Canada Health Day – May 12, 2009

On May 12, 2009, health facilities and agencies, community health organizations and public health units will celebrate Canada Health Day.

Canada Health Day is sponsored by the Canadian Healthcare Association (CHA) and the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) who have worked in partnership to make this annual event a national celebration of health care in Canada.

Canada Health Day is celebrated on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.


For over 100 years, public health in Canada has helped individuals to take care of themselves, their families and communities. The major advances in life expectancy, overall health, and quality of life that occurred in the twentieth century were the result of public health initiatives – producing vaccines, clean water, pasteurization and better living conditions.

Organize a Canada Health Day event in your workplace or community

• Plan a public information session Celebrate how public health has contributed to the optimal health of Canadians through displays in shopping malls and health facilities. Host health fairs such as blood pressure, diabetes, smoking cession or diet analysis in your area.
• Invite a health leader to present on a topic of interest to colleagues or community groups.
• Organize a community walk, indoors at a shopping mall, or outdoors.
• Organize an open house or tour of your facility.
• Pot luck meals – try some different healthy foods.

• Display "Canadians taking care of their health” posters in prominent locations in your workplace such as elevators, display boards, and lunch and locker rooms.
• Download CHA’s free Canada Health Day poster ENGLISH FRENCH and cafeteria tray liner ENGLISH FRENCH. (For optimal printing, please select the "borderless”, "fit-to-page” or "minimize borders” option of your printer’s properties.)
• Download a Public Service Announcement ENGLISH FRENCH to help promote Canada Health Day events in your community.

• Reflect on the contribution of public health and public health workers in achieving optimal health of Canadians. The major advances in life expectancy, vaccinations, pasteurization, clean water, and better living conditions were all made possible thanks to successes in public health research and policy development and enactment.

Keep in touch

Please let us know about your celebration of public health. Follow up by e-mail to tneuman@cha.ca with photos and news coverage.