OUR PROJECTS

WHAT DOES PLANETARY HEALTH MEAN TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS?

Planetary health is a significant determinant of individual and population health; healthcare providers (HCPs) have a responsibility to promote and steward planetary health. 

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Members of NEST presented a proposal at this year's Planetary Health Alliance meeting to assess the values, knowledge, skills and practices of global healthcare providers. We have designed a survey informed by the “Canmore Declaration of Principles for Planetary Health,” and the “Declaration Calling for Clinicians of the World to Act on Planetary Health.” Results will inform interventions and initiatives that could build the capacity of healthcare providers to center planetary health in patient care.

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We acknowledge that many Indigenous healing traditions around the world do center concepts of reciprocity and planetary health; we hope to analyze a global cross-section of HCPs in order to understand how we can learn from one another.

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To participate in shaping this project, please click through below:

CANADA DAY DEMANDS

We grieve over the  discovery of the remains of 215 children on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Although we feel rage, sadness, and - those of us who benefit from colonialism - guilt, we don't feel surprise.  The trauma of the genocide inflicted on the people of Turtle Island by European imperialists continues today.  It is not enough to lower flags, or place shoes or teddy bears in memorial. As healthcare providers, we have a responsibility to directly advocate for determinants of individual and community health. This includes learning from Indigenous knowledge systems and advocating for reparations. 

As naturopathic doctors, we have an imperative to ensure our services are accessible to the original stewards of the land on which we work. As a profession who benefits from Indigenous knowledge systems, we have a deep debt to pay, which can start with meaningfully integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into our training, and appropriately honouring  the origins of the medicines we use. As advocates of treating the whole, we must also advocate for urgent action on the part of the Canadian government on all of the TRC calls to action.

REWILDING!

To celebrate both Earth Day and International Environment Day, NEST and friends are rewilding!  Choose from a variety of curated activities, and make suggestions for activities to include.  Even better, offer to host!

PLANTING COMMUNITY ORCHARDS

Planting trees, particularly ones that bear fruit, has myriad benefits to the planet, people, and communities.  From encouraging pollinators, to capturing carbon, to localizing food supply, trees are truly magic. 

NEST, in partnership with Drawdown Toronto, ClimateFast, plasticfreeTO, and Treemobile, in honour of all that trees do, and in solidarity with the 10 Billion Trees Tsunami initiative in Pakistan, invites you to donate a tree for a community orchard at Ashbridges Bay farm, or the new Tandridge urban farm!  

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We invite you to donate a tree yourself, in honour or memory of a loved one, and encourage others in your network to do the same!  Click the links below to get started! 

JUST EAT IT TORONTO!

Just Eat It! Toronto, aims to change the food waste behaviours of Toronto residents by building awareness, building skills and knowledge, and  motivating residents to take action on food waste. The Toronto challenge is offered in partnership with Drawdown Toronto, EcoCaledon, WastelessFood and Canadian Climate Challenge, and has been modelled after a similar campaign run in Dufferin County, entitled “Plan to Save”.

GRATITUDE FOR FOOD!

We are thrilled to partner with Drawdown Toronto and Eco Caledon to explore ways in which individuals, families and communities can become more responsible stewards of our natural resources through the lens of food. Through the survey linked here we hope to gather information regarding current attitudes and behaviours around food waste prior to launching our community-wide food waste reduction campaign being planned for January 2021.

(This survey is targeting Toronto residents; if you're not from Toronto, but you're interesting in knowing more ... maybe even hosting a campaign in your area ... let us know!)

“A third of the food raised or prepared does not make it from farm or factory to fork. Producing uneaten food squanders a whole host of resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital—and generates greenhouse gases at every stage—including methane when organic matter lands in the global rubbish bin. The food we waste is responsible for roughly 8 percent of global emissions.“ ~ Drawdown.org

THE PEOPLE'S ECOCHALLENGE

Our planet and our people need us all right now - to act, to learn, to reflect, and to align what we do with the values we uphold. Join us, and take action to create more environmental + social good.

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Click here to join the NEST team and make a positive collective impact!

RELEASE RESTRICTIONS ON CHILDREN

We lobbied the Ontario Ministry of Education to lift restrictions on children in schools in September 2020.  Check out our open letter!

A JUST RECOVERY FOR ALL

NEST is one of hundreds of Canadian organizations that have endorsed a call for a Just Recovery post COVID.  Check out their webpage for more info on how you can participate!  Let us know if you want to help NEST identify strategies to enact its principles!

ACTIVETO

NEST joined in a city-wide effort to advocate for the urgent expansion of Toronto's protected bike lanes to enable more active transportation during the COVID pandemic and beyond.  The push was successful, but more is needed to relieve pressure on the Yonge Line of the TTC.  Visit here to see how you can help!

COMMUNITY GARDENS AND FOOD SECURITY

We are nurturing possible partnerships with a number of community agricultural programs working to address food security and nutrition literacy.  If you have an interest in this work and/or potential connections for us, please get in touch!