Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.
Although the City of Toronto 2024 budget takes bold steps toward supporting residents and advancing equity in key areas, there is much more work that needs to be done to build a city that is resilient, mentally healthy and equitable for all.
Access to public transportation in Toronto has long been inequitable. Low-income, Black and other racialized populations, older adults, women and newcomers are among those who rely on public transit the most to connect them with their places of work and education, health services, recreational and cultural activities and friends and family. Yet they face significant […]
Continue ReadingTransit access and affordability: An equity-based approach
Climate change from greenhouse gas emissions is a major threat to human and planetary health. As transportation is a significant contributing factor to the climate crisis, strategies to cut emissions need measures to improve public transit systems to reduce private vehicle use. Green infrastructure that contributes to more sustainable travel must also address inequities in […]
Continue ReadingEquitable public transit important for climate change mitigation
Transit ridership is increasing this fall as students return to school and more people return to the office. With it, there may be increased concerns about violence on the TTC. Concerns about transit safety have been linked to houseless people and people with mental illness. However, the evidence shows they are more likely to be […]
Continue ReadingA safe TTC requires an equitable, trauma-informed approach
Wellesley Institute is publishing a series examining how mayoral candidates can show leadership and deliver Toronto the Bold—a city that takes wellness, health, and equity seriously to build a better future for every Torontonian. The first in the series examined housing. Now, we’re examining how candidates can improve health equity through Toronto’s public transit system. […]
We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.