Created by Sierra Gaspari, Laura Gendron & Avery Montgomery
Public health achievements in the past 100 years have helped support the health of Canadians. Many of these you see or use every day without even realizing it! Here’s how public health protects our health every day:
- Pasteurized Milk – Heating milk to kill germs made it safe to drink and prevented the spread of deadly infections.
- Water Fluoridation – Adding fluoride to tap water helps Canadians keep their teeth healthy by preventing tooth decay.
- Iodized Salt – All table salt contains iodine which prevents thyroid disease and supports healthy growth.
- Polio Vaccine – It was the first widely used vaccine to safely prevent a crippling viral disease, enabling mass immunization and eradicating polio in Canada by 1994.
- Hand Sanitizer – Quick germ-killing gel that revolutionized sanitation when handwashing wasn’t readily available.
- Hockey Helmets Mandated – they became mandatory for youth under 18 in 1965, but it wasn’t until 14 years later that it was required for all amateurs and the NHL!
- Blue Box Program – Ontario’s curbside recycling system was first launched in Kitchener and revolutionized environmental sustainability, reducing waste in landfills.
- Leaded Gas Banned – Removing lead from fuel significantly reduced levels of this toxic chemical in the air and helped prevent diseases caused by lead poisoning.
- Indoor Smoking Ban – Reduced exposure to second-hand smoke in public spaces, reducing rates of lung cancer.
- Booster Seats Mandated – Ensured that children under 80lbs were safely positioned in adult seat belts, preventing deadly injuries during car accidents. Previously, it was only mandated for infants and toddlers.
- HPV School Vaccination Program – The first school-based initiative in Canada to protect teens’ sexual health and prevent cancer through vaccination.
- Ban on Single-Use Plastics – Cutting disposable plastics to reduce waste and protect the environment. This means no more plastic straws in your drinks or plastic bags from the grocery store.
Note: The dates provided are based on the year they were first implemented/mandated in Ontario, Canada. The first occurrence was used as the reference date