2. Session: Equity in Crises: Addressing Inequities in Emergency Contexts
Presented by the NCCHPP, the NCC for Determinants of Health and the NCC for Infectious Diseases
Thursday, March 12, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Public health plays a central role in emergencies, yet fast-moving decisions can unintentionally widen inequities. This workshop supports public health professionals and decision-makers in embedding and sustaining equity across the emergency cycle by examining how crises exacerbate inequities and practicing the use of equity prompts in planning and decision-making documents.
Poster Presentation
Our colleague Martin Renauld will present a poster on the upcoming Reflection Tool to Strengthen Organizational Capacities for Healthy Public Policies. This tool (that will be published in the coming weeks) is designed for public health practitioners who want to reflect on strategies to strengthen their organizations’ capacity for healthy public policies. Through suggested questions and resources, it guides an analysis of their situation and the selection of appropriate strategies. To view the poster, click here.
Exhibitor
The NCCHPP will be an exhibitor during the conference. Stop by for a chat!
To learn more about the conference and consult the program, click here.
