Peel Public Health and Peel's 4 publicly funded school boards are recommitting to a coordinated, long-term approach that will advance the health and well-being of students. The updated Peel Healthy Schools Partnership Agreement, in effect from 2025 to 2030, will further strengthen collaboration to promote wellness among children across Peel region.
"This is the first time all four boards have signed onto our shared agreement, building on decades of collaboration and a renewed commitment to student well-being," said Dr. Monica Hau, Acting Medical Officer of Health at Peel Public Health. "Healthier students are stronger learners, and by deepening our partnership, we are investing in the well-being of future generations."
The partnership aligns with Ontario's Public Health Standards, which outlines expectations for boards of health to deliver critical public health programs and services in schools, including mental health promotion, substance use prevention, healthy eating, physical activity, immunizations, and oral health.
Together, the partners will work to:
- Focus on common health and well-being goals for students.
- Plan together and include partnership work in each organization's ongoing priorities.
- Offer school health programs and policies that are inclusive and reflect the diversity of Peel.
- Improve how health information is shared with students, families, and school communities.
- Share data in a safe, respectful way to help make better decisions based on evidence.
Turning lessons into action
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many school-based health programs were paused or restructured as in-person learning shifted and public health resources were redeployed. This period underscored the critical link between health and education, as well as the need for strong collaboration between public health and school systems.
The Peel Healthy Schools Partnership will continue to be guided by Ontario's Foundations for a Healthy School framework and aims to create school environments where every student feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Supporting quotes
"When we invest in student well-being, we invest in their future. That's why we are proud to renew our partnership with Peel Public Health along with our co-terminous boards. This collaboration is a promise to every student in Peel that their health, safety, and success matter both inside the classroom and beyond. Together, we are creating schools where every young person can truly thrive."
Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education, Peel District School Board
"We are very pleased to recommit to our partnership with Peel Public Health and our co-terminous boards in Peel Region. As we know, healthy students are not only better learners, but they are also more resilient, engaged, and empowered when they have strong health programs, supports, and services."
Marianne Mazzorato, Director of Education, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
"Today's agreement with Peel Public Health is a strong example of how we can work together to preserve French as one of Canada's official languages, while enhancing services for the students in our schools. This partnership shows true linguistic and cultural sensitivity by offering initiatives in French. It is reassuring for Conseil scolaire Viamonde to know that students in the Peel region can access health resources in their own language an important factor in supporting their overall well-being and academic success."
Sébastien Fontaine, Director of Education, Conseil scolaire Viamonde
"I would like to congratulate and thank Peel Public Health for their proactivity and commitment to providing quality services in French to students, families, and staff members of our French-language Catholic school community. Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir is very pleased to join this partnership agreement between the four school boards and Peel Region's public health unit. The well-being of every individual is at the heart of the MonAvenir's mandate, and this agreement fulfills our goal of establishing partnerships that enrich the lives of students, families, and staff."
Nicole Mollot, Director of Education, Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir
Ongoing impact
- The updated Peel Healthy Schools Partnership Agreement builds on a decade of collaboration from partnerships signed in 2015, and again in 2018.
- As the first agreement signed with all four English and French school boards, this demonstrates a broader, more inclusive collaboration that supports students learning in both official languages across Peel region.
- All school-based public health programs that were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic have now resumed. During the 2024-25 school year:
- Over 31,000 students in Peel region were immunized in school immunization clinics.
- Over 66,000 students in Peel region received dental screening in school clinics.
- 70% of Peel secondary schools engaged in mental well-being programs.
- 40% of Peel schools engaged in a new substance use and vaping prevention program.
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