In response to rising tensions and unmet needs in its downtown core, the City of Edmonton’s RECOVER Urban Wellbeing team and partners questioned assumptions and embarked on a journey of deep listening and co-creation of solutions with residents to cultivate connectedness and well-being. Check out this episode, featuring former RECOVER project manager Sue Holdsworth, to discover how RECOVER’s well-being framework can be used to transform how we design, deliver and evaluate programs and services to foster essential, but often overlooked, non-material aspects of health and well-being.

(00:00) Introduction

(2:10) Interview with Sue Holdsworth

Episode Guest:

With two interdisciplinary degrees, Sue Holdsworth has worked for three local governments and an NGO as an urban planner, a social planner and a project manager. From 2020-2024, she was the project manager for RECOVER Urban Wellbeing at the City of Edmonton. It focused on people living on the margins and used social R&D to find and test new solutions. Sue has a love for learning and systems thinking, and she is drawn to complex, transformative projects.

Learn more:

• City of Edmonton's Recover: Edmonton's Urban Wellness Plan
• The Soulful City Report (includes Framework for a Culture of Wellbeing of page 146) (2020)
• Soloss

Episode Credits:

This episode was produced by Pemma Muzumdar, Rebecca Cheff and host Bernice Yanful (NCCDH). The Mind the Disruption project team is led by Rebecca Cheff, with technical production and original music by Chris Perry. Promotion by Caralyn Vossen (NCCDH). Artwork by comet art + design. Mind the Disruption is a podcast by the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. NCCDH is hosted by St. Francis Xavier University and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the PHAC. 

Engage Nova Scotia is working to better measure, understand and improve well-being for all Nova Scotians through a large Quality of Life survey, accessible data tools and deep community engagement. Over two episodes, you will meet multiple members of the vibrant Engage Nova Scotia team: Chief Engagement Officer Danny Graham, Outreach and Participation Lead Tammy Ewing, Community Outreach Lead for Equity Deserving Communities kamilah apong, and public health leader and Chair of Engage Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed. Check out this episode (Part 2 of 2) to discover how they are disrupting usual approaches to data collection, embedding equity and accessibility, and building relationships and trust to tell a more complete story about what drives well-being.

(00:00) Introduction

(2:10) Interview with Engage Nova Scotia team

Episode Guests:

Danny Graham has worked to advance justice reforms with the United Nations and countries spanning four continents. From 2005-2014 he was the Chief Negotiator on Aboriginal Reconciliation for the Province of Nova Scotia. He is the Chief Engagement Officer for Engage Nova Scotia – a non-profit that is equipping all sectors, and all levels of government in Canada with data-driven analysis about statistically unknowable, and sometimes ignored, issues. He is the Chair of the Craig Foundation, which is focussed on causes that promote acceptance and inclusion for autistic individuals and families.

kamilah apong is constantly dreaming of new futures, using hope as discipline (Mariame Kaba). she is a curious facilitator that uses the arts and participatory engagement strategies to change the way we think about research, knowledge, and connection. she is a student of the elders who came before her. she has 15 years of community arts practice and a Bachelor of Arts in critical studies in equity & solidarity from the University of Toronto.

Tammy Ewing is dedicated to advocating for and elevating opportunities that help people overcome challenges faced by Nova Scotia communities. She champions opportunities that uplift and empower people to overcome adversity. Driven by collaboration with like-minded individuals, she believes in giving voice to those traditionally overlooked and is a staunch advocate for equity for all Nova Scotians. Tammy likes to give back by being active in her community and others.

Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed is the Associate Dean of Serving and Engaging Society for Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, and the Chair of the Board of Engage Nova Scotia. She is a public health specialist physician with 19 years’ experience, and formerly served as the Medical Officer of Health for the Halifax area and Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia. Gaynor is a passionate advocate for high-quality public health services and for anti-oppressive health care in Canada.

Learn more:

• Engage Nova Scotia
• Eight Domains of Wellbeing Framework
• An Exploration of Wellbeing in Nova Scotia: A summary of results from the Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey (2020)

Episode Credits:

This episode was produced by Pemma Muzumdar, Rebecca Cheff and host Bernice Yanful (NCCDH). The Mind the Disruption project team is led by Rebecca Cheff, with technical production and original music by Chris Perry. Promotion by Caralyn Vossen (NCCDH). Artwork by comet art + design. Mind the Disruption is a podcast by the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. NCCDH is hosted by St. Francis Xavier University and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the PHAC. 

Engage Nova Scotia is working to better measure, understand and improve well-being for all Nova Scotians through a large Quality of Life survey, accessible data tools and deep community engagement. Over two episodes, you will meet multiple members of the vibrant Engage Nova Scotia team: Chief Engagement Officer Danny Graham, Outreach and Participation Lead Tammy Ewing, Community Outreach Lead for Equity Deserving Communities kamilah apong, and public health leader and Chair of Engage Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed. Check out this episode (Part 1 of 2) to discover why it is important to think differently about how we understand what makes communities and societies successful, equitable, healthy and well.

(00:00) Introduction

(2:10) Interview with Engage Nova Scotia team

Episode Guests:

Danny Graham has worked to advance justice reforms with the United Nations and countries spanning four continents. From 2005-2014 he was the Chief Negotiator on Aboriginal Reconciliation for the Province of Nova Scotia. He is the Chief Engagement Officer for Engage Nova Scotia – a non-profit that is equipping all sectors, and all levels of government in Canada with data-driven analysis about statistically unknowable, and sometimes ignored, issues. He is the Chair of the Craig Foundation, which is focussed on causes that promote acceptance and inclusion for autistic individuals and families.

kamilah apong is constantly dreaming of new futures, using hope as discipline (Mariame Kaba). she is a curious facilitator that uses the arts and participatory engagement strategies to change the way we think about research, knowledge, and connection. she is a student of the elders who came before her. she has 15 years of community arts practice and a Bachelor of Arts in critical studies in equity & solidarity from the University of Toronto.

Tammy Ewing is dedicated to advocating for and elevating opportunities that help people overcome challenges faced by Nova Scotia communities. She champions opportunities that uplift and empower people to overcome adversity. Driven by collaboration with like-minded individuals, she believes in giving voice to those traditionally overlooked and is a staunch advocate for equity for all Nova Scotians. Tammy likes to give back by being active in her community and others.

Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed is the Associate Dean of Serving and Engaging Society for Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, and the Chair of the Board of Engage Nova Scotia. She is a public health specialist physician with 19 years’ experience, and formerly served as the Medical Officer of Health for the Halifax area and Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia. Gaynor is a passionate advocate for high-quality public health services and for anti-oppressive health care in Canada.

Learn more:

• Engage Nova Scotia
• Eight Domains of Wellbeing Framework
• An Exploration of Wellbeing in Nova Scotia: A summary of results from the Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey (2020)

Episode Credits:

This episode was produced by Pemma Muzumdar, Rebecca Cheff and host Bernice Yanful (NCCDH). The Mind the Disruption project team is led by Rebecca Cheff, with technical production and original music by Chris Perry. Promotion by Caralyn Vossen (NCCDH). Artwork by comet art + design. Mind the Disruption is a podcast by the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. NCCDH is hosted by St. Francis Xavier University and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the PHAC.