CPCHE Resources
Explore CPCHE’s work on child care and school environments. Our evidence-informed resources and guides, including our popular Child Care Checklist, are a key part of our collaborative efforts to ensure safe and healthy learning environments for all children.
Everyday actions — ranging from choosing safer cleaning products and toys to introducing a fragrance-free policy or composting program — can help a child care program create healthier indoor and outdoor spaces for children and staff, while contributing to environmental sustainability and action on climate change.
Shifting to electric school buses is a step in ensuring healthy learning environments and better health outcomes for all children. To accelerate this shift and to strengthen partners’ advocacy efforts, CPCHE, in partnership with Pollution Probe and Mobility Futures Lab created this messaging kit.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about extreme heat, wildfire smoke and other climate-related indoor air quality concerns in schools and child care settings that can affect children’s health. Learn more about the health risks and practical measures to improve air quality in learning settings.
Welcome Healthy Environments for Learning Day 2025 on Extreme Heat! Extreme heat in schools and child care environments in Canada. Extreme heat poses significant health risks for children and staff working in learning environments. Join us to learn more about the impacts of extreme heat and advocate for the protection
Canada is at a crossroads in the development of a universally affordable child care sector that promises to make quality child care attainable for all children and families across the country.
Healthy Environments for Learning Day (HELD)
Extreme heat poses significant health risks for children and staff working in learning environments. Learn more about the impacts of extreme heat and advocate for the protection of all children in Canada.
Indoor air quality plays a critical role in shaping children’s respiratory health, immune function, and cognitive development.
Learn more about why it is time to shift to electric school buses and how to help support this growing movement.
Learn more about creating healthy and sustainable child care environments both indoors and out.
Five ways students, schools and child care programs can help Canada reach net-zero carbon emissions.
When it comes to diesel emissions and children’s health. Does your school get an “A” for action?
Learn more about Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from rock and soil.
Investing in school bus electrification in Canada is an opportunity to achieve multiple child health benefits – from better physical and mental health outcomes, to improvements in academic performance and learning.
This resource can be used by teachers, parents, health professionals and transportation stakeholders to increase awareness and advocate for the child-health benefits of investing in electric school buses (ESBs). It includes health evidence, along with responses to key claims and concerns.
Improving indoor air quality is not just about cleaner air—it’s about giving all children the best chance to learn, grow, and thrive in safe and healthy environments. This blog highlights existing policy and legislative tools that can support improvements in indoor air quality.
Wildfire smoke in schools, child care facilities and other educational settings can pose a health risk for children and interfere with learning. This blog explores how portable air cleaners can help reduce indoor smoke exposure and support healthier air quality.
When schools and child care settings don’t have air conditioning or cooling systems, it can be tricky to know how to keep indoor spaces safe during extreme heat and wildfire smoke events – especially when they happen at the same time.
Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) harms children’s health. It is linked to asthma and other health effects and can affect learning due to its effects on brain function. Schools and child care settings near bus loading zones or busy roads face higher indoor air pollution. Learn more about strategies to reduce
This resource is a compilation of the references cited in the eight FAQs: Climate-related Indoor Air Quality Concerns in Learning Settings, as well as the health evidence reviewed and additional helpful resources by topic (FAQ).
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about extreme heat, wildfire smoke and other climate-related indoor air quality concerns in schools and child care settings that can affect children’s health. Learn more about the health risks and practical measures to improve air quality in learning settings.
There is an urgent need for planning, investment and policy change to ensure that all schools, early learning and child care settings in Canada are climate-ready and equipped to protect children from heat-related health risks, and to mitigate adverse impacts on learning associated with elevated temperatures.
Canada is at a crossroads in the development of a universally affordable child care sector that promises to make quality child care attainable for all children and families across the country.
This document was prepared as part of the 2024 Healthy Environments for Learning Day (HELD) campaign to improve indoor air quality in schools and child care settings in Canada.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools and child care settings has become an increasing concern in Canada with elevated wildfire smoke exposure and knowledge
about airborne virus transmission, including COVID-19.
This strategy for electric school bus adoption in Ontario was jointly published by Pollution Probe, The Delphi Group and CPCHE in 2023, building on the 2022 White Paper. School bus electrification white paper
Making the switch to electric school buses is a step forward in ensuring healthy learning environments for all children and shows our commitment to climate action.
This Call for Action presents the child health case for making an urgent and just transition from diesel-powered to electric school bus transportation across Canada.
Learn about the health impacts of diesel-powered school buses compared to the health benefits of electric school buses.
There is an important opportunity for the Government of Ontario to transition to an electric school bus fleet across the province, and to stop the use of diesel-fueled buses. The electrification of the provincial school bus fleet would help to combat climate change and protect the health of Ontario’s children
Check out the Healthy and Sustainable Child Care Checklist and Resource Hub Everyday actions — ranging from choosing safer cleaning products and toys to introducing a fragrance-free policy or composting program — can help a child care program create healthier indoor and outdoor spaces for children and staff, while contributing to
Check out the Healthy and Sustainable Child Care Checklist and Resource Hub Learn more about creating healthy and sustainable child care environments both indoors and out. The resource hub and checklist is a tool for child care practitioners, public health, parents/ guardians and anyone interested in children’s environmental health. Explore various
The Vision is intended as a framework to support collective efforts towards a world-class child care system in Canada that supports and promotes child health and well-being, now and into the future.
Briefing Note for Child Care Sector Leaders
For child care professionals. Reduce the risk of the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
RadonTestResultsLetter_above_EN (Download Word Document)
Radon is an odourless gas that comes from uranium in the ground. Radon can move into
buildings through cracks and gaps in the foundation where it can build up to harmful levels. Long-term exposure to radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. And it’s preventable.
Frequently Asked Questions
This resource is a compilation of the references cited in the eight FAQs: Climate-related Indoor Air Quality Concerns in Learning Settings, as well as the health evidence reviewed and additional helpful resources by topic (FAQ).
How does indoor air quality affect children? Are there signs that parents and educators should watch for?
Where can I find out if our local air quality is unhealthy?
We had a flooding event in our school/child care setting and are now noticing a musty smell. What should we do?
Our school/child care setting is next to a busy road. What measures can be taken to minimize the impact of traffic-related air pollution on indoor air quality?
Our classrooms are not air conditioned and we are experiencing both heat and wildfire smoke. What should we do to reduce the health risks?
Are there practical measures that schools and child care programs can take to reduce the health risks of wildfire smoke?
Are portable air cleaners an effective way to improve indoor air quality in learning settings?
Are there standards, guidelines and regulations to ensure healthy indoor air quality in learning settings?
