Peel Region continues to reduce barriers and increase access to dental care for those who need it most

BRAMPTON, ON – April 28, 2026. In a recent update to Peel Region Council, Paul Sharma, Senior Director, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention for Peel Public Health, shared that many Peel children and seniors continue to face financial, geographic and social barriers when accessing oral health care. Peel Public Health works closely with schools, community agencies and health system partners to reduce these barriers, so children and seniors can receive the critical dental care they need.

In a delegation to Peel Region Council, Pamela Bondett, Principal of Birchbank Public School, expressed her appreciation for the successful partnership with Peel Public Health that has allowed her to connect families to services. This has resulted in a decrease in the percentage of children with urgent dental needs over the past 3 years.

Reducing barriers and increasing access to care

Peel Public Health’s oral health programs prioritize serving children and seniors in under-resourced communities who may not be able to receive dental care otherwise.

• In some schools where children need more dental care, students can receive free services, such as dental cleanings, fluoride treatments and dental treatments, all during the school day.
• The children’s oral health program works with local newcomer agencies and shelters to provide dental screenings and preventive dental services to children whose families are experiencing financial or housing instability.
• Public health staff support seniors in applying for the OSDCP and connect them with clinics close to home.
• For clients whose first language is not English, Peel Public Health offers translation services whenever possible.
• Accessible oral health services, such as those provided at Peel dental clinics, reduce emergency room visits and pressure on the overall healthcare system.

In 2025, following the evacuation of three First Nation communities due to wildfires and flooding, Peel Public Health worked with Indigenous partners and local organizations to deliver urgent dental screenings, care and referrals for affected children and seniors. As highlighted in a delegation to Peel Region Council from Christopher Thind, Health Director with Kashechewan Health Services, this response helped ensure evacuated community members could access essential, respectful dental care during a time of significant disruption.

While there are several publicly funded oral health programs available, the number of children and seniors with preventive and urgent dental needs remains high. Peel Public Health is committed to bridging the gap between services and providing necessary dental care to those who need it. Advancing health equity so all Peel residents can access the care they need is a core priority of Peel Public Health’s strategic plan and a key focus for the children’s and seniors’ oral health teams.

Peel Public Health provides free dental screenings and services for children 17 years and younger, and also delivers the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program for eligible low-income seniors 65 years and older. For more information on Peel’s children’s and seniors’ oral health programs, visit our website.

As part of Mississauga’s shared micro-mobility program, e‑scooters have returned this spring as an additional mode of transportation along with e-bikes. E‑scooters provide another way for residents and visitors, 16 and older, to move around the city, especially for short trips. These devices can make it easier to connect to transit, travel to work or school, or complete everyday errands without a car.

The shared e-bike and e-scooter program is contracted through Lime Technology Inc. and Bird Canada. The e-bike program operates year-round, while e-scooters retire for the winter months and return in the spring.

Every mode of transportation carries a shared responsibility, with safety remaining the top priority. Feedback from Council discussions, health partners, operators and community members continue to help refine the program and inform how the City manages and monitors it.

As the City continues with the provision of shared e-scooters, City staff are working with both Lime Technology Inc. and Bird Canada to strengthen messaging and education of proper use of e-scooters, and work collaboratively with our partners including Peel Regional Police to build awareness.

Learn more about riding safety, rules and etiquette.

With warmer weather here, the City of Mississauga’s annual spring cleanup program is officially underway. Crews have begun street sweeping across the city to remove sand, salt and debris left behind after winter.

As part of this planned, citywide program, crews are sweeping curb-faced sidewalks, traffic islands, hard-surfaced boulevards, curbside gutters, roadways and on-street bike lanes. Every street is swept once during the spring program to help keep roads clean and safe for everyone who uses them.

This program is weather dependent and is paused when it rains.

Catch basin cleaning is also ongoing. Debris is cleared from catch basin grates during street sweeping, through regular patrols and in response to service requests. This work helps to ensure that water can flow freely into the stormwater system when it rains. Catch basin interiors are cleaned out once every three years to remove any sediment.

Residents can help keep catch basins clear by properly disposing of litter and yard waste so that it doesn’t collect on the road. To report a blocked or damaged catch basin, please call 311. To learn more, visit mississauga.ca/services-and-programs/transportation-and-streets/roads-and-sidewalks/spring-cleanup-and-street-sweeping/ .