Be Inspired
Toronto youth are taking action on health. Check out some of their work below
Forum Magazine
Our Youth Health Action Network worked with Forum Magazine to publish a "Be Your Best Self" edition. This edition is not just an overview of the health issues affecting youth in Toronto, but a personal invitation to everyone to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. For more information on how you can take action on your own health and well-being, check out the Be Your Best Self edition. (PDF)
Welcoming Communities
"Welcoming Communities for TDSB Newcomer Youth & Kids" program is a structured mentorship program for newcomer students in Toronto District School Board schools. This program provides mentorship opportunities, where newcomer students are matched with local students to help them ease the transitional challenges to Canada and the school system, through supervised group activities.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute
Welcoming Communities students at Sir Wilfrid Laurier composed an original song about tobacco-use prevention in three languages! These students embodied being their best selves by showcasing their talent while sharing an important message with their peers.
Weston Collegiate Institute
The Welcoming Communities group at Weston Collegiate Institute spread their love for physical activity by hosting a school wide soccer tournament. Great fun was had and lasting memories made. These students truly were their best selves by exhibiting great leadership skills. Job well done!
Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute
Inspirational and beautiful artwork by students of Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute in collaboration with Welcoming Communities! Thumbs up to students being their best selves and sharing healthy nutrition messages with their peers.
The Cause
On November 12, 2011, the Youth Health Action Network (YHAN) attended the 10th annual "The Cause" event, hosted by the Toronto Youth Cabinet. YHAN members got the chance to network with various youth-driven organizations located throughout Toronto and learned about different ways they can become involved in their communities.
What an awesome opportunity to find a CAUSE we are passionate about and help us be our best selves!
Flavour…GONE!
This youth-led campaign works to stop the sales of flavoured spit/chew tobacco. On November 2, 2011, youth from Manitoba and Ontario ambushed the 7th National Conference on "Tobacco or Health" at the Marriott Hotel in Toronto. They then headed on a march to Yonge-Dundas Square to advocate for legislation which would remove candy flavours from all tobacco products sold in Canada.
New Video - What Does it Mean to Be Your Best Self?
Rexdale YMCA Youth and Reel Key Foundation produced a promotional video for Be Your Best Self (BYBS). Here are few things the youth learned through making the video:
"…communication and teamwork are essential and valuing each other's opinions is very important."
"Making the BYBS video I learned there are many activities, hobbies and lifestyles that bring out the best in people."
"Having completed this process with positive results, I feel I've accomplished something that was challenging."
Watch What Does It Mean to Be Your Best Self? video
Be Your Best Self at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Be Your Best Self attended The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on November 10. The exhibit "Journey to Your Good Health" showcased foods grown locally and the latest trends in functional foods that make their way to ethnic markets. It was great to meet the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council and see "So You Think You(th) Can Cook?" in action.
Smoke-Free Movies Flashmob
The Youth Health Action Network's Tobacco-Use Prevention and Cessation workgroup organised a flashmob that took place on Saturday, September 10 at Yonge-Dundas Sqaure and at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, ON. Participants chanted "Tobacco in movies is not okay, support the change to 18A". Using the Toronto International Film Festival as a venue to advocate for change, the participants also collected signatures of support, which will be sent to the Ontario Film Review Board.
Photos of Smoke-Free Movies Flashmob:
Be Your Best Self Movie Critics
Here at Be Your Best Self (BYBS), we've got our very own "Roger Ebert"! A very big welcome to Ruzanna and Jessica!
Ruzanna Shortstuffyan
In the next couple of months, both BYBS film critics will be reviewing movies with a keen eye on their health-related content.
We hope their reviews inspire you to pause and consider how movies are a lot like an onion. Really, there's layers of stuff going on. Just think of all the product placement, unhealthy behaviours, body image concerns, peer pressure … the list could go on and on.
What's more, we hope these reviews motivate you to take action on health issues, connect with other like-minded youth from across this fantastic city, and help you be your best self.
Enjoy the show! And be sure to check the BYBS film reviews on our tumblr page at Film Critics
Youth Health Action Network at Work (YHAN)
Our YHAN members have been busy in the past few months taking part in a news conference at Queen's Park, guest speaker for Toronto Drug Strategy's "Build On Your Strengths" workshop, and supporting a ban on advertising junk food to children.
Toronto Food Stories
Students from George Harvey C.I. created a school food garden to make their school better for the students and the community.
Lawrence Heights Youth Environmental Justice Group takes action on food security and accessibility in their community.
Zombie Smoke
Students of St. Basil the Great College School created a short film, "Zombie Smoke", as part of their anti-tobacco educational campaign.
Toronto Public Health Youth Grants (TPHYG) Initiatives
These grants help motivate and create opportunities for youth engagement and action on health issues within Toronto. Funded projects are youth-driven, community-based and emphasize partnerships.
You can apply for a grant if you are an agency serving youth or an organization with existing youth groups and your participants are between 13 - 19 years old. Contact us by e-mail at beyourbestself@toronto.ca for more information.
Check out some of the work the youth involved in TPHYG have created.
Second Hand Habits
A Noojimawin group and recipient of a Toronto Public Health Youth Grant created a video about second-hand smoke.
Shake Tobacco Off Movies (STOM)
Check out how one of our youth grant recipient groups are taking aim at smoking on the silver screen. Read the article. Watch the STOM (Shake Tobacco Off Movies) smoke-free movies ad.
UNIFECT
UNIFECT created a Health Promo Video as part of their youth grant funding.
Spotlight on Sarcoma
Spotlight on Sarcoma is a video produced by Youth Sarcoma Initiative to raise awareness about sarcoma (cancer of the connective tissues, nerves, muscles, cartilage, joints, bone or blood vessels).
Anti-smoking ads
Rathburn Area Youth developed anti-smoking ads.
UniTeam video
The UniTeam break dancing crew used their talent to help teach, empower and uplift youth to express themselves positively.
Last updated on April 2012