Enhancing public health messaging on wildfire smoke

Abstract

Wildfire smoke is an increasing public health challenge in Canada, affecting diverse communities as smoke events become more frequent, prolonged, and widespread. As risks evolve, traditional communication approaches may not be keeping pace with public needs. This webinar will explore how public health messaging can better support people in understanding wildfire smoke risks and taking effective protective actions. Drawing on recent research and real-world examples, the talk will highlight common gaps in current communication approaches and introduce practical, evidence-informed strategies to address them. The session will cover how to communicate smoke-related health risks more clearly, support risk mitigation behaviours, and tailor messages to different audiences. It will also provide insight into why certain communication strategies are more effective than others, helping inform future public health practice.

Speaker

Dr. Cathy Slavik is an Assistant Professor and the Legacy for Airway Health Chair in Health Communication in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, and a Research Scientist at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. Her research focuses on how environmental and social risk factors shape health, and how health risks can be communicated to support informed decision-making and behaviour change. Her recent work has explored communication strategies related to wildfire smoke, radon exposure, and smoking cessation.