Collaborative Centre member Dr. Sara Allin and Sheila J. Murray were awarded $125,000 over one year by CIHR to complete their project: Centering communities in local heat response: A qualitative, community-based participatory research study in downtown Toronto
Co-investigator(s): Erica Di Ruggiero, Lara Gautier, Monika Roerig, Melanie Seabrook, Stephanie Simpson, Edward Xie
Extreme heat is a leading contributor to weather-related mortality in Canada, and its negative health impacts are disproportionately borne by structurally disadvantaged populations. Our team recently conducted a comparative case study of local extreme heat response, and key informants agreed that collaboration between local government, public health authorities, and community organizations is critical to strengthening community resilience to climate change. However, a disconnect remains between community needs and the formal, government-led strategies for mitigating the health impacts of extreme heat. Our research will seek to address this gap by working with Toronto-based organizations, Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW) and Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA), and the City of Toronto, to develop strategies for meaningful and sustained collaboration throughout the development, implementation, and evaluation of future local heat response initiatives. — Sara Allin, IHPME Faculty