City of St. John’s Receives Federal Funding for Equity-Focused Public Health Initiative

The City of St. John’s has been awarded $249,997 through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s 2025 Intersectoral Action Fund (ISAF) to advance its project, Healthy City for All: A Lens for Equity-Based Municipal Decision-Making to Improve Health Outcomes. PHAC recently announced the 2025 ISAF recipients on August 18, with St. John’s among 14 organizations nationwide to share more than $3 million in funding for collaborative projects addressing the social determinants of health.

Developed in partnership with NL Health Services, First Light, and several City Advisory Committees the project will create and implement an equity lens tool—a practical framework to help decision-makers assess how municipal policies, programs, and services affect different groups, especially those who face barriers. By combining population health data with community input, the tool will support data-informed decision-making, inclusion, and resident well-being.

A key milestone in this work was the creation of a Policy Equity Associate position to lead the project, which the City is pleased to share has now been filled.

This initiative aligns with the Healthy City Strategy, jointly led by the City and NL Health Services, which recognizes the vital role of local government in shaping the social and economic factors that influence health. It also supports the City’s strategic direction to be a Connected City, where residents feel a sense of belonging and are actively engaged in community life.