Conservation Halton partners with PaRx to promote health through nature

By Shazia Nazir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

Conservation Halton is partnering with Canada’s national nature prescription program, PaRx, to help residents enhance their physical and mental health by connecting with the outdoors.

The partnership allows individuals who have issued a PaRx nature prescription to access Conservation Halton Parks for 10 free visits. Activities such as hiking scenic trails, wildlife spotting, and nature photography offer patients a chance to fulfill their prescriptions while reaping the health benefits of time spent in nature.

“This partnership with PaRx provides greater access to nature and creates pathways to better health and a deeper connection with our environment,” said Chandra Sharma, president and CEO of Conservation Halton.

“This initiative exemplifies our dual commitment to ecological preservation and community well-being.”

PaRx, an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation, enables healthcare providers to issue nature prescriptions for preventative and therapeutic care. Research has shown that time spent in nature improves mental health, lowers blood pressure, and boosts life expectancy.

Halton Healthcare is the first hospital system in Canada to partner with PaRx, furthering its commitment to innovative, nature-based health solutions. Primary care physicians in the region can connect with the program through the Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team (CCHOHT), expanding access to nature prescriptions across the Halton Region.

“Spending more time in nature has health benefits like improving mental health, lowering blood pressure, and even extending life expectancy,” said Dr. Stephen Chin, interim vice-president of medical affairs at Halton Healthcare.

“The partnership between PaRx and Conservation Halton allows health professionals to prescribe an effective remedy to our patients. Nature prescriptions offer an accessible and sustainable way to improve the health of our community and is a wonderful complement to the care we provide.”

Adam van Koeverden, member of Parliament for Milton, played a pivotal role in bringing the PaRx program to the Halton region. A strong advocate for the outdoors and well-being, van Koeverden applauded the collaboration.

“This collaboration is a game-changer for our community,” van Koeverden said. “It encourages outdoor activity, fosters a connection with nature, promotes physical health, and nurtures mental resilience and environmental stewardship.”

Conservation Halton joins a growing movement of support for Canada’s national nature prescription program. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority became the first Conservation Authority to partner with PaRx. Building on this momentum, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority hosted a ‘Park Prescription (PaRx) Day’ at Scanlon Creek inviting dozens of families to connect with the outdoors for their health.

Conservation Halton has been connecting the community to nature for over 60 years, with eight unique parks in the region that can be explored. Visitors can choose their adventure to help ignite a greater love for the outdoors. Whether that means a quiet hike in the woods, a peaceful walk along the boardwalk around an internationally recognized meromictic lake, exploring a new trail on foot or on bike to a breathtaking waterfall, saying hello to furry and feathered friends in our barn or Raptor Centre, or taking in the expansive beauty of the lookouts along the Niagara Escarpment, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.