Preliminary results of an evaluation of three Healthy Cities initiatives in the Montreal area

In September 1991, we began to evaluate three Healthy Cities initiatives in the Montreal area using a holistic approach, based on the theory of negotiated mode of action. We are experimenting with an interactive evaluation method which aims to involve participants in the process and to help them gain a better understanding of their project. Two techniques are being used to concretize the process: a steering committee who interpret the data collected throughout the process and a newsletter that outlines the results to participants at all sites. This paper describes how three elements of the Healthy Cities concept—sharing of common objectives, intersectoral action and citizen participation—are being implemented at the three sites being analyzed. We will show that the three initiatives underline the negotiation process that must be respected to maintain the balance between the objectives of intersectoral action and citizen participation. Preliminary results also show the importance of the healthy public policies strategy that should be analyzed as one part of a three-headed concept with the two precedent objectives. We will discuss also the requirements of an interactive evaluation approach, both for the evaluators and ‘evaluatees’. Evaluators must be able to communicate, motivate and negotiate and participants must take an interest in the evaluation process and agree to listen to opinions on the development of their project that may be different from their own views.