Settings-based Intervention Research through
Changes in Lifestyles & Environments

SIRCLE aims to create wellness supporting environments for kids, their families, and their communities.

SIRCLE is Dr. Kate Storey’s Research Lab. Dr. Storey is a Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, CIHR/PHAC Applied Public Health Chair, and Distinguished Researcher, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

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What We’re Up To

SIRCLE delivers and evaluates school- and community-based healthy living programs throughout Canada which promote wholistic health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health inequities. We work to create systems-level change through projects that foster resilience and empowerment and builds on the strengths of communities.

Current SIRCLE-led Projects

Active Transportation (AT) is an innovative way to support healthy, and climate resilient cities. This project aims to understand Edmontonians’ lived experiences and explore factors that affect the implementation and adaptation of Edmonton’s Active Transportation Network Expansion through an equity lens.
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Active School Travel (AST), or walking and wheeling to/from school, is an innovative way to support healthy cities. AST improves mental and physical health and provides social, economic, and environmental benefits.
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Essential Conditions for taking a Comprehensive School Health Approach (CSH) is an effective approach that benefits the health of school communities by transforming the culture of the schools, promoting healthy behaviours for students, and improving academic outcomes.
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The Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program (IYMP) is a communal, relationship-based afterschool healthy living program. It is delivered by Indigenous high school students for elementary school children. IYMP is delivered in partnership with Ever Active Schools in over 50 communities across Canada.
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Schools are powerful and equitable settings to address health, but better evidence is needed to coordinate action across levels. This research will provide a common surveillance system of school health, including youth engagement, to improve the health and well-being of children and youth.
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Past SIRCLE-led Projects

This project aims to surface diverse stories of wellness to inform and inspire Canadian school jurisdictions in adopting their own unique cultures of wellness to improve the health of children in their community.
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This study evaluated the implementation and effectiveness of the scale-up of School’s Out…Let’s Move!, an after-school healthy living program that provided training, resources, and support to after-school care providers.
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Sleeping Soundly is a research project aimed to improve the implementation of sleep promotion in schools, with reach to home and school environments. Our team works to understand perspectives on sleep, and ways that sleep behaviour can be improved.
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Partner-led Projects

APPLE Schools is an innovative school-focused health promotion initiative that works with vulnerable school communities to change students’ healthy eating, physical activity, and mental health habits to improve their quality of life.
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The Canadian Healthy Schools Alliance is a collaboration of stakeholders spanning the interest of both health and education working together to advance healthy school communities across Canada.
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Healthy Schools Antigua aims to support the creation of healthy school communities using a comprehensive school health (CSH) approach in Antigua and Barbuda. Our goal is to enhance the health and well-being of children, as well as build systems and capacity to monitor progress related to children’s health through local research.
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STOMP (Students Together Moving to Prevent Substance Use) is a dynamic school-based program that engages the school community and partners in developing strategies to curb substance use among youth and cultivate healthy school communities.
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What’s New

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2025 Applied Public Health Chairs Gathering: Connected For Health 

On October 6-8th we gathered in Edmonton, Alberta for the 2025 APHC Annual Gathering. This event brought together researcher, trainees, and community partners on the theme of Community-Engaged Research. Co-hosted by Dr. Kate Storey (University of Alberta) and Dr. Kelly Skinner (University of Waterloo). 

Titled Connected for Health, gathering sessions were organized to build on each other, exploring different aspects of community and community-engaged research, including defining what is ‘it’, working in a good way, how we engage, and how to move towards a collaborative space.

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