Building healthier childhoods in Barrie, Canada: a data-guided, community-led framework for city-scale behaviour change

Mid-sized cities are often overlooked in public health planning, yet they offer unique opportunities for integrated, community-led action. In Barrie, Ontario, where childhood obesity rates exceed the national average, a diverse coalition of clinicians, public health professionals, and municipal staff developed a city-scale framework to support healthy behaviours in children. Guided by local data, including a custom-built neighbourhood Snapshot tool, and anchored in the evidence-based Live 5-2-1-0 messaging, the initiative emphasizes tailored interventions, strong partnerships, and built-in evaluation. This City Short shares how Barrie’s approach to data visualization, collaborative planning, and adaptable program design can offer actionable insights for other urban centres working to improve child health across sectors.