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Building a Healthy CityOne way to ensure a liveable city is to apply the notion of the HealthyCity developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Conceived inToronto in the mid-1980s, 123 the Healthy City emphasizes the importantrole that local governments play in creating the conditions for health. Thegoal is to improve individuals' and communities' health by optimizingcity conditions and environments. 124 Health is seen to be influenced bysocial, economic and environmental conditions and not just the result ofdisease or bio-medical factors (see Figure 6). It is not just the presence ofthese conditions that are important for maximizing health but the qualityof these conditions. The community must be convivial, equitable andliveable. 125 The economy must be adequate and socially sustainable andprosperity must be distributed equitably within the community. 126Finally, the environment needs to be sustainable, viable, and liveable. 127Figure 6: The Healthy City ModelAn inclusive community, aquality environment and astrong economy create anequitable, liveable, andsustainable city which is ahealthy citySource: Trevor HancockThe Healthy City supports thinking about the connections andimplications for health of policies, programs and services in a holisticway. It encourages creating alliances across sectors, encouraging publicparticipation in local decision-making and applying health impactassessments to inform decision-making. It also draws attention to the factthat decisions, strategies and plans of city departments and agencies areinterconnected and have collective effects on people's health.A healthy city is “one that is continually creating and improving thosephysical and social environments and expanding those communityresources which enable people to mutually support each other inperforming all the functions of life and in developing to their maximumpotential." 128 A healthy city aims to provide:Healthy Toronto by Design | Toronto Public Health, October 201126