Function and public awareness of sustainable development and population health projects in Montreal, Canada: a logic model and survey of the Quartiers 21 Program

Abstract Background Simultaneously advocating for sustainable development and promoting population health seems synergistic but few integrated interventions have been studied. We developed a logic model for the Montréal Quartiers 21 Program and assessed awareness of the Program among Montreal residents. Methods We developed a logic model of the Montréal Quartiers 21 Program, which is part of Montreal's Strategic Action Plan towards Sustainable Development and allocates money to community groups to support grassroots health projects for sustainable development. We also did a 20 min online survey of Montreal residents aged 18 years or older to assess their awareness of the Program. Survey participants were randomly selected from a panel recruited by a polling firm. We estimated weighted prevalence of awareness and used logistic regression to identify variables associated with awareness. Findings The two iterations of the Program (in 2005–09, and 2010–13) funded 28 projects for revitalisation of commercial streets, active and public transportation, creating green public and outdoor private spaces, making public spaces safer, calming traffic, promoting urban agriculture, collecting recyclable materials, and increasing quality of rainfall runoff. Of the 1793 respondents with complete data, 6·0% (95% CI 4·5–7·9) could spontaneously recognise the Program and 25·7% (22·8–28·8) could after prompting. Interpretation Interventions, such as the Montréal Quartiers 21 Program can provide feasible projects consistent with principles of sustainable development and public health. However, public awareness of projects is modest. Funding Canadian Institutes of Health Research.