New Western-led project probes health benefits of parks in Canada

ParkSeek project coordinators Catherine Reining and Alexander (AJ) Wray in Narrow Hills Provincial Park, Saskatchewan. (submitted photo) - A new pan-Canadian research project will explore the impact of parks, protected areas and other recreational facilities on people's health and well-being. Supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the ParkSeek project brings together a diverse group of researchers and practitioners from academia, government, community groups and industry, to gather and share information to understand how parks, protected areas and recreational facilities contribute to health behaviours and outcomes. The research team, led by Jason Gilliland , director of Western's Human Environments Analysis Lab (HEAL) , and Wilfrid Laurier University's Chris Lemieux, are quantifying the geographic accessibility to parks and protected areas across the country, investigating the quality of experiences in these spaces, and uncovering the policy barriers to equal participation in parks, protected areas and recreational opportunities. "Protecting parks in Canada is good for our environment and our overall wellbeing. This project will help us better understand barriers to ensuring equal participation in parks, protected areas, and recreational opportunities for all. Together, with Western University and Wilfrid Laurier University, we will help improve health outcomes for Canadians," said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, in a statement.