Job alert: Consultant Health Promotion for the City of Toronto

Toronto is Canada's largest city with a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is Canada's economic engine and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability. Join the award winning Toronto Public Service as a Consultant Health Promotion.

Consultant Health Promotion
File Reference #: X10CSA20318

Major Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Acting Manager of the Toronto Food Strategy, the Consultant Health Promotion works closely with the co-chairs of the Toronto Food Policy Council. The Consultant Health Promotion supports the day-to-day work of the Council and contributes to the development and implementation of the Toronto Food Strategy. The Consultant Health Promotion also identifies food system issues and trends, analyzes food policy and identifies opportunities for Toronto Food Policy Council involvement, policy research and action. Identifies and facilitates collaboration and dialogue with food system stakeholders including farmers, food industry, environmental and public health practitioner and researchers, charitable foundations and policy-makers. Contributes to relevant Toronto Public Health programs, service planning and overall strategic directions.
Provides expert advice and consultation to Toronto Public Health staff, the Board of Health, external groups and the general public on food system and health issues
Assesses community needs and analyzes information with respect to the interface between the Toronto Food Policy Council, Toronto Public Health and City Government regarding food systems issues
Develops, plans, implements and evaluates community-based initiatives by applying health promotion strategies such as community mobilization, advocacy, healthy public policy, social determinants of health and health education
Facilitates the work of the Council by applying community development strategies to resolve complex and sometimes competing priorities, develops collaborative working relationships, engages new audiences, builds on the Council’s strategic planning process, and supports the Council’s ongoing operations and governance at and between meetings
Collaborates with Public Health and other city staff in planning for food-related policies, programs and issues
Analyzes information and provides advice to staff in the review and analysis of programs, projects and new priorities in setting goals and objectives. Drafts and revises related program plans, policies and procedures
Promotes the implementation of municipal, provincial and federal legislation and strategies
Develops public health issues-related policy recommendations for consideration at the municipal, provincial and federal levels
Writes and speaks effectively and represents the Council to the public, community, media, and academia.
Liaises with external groups and stakeholders. Responds to requests from the media and community
Plans, develops, implements, coordinates and evaluates programs and services as directed, e.g. community forum workshops, press conferences, in-house newsletters, media campaigns, annual reports, Board of Health reports, press releases
Researches and writes position papers, reports and correspondence
Collaborates on applied public health research and field study
Attends workshops, conferences, seminars to advance food systems work
Key Qualifications:
Master’s degree preparation in Health, Social Sciences or Environmental Sciences or related area or equivalent combination of a baccalaureate degree with experience.
Demonstrated experience with food policy, food security and food system issues.
Extensive experience in community development and capacity building, public education and advocacy, including the ability to engage a wide variety of stakeholders including farmers, food activists, food industry, diverse communities and politicians.
Experience in facilitation of complex community groups, team building and conflict management.
Experience in project management, policy research and analysis, planning and advocacy.
Strong communication skills, written and verbal
Ability to work at a leadership level with city divisions and external organizations dealing with food system issues.
Ability to work with food experts and others to design innovative food policies, programs, training and education.
Ability to work flexible hours, which may include overtime, shift work, evenings and weekends.
Ability to attend meetings in all areas of Toronto and occasionally outside the GTA.
Proficiency with MS Office, including Word and PowerPoint.
Knowledge and ability to apply the determinants of health, access and equity principles.
Ability to work cooperatively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to work effectively within a municipal government context.

This opportunity is intended for external applicants only. Employees must apply through the Internal Job Posting Board on the City's Intranet within the internal job posting closing date.
To apply for this position, please visit our website at www.toronto.ca/employment and apply directly on line.

Applications must be received by September 13, 2010.
Salary: $40.46 - $44.33 per hour

Please note that applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

Committed to employment equity, the City of Toronto encourages applications from Aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities, members of visible minority groups and women.

Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under the City of Toronto's Employment Accommodation policy. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.

We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The City's Corporate Access & Privacy Office advises that sending personal information by fax may not be a secure means of transmission.
© Copyright 2010 City of Toronto

A green roof, one year later + music to garden to

Wow, how green roofs can change! The top picture shows a green roof we did last year. 364 days later, we see how it has changed!





-I'm a big fan of KCRW and earlier in the week I discovered Ann Litts 5 songs to garden to. Courtesy of youtube, we can listen to her selections.

1. Darker My Love – June Bloom
2. Frazey Ford – Firecracker
3. The Cure – In Between Days
4. Best Coast – Our Deal
5. Randy Newman – Marie

Permaculture galore

Took a little time away from the living architecture to do a little plastering for Ahmic Designs on a strawbale house.



Not the greatest of pictures, but you get the picture. Okay, back to the regularly scheduled program:

-Fruit Loop Acres is a 3/4 acre permaculture fruit farm in the heart of Indianapolis, Indiana. They grow heirloom varieties of cane fruit and stone fruit (gotta head to wikipedia for that one, plus this beehive is the coolest I've ever seen!

-Job alert!A very rare opportunity to lead a permaculture organization.

The Greening of Detroit continues...

If you're in Philly, check out this map of local and private places where fresh vegetables and fruit grow.I guess to get the private produce, you should make friends with the owners first.

-Detroit's MGMGrand hotel and local organization The Greening of Detroit are planning a $1 million project to build and complete the downtown area's first urban farm by late next year. Let the gold rush begin. Don't groan...how could I resist that pun?
Grown in Detroit, is a documentary that focuses on the urban gardening efforts that have been undertaken by the 300 students at The Ferguson Academy for Young Women, an alternative high school. Inspiring. One last urban ag story this from the New York Times about go getters on the West Coast.

-The number of farmers markets in the US is only .4% of the total food economy, but are up 214% from 2000, 16% in the last year.

-There are a few folks not too enthralled with the vertical gardening idea, in certain climates.

The Plug-In Farm + No thanks to a green wall

Let's cut to the chase:

As predicted in other places, big time water shortages ahead for much of the United States. That most likely means less lawnsacross the USA, which, I guess, is a good thing. Unless you just bought a new mower. In those drought stricken urban environments, could we see the rise of a Plug-in Farm, which marries the urban environment and animal husbandry.

-NPR covers a great story in Baltlmore, where ex-convicts are participating in the green economy through deconstruction.

-I love it when I stumble upon superior raw data. A crop map for every county in the US is a good start. Now where's the updated one? Am I too greedy???

-Remember that massive green wall that was supposed to go up on the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in Portland? Well, it's been nixed. Too expensive, too risky, some folks say. Which is a shame, in a sense. Although I'm a huge fan of living architecture, to be honest, I can think of better ways to spend that cash. If you really want to have a green wall, why not make it a food producing one? Or spend that money on roofs, lots of green roofs.

-Lastly, whenever possible I try to post permaculture resources in other languages, here are a few in French and Arabic.

Green roof employment opportunities

Spotted these on an industry newsletter:

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Green Roof Service LLC is looking to add an accredited Green Roof Professional (GRP) position to their experienced team. This entry-level position is an opportunity to transform theory into practice. A B.Sc. in architecture, landscape architecture, design, engineering or editing/writing would be beneficial. Start after September, 2010, in Bel Air, MD.
Contact Jörg Breuning: jorg@greenroofservice.com.

Manager of Design/Build Group with Landscaping Company
Urban Garden is a rapidly growing landscape design/build/maintenance firm that focuses on innovative projects in Toronto’s core, including roof, balcony and podium gardens.
They are seeking an experienced manager to lead and expand their Design/Build Group. Candidates should have experience with project management and landscaping.