An initiative of the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE)
HELD is an annual national campaign led by CPCHE that aims to raise awareness of and encourage action to prevent environmental health risks to children in early learning child care environments and schools.
Each year, we take a collaborative approach to the HELD campaign, building a robust network of people and organizations across Canada that actively engage in the design, development, and promotion of the campaign.
Interested in getting involved? Contact the HELD team and join us on social media.
Children are healthier, more active, learn better, improved social interactions and better mental health when they have ample time in natural outdoor settings.
Extreme heat poses significant health risks, especially for young children, who are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.
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.
Watch the event recordings for Session 1: Weighing the Options: Artificial vs. Natural Surfacing in Children’s Outdoor Learning and Play Settings and Session 2: Inspiring Stories of Action: Creating Healthy and Natural Outdoor Learning and Play Settings.
Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense, putting children’s health at risk. These short videos outline simple measures child care professionals can take to keep indoor and outdoor spaces cool when temperatures rise.
Where do children encounter artificial turf and other synthetic surfaces? The use of synthetic surfacing has increased globally in recent years and is becoming more common across a range of settings, including in Canada.
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.
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.
