"Board Tackles ACEs, Opioids, School Air" - Board of Health - May 4, 2026

The Toronto Board of Health received a report on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), heard updates on sexual health service contracts after the closure of the AIDS Committee of Toronto, and considered motions on school climate surveys and indoor air quality. Toronto Public Health said 31 per cent of Toronto adults report at least one ACE and framed its response around prevention and resilience. Board members also discussed online harms affecting young people, including cellphone use and gambling, and heard concerns about the toxic drug supply.

Topics Discussed

ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACEs): Toronto Public Health presented a report on the health impacts of ACEs and the city’s response. Staff said, “This is public health working upstream and demonstrating high return on investment by preventing root causes of health outcomes.” They added that “early life experiences, both positive and negative, can have lifelong impacts on health and well-being,” and said prevention includes “safe, stable, and affordable housing, accessible childcare that supports healthy development, income security, and violence prevention.” Board members asked how ACEs are reflected in other city systems. Councillor Lily Cheng asked whether the city measures ACEs when people access harm reduction or shelter services and whether those conversations could help identify “pathways of healing.” Councillor James Pasternak asked how the pandemic affected ACEs in Toronto.

SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES TRANSITION: The board approved service agreements awarded and executed by the Medical Officer of Health for 2024-2026, including interim arrangements following the March 31 closure of the AIDS Committee of Toronto. The report said Toronto Public Health had entered into agreements with The 519 and HQ to continue essential services while staff review longer-term options for sexual health programming.

DRUG SUPPLY AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION: During discussion of broader health inequities, speakers referenced the continuing overdose crisis. One speaker said, “Toronto’s drug supply remains toxic and that we still need as many evidence based interventions as possible to support the prevention, care, and treatment for people who use substances.” Councillor Lily Cheng also linked intimate partner violence and childhood adversity, saying reported cases are only “a fraction” and that “if we have an IPV epidemic, we have an adverse childhood experience epidemic.”

INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS: The board adopted a motion to establish an indoor air quality inspection pilot project. A speaker told the board that the provincial public health unit has “an indoor equality equipment loan program” and said inspectors should be trained to use those devices during inspections. The motion called for further work on how the pilot would operate.

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND DIGITAL HARMS: Board members raised concerns about online harms affecting children and youth. Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin said the city is “starting to see more and more very serious concerns raised around cellphone addiction,” as well as social media harms linked to “depression, anxiety, etc.” Councillor Gord Perks added that “gambling addiction particularly” is emerging “as an online harm,” especially for boys. Members also discussed the school climate survey as one of the few tools that captures students’ sense of belonging and experiences of bullying directly from students.

Motions

Passed: - HL 32.1: Promoting Positive Childhood Experiences to Improve Health Outcomes Across the Lifespan - HL 32.2: Service Agreements Awarded and Executed by the Medical Officer of Health 2024-2026 - Motion requesting the Minister of Education preserve the school climate survey - Motion to establish an indoor air quality inspection pilot project - Procedural motion excusing the absences of Abanita Chandalan and Charles Oday

Attendees

• Chair Chris Moise
• Councillor Alejandra Bravo
• Councillor Lily Cheng
• Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin
• Councillor Gord Perks
• Councillor James Pasternak