The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) invites the public to celebrate
100 years of public health achievements in Canada

The current Minister of Health and three former Health Ministers will address the CPHA Centenary Conference June 13th - 15th.

TORONTO, June 10 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) opens its doors this Sunday June, 13, 2010 to the public, introducing a walking tour of the 12 great achievements of public health in Canada. The 15,000 square foot CPHA Centenary EXPO titled This is Public Health (The EXPO) features a dynamic display of visuals that highlights the importance of public health and its fundamental impact on the health of Canadians over the last 100 years. The EXPO coincides with the unveiling of an interactive book titled This is Public Health: A Canadian History.

To mark the grand opening, three former Health Ministers, Monique Bégin, Jake Epp and Marc Lalonde, along with former Premier Roy Romanow and Aboriginal leader Madeleine Dion Stout, will speak to Canada's public health history, current affairs and what's next. The Minister of Health, The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, P.C., M.P., will speak at the Centenary Gala on Tuesday, June 15.

"Public health is something people don't think about, but it affects our lives in every way. From family planning, to healthier mothers and babies, control of infectious diseases and the use of seat belts, public health saves lives and helps us live longer," says Lynn McIntyre, member, CPHA Board of Directors. "The EXPO will feature the 12 great achievements of public health and showcase how far Canada has evolved over the past 100 years. We are very proud to highlight these achievements and juxtapose the 'then, now and what's next' for public health in Canada."

The event pays tribute to the pioneers who helped "Fight the Good Fight" to champion public health issues for all of us. Since the early 1900s, the average lifespan of Canadians has increased by more than 30 years, and 25 of those years are attributable to advances in public health. The breadth of public health is evident by the 12 great public health achievements that are being celebrated through CPHA's centenary.

"CPHA has worked hard for 100 years, advocating for Canadians' health, influencing social values, representing the public's best interests, and providing leadership for global health," says Dr. Cordell Neudorf, Chair, CPHA Board of Directors. "The Canadian Public Health Association was there each step of the way to fight the good fight and improve the lives of Canadians one step at a time."

The CPHA Centenary EXPO: This is Public Health (A celebration of public health's 12 great achievements) opens to the public on Sunday, June 13, 2010 and runs through to Tuesday, June 15, 2010 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day). The event is held at the Sheraton Centre (Lower Concourse), 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario.

    
    -  The Opening Ceremonies of the CPHA Centenary Conference take place on
       Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 7 p.m. and will feature a panel discussion
       titled Lessons from the Past Applied to the Future presented by three
       former Ministers of Health, Monique Bégin, Jake Epp and Marc Lalonde,
       former premier of Saskatchewan Roy Romanow, and the recipient of the
       2010 National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Health, Madeleine Dion
       Stout. The interactive book titled This is Public Health: A Canadian
       History will be launched at this event.

    -  Media event, Monday June 14, 2010 starting at 8:30 am in the
       Conference Room A, Mezzanine Level, Sheraton Centre Toronto

       -  9:00 - 10:00 Dr. David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer,
          Public Health Agency of Canada will speak on the 12 Great
          Achievements of public health including Q & A with audience and
          media
       -  10:00 - 10:30 Interview opportunities with expert spokespersons on
          the 12 Great Achievements, CPHA leaders, and the former Minister of
          Health Monique Bégin

    -  The current Minister of Health, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, P.C.,
       M.P., will speak at the Centenary Gala on Tuesday, June 15
       at 7:00 p.m.
    

For more information about CPHA 100: Celebrating a Century of Public Health Leadership and to review the 12 great achievements of public health visit cpha100.ca.

About The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)

The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) is a national, independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association representing public health in Canada with links to the international public health community. CPHA's members believe in universal and equitable access to the basic conditions which are necessary to achieve health for all Canadians. For more information about CPHA, visit cpha.ca.

Backgrounder

About CPHA 100: Celebrating a Century of Public Health Leadership

The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) marks its centenary in 2010. This voluntary, non-governmental organization was formed 100 years ago by a group of visionary physicians who were concerned about the state of public health in Canada. CPHA held its first annual conference at McGill University in December, 1911, attended by the Governor General (HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn), the Prime Minister of Canada (Sir Robert Laird Borden) and the Premier of Quebec (Lomer Gouin). The Association was constituted through an Act of Parliament on April 1, 1912.

The early founders of CPHA were determined to bring about change. And indeed they did. The key public health concerns at that time were the control of tuberculosis, compulsory vaccination against smallpox, the need for municipal regulations around house planning and land development, the lack of training in hygiene, sanitary chemistry and bacteriology, and the establishment of municipal parks and recreation programs.

CPHA has developed remarkably over the past 100 years, reflecting and shaping the broader evolution of public health in Canada. There are many achievements for CPHA to celebrate in 2010. Perhaps the greatest achievement is longevity. The average lifespan of Canadians has increased by more than 30 years since the early 1900s and 25 of those years are attributable to advances in public health.

The 12 Great Achievements

Below is a list of the 12 great achievements that have been selected by CPHA to represent the most influential public health advancements in Canada during the past century.

    
        1.     Vaccination
        2.     Motor-vehicle safety
        3.     Safer workplaces
        4.     Control of infectious diseases
        5.     Decline in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke
        6.     Safer and healthier foods
        7.     Healthier mothers and babies
        8.     Family planning
        9.     Healthier environments
        10.    Recognizing tobacco use as a health hazard
        11.    Universal policies
        12.    Acting on the social determinants of health
    

These achievements and the people who helped to "fight the good fight" are brought to life through the CPHA EXPO titled This is Public Health, the interactive book titled This is Public Health: A Canadian History and a two-minute promotional video that is available on the CPHA/Centenary website(s).

For more information about CPHA 100: Celebrating a Century of Public Health Leadership and to review the full details of the 12 great achievements of public health, visit cpha100.ca.

About The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)

The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) is a national, independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association representing public health in Canada with links to the international public health community. CPHA's members believe in universal and equitable access to the basic conditions which are necessary to achieve health for all Canadians. For more information about CPHA, visit cpha.ca.

For further information: Karen Bennett, Senior Consultant, Delta Media Inc., Office: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; Judy Redpath, Communications Coordinator, CPHA Centenary Conference, Cell: [phone], Office: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]