Publications

This page contains academic publications reporting on projects conducted by the Centre for Healthy Communities.

Additional publications led by Centre scientists »

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Lowe, S.A.J., & Glenn, N.M. (2026). Universal accessibility policies across municipalities in Canada: Cities for all people. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 14(1), 103303. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-01317-8

Belon, A. P., Schwartz, N., Hunter, S., Nykiforuk, C.I., Smith, B. T., & Pabayo, R. (2025). Equity-informed Strategies to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake Undertaken by Public Health Units in Ontario, Canada. Discover Public Health, 22(1), 905. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-01317-8

Schwartz, N., Belon, A.P., Hunter, S., Pabayo, R., Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Rebellato, S. et al. (2025). Local Public Health Unit Priorities, Actions, and Barriers in Addressing Inequities During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(1), E465-E54. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002262

Trudeau, M., Nieuwendyk, L.M., Belon, A.P., & Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2025). Evidence-informed recommendations for municipal supports of people experiencing homelessness during extreme weather events. Local Environment, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2025.2566518

Nykiforuk C.I.J., Nieuwendyk L., Belon A.P., Allen Scott L., Teare G., Morrison V. (2025). Municipal community safety and well-being policies: Intersectoral action as social innovation. Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 10(3), 167–174. https://doi.org/10.35502/jcswb.477

Belon, A.B., Nieuwendyk, L.M., Allen T., Worrell, M., Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2025). Effective interventions to prevent youth vaping behaviours: a rapid review. BMJ Open, 15, e092380. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092380

Were, J.M., Farmer, G., Benny, C., Smith, B.T., Yamamoto, S., Maximova, K., Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Trovato, F., Senthilselvan, A., Siddiqi, A., Pabayo, R. (2025). Income inequality and deaths of despair: a population-based study of 19 million Canadian adults. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-025-02913-4

Gillies C., Allen-Scott L.K., Nykiforuk C.I.J., Belon A.P., Kim M.O., Lee B., Nieuwendyk L., Adhikari K., Ori E.M. (2024). Social capital interventions for human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization and cervical cancer screening: A rapid review. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 50(7/8), 260–73.  https://doi.org/10. 14745/ccdr.v50i78a04

Adhikari, K., Teare, G.F. , Belon, A.P. , Lee, B. , Kim, M.O. , Nykiforuk, C. (2024). Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for tobacco consumption, alcohol misuse, and physical inactivity: an equity-informed rapid review. Public Health , 226, 237-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.11.001

Belon, A.P., Chew, J.L., Schwartz, N., Storey, K., Smith, B.T., Pabayo, R. (2024). Variability in public health programming and priorities to address health inequities across public health units in Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health. Epub June 6, 2024. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-024-00896-4

Belon, A.P. , McKenzie, E., Teare, G. , Nykiforuk, C.I.J. , Nieuwendyk, L. , Kim, M.O. , Lee, B. , Adhikari, K. (2024). Effective strategies for Faecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) programs to improve colorectal cancer screening uptake among populations with limited access to the healthcare system: a rapid review. BMC Health Services Research , 24, 128-141. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10573-4

Nykiforuk, C.I.J, Belon, A.P. , Allen Scott, L.K. (2024) Untangling Concepts of Financial Circumstances for Public Health Professionals and Scholars: A Glossary and Concept Map. American Journal of Public Health , 14, 79-89. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307449

Belon, A.P., Yashadhana, A., Kongats, K., Atkey, K., Glenn, N.M., Jaques, K., Nieuwendyk, L., Harris, P., de Leeuw, E., Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2023). Australian and Canadian financial wellbeing policy landscape during COVID-19: An equity-informed policy scan. Health Policy OPEN, 6, 100114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpopen.2023.100114

Glenn, N.M., Yashadhana, A., Jaques, K, Belon, A.P., de Leeuw, E., Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Harris, P. (2023). The generative mechanisms of financial strain and financial well-being: a critical realist analysis of ideology and difference. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2022.6930

Kim, M.O., Montemurro, G., Nieuwendyk, L., Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2023). Supporting healthy community decision-making in municipalities: A synthesis of evidence-informed resources from across Canada. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 100180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2023.100180

Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Belon, A.P., de Leeuw, E., Harris, P., Allen-Scott, L., Atkey, K., Glenn, N.M., Hyshka, E., Jaques, K., Kongats, K., Montesanti, S., Nieuwendyk, L.M., Pabayo, R., Springett, J., Yashadhana, A. (2023). A policy-ready public health guidebook of strategies and indicators to promote financial well-being and address financial strain in response to COVID-19. Preventing Chronic Disease, 20. http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.220209

Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Belon, A.P., de Leeuw, E., Harris, P., Allen-Scott, L., Atkey, K., Glenn, N.M., Hyshka, E., Jaques, K., Kongats, K., Montesanti, S., Nieuwendyk, L.M., Pabayo, R., Springett, J., Yashadhana, A. (2023). An action-oriented public health framework to reduce financial strain and promote financial wellbeing in high-income countries. International Journal for Equity in Health, 22, 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-01877-8

Yashadhana, A., Glenn, N.M., Jaques, K., Belon, A.P., Harris, P., de Leeuw, E., Nykiforuk, C.I.J. (2023). A rapid review of initiatives to address financial strain and wellbeing in high-income contexts. Public Health Research & Practice, 33(2).  https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3322315

Glenn NM, Allen Scott L, Hokanson T, Gustafson K, Stoops M, Day B & Nykiforuk CIJ. (2021). Community strategies to reduce the impact of financial strain and promote financial well-being: a comprehensive rapid review.  Global Health Promotion. DOI: 10.1177/1757975920984182

Nykiforuk CIJ, Glenn NM, Hosler I, Craig H, Reynard D, Molner B, Candlish J, & Lowe S. (2021). Understanding urban accessibility: a community-engaged pilot study of entrance features.  Social Science & Medicine. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113775

Glenn NM & Nykforuk CIJ. (2020). The time is now for public health to lead the way on addressing financial strain in Canada.  Canadian Journal of Public Health. DOI: 10.17269/s41997-020-00430-2

Glenn NM, Kongats K, Cowie H, Guimond JK, & Nykiforuk CIJ. (2020). Promoting children's play in Calgary, AB: a case study of collective impact and municipal leadership.  Cities & Health.  DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2020.17799940.1779994

Review Protocols (Published - Open Access)

Centre for Healthy Communities and Policy, Location, and Access in Community Environments (PLACE Research lab). (2025, July). How have municipalities applied equity frameworks to inform active transportation urban planning and decision-making? A rapid scoping review. Open Science Framework.

Prince, P. , Otto, S., Nykiforuk, C., Neumann, N. (2024, October). Current state of knowledge regarding the public’s and policy influencers’ water reuse perceptions: a scoping review protocol. Open Science Framework.