The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) appeared before the Toronto Board of Health to encourage the City of Toronto to prioritize Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) to build healthy schools and childcare centres.
Joey Fox, P.Eng., a member of OSPE’s Indoor Air Quality Advisory Committee, urged Toronto Public Health (TPH) to explicitly apply Health Canada’s new IAQ guidance and ASHRAE standards in schools and child-care centres, as well as monitor indoor air pollutants, like CO2 levels. These steps to improve ventilation and filtration protect children and staff by reducing the transmission of airborne infections and exposure to indoor air pollutants.
Why This Matters:
- Health Canada’s IAQ guidance translates science into practical, evidence-based measures (ventilation targets, filtration upgrades, commissioning and monitoring practices).
- Aligning TPH with this guidance will help ensure consistent, proven practices across Toronto’s publicly funded and licensed learning environments.
- Engineering input is essential to move from policy to doable, verifiable actions in real buildings.
New OSPE IAQ Reports
OSPE’s IAQ Advisory Committee recently released updated reports that complement Health Canada’s guidance with engineering-focused tools and recommendations for Ontario settings. We invite policymakers, school boards, early learning operators, and the public to review these resources for:
- Practical measures for ventilation, filtration, and air cleaning
- Procurement and maintenance considerations for sustained performance
Get Involved
- Reach out to advocacy@ospe.on.ca if your school board or childcare network would benefit from a technical briefing on implementing the new guidance.
With clear standards and practical support, Toronto can take charge and create healthy indoor air in every classroom and childcare centre in the city.
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