Durham Region residents can now read the Health Department's 2025 Health Check Up report online, an annual summary that tallies the public health and paramedic work carried out across the region — including Ajax — over the past year.
Food safety stands out among the highlights. Public health inspectors performed nearly 8,000 food safety inspections in 2025, provided oversight at more than 407 special events, and offered practical educational tools for food premises, according to a Region of Durham news release.
Why it matters in Ajax
Those inspections cover the restaurants, cafes, food trucks and community events that Ajax residents visit every day. The Region said the work helped protect residents from foodborne illnesses and supported safe community gatherings throughout the year.
Special event oversight is also part of the department's remit, meaning the food vendors at fairs, festivals and other gatherings in Durham municipalities fall under public health scrutiny before and during those events.
A broad public health mandate
The Health Department is responsible for protecting and promoting the health of Durham Region residents. Its staff include professionals with a range of expertise who deliver both public health and paramedic programs and services.
Beyond food safety, the report covers the department's work protecting residents from health hazards, helping to prevent diseases and promoting equitable health outcomes across the region, according to the Region of Durham news release.
The Region says it is committed to serving the community through a wide range of public health and paramedic programs and services, with the goal of achieving optimal health and well-being for all people in Durham Region.
Where to read it
The full 2025 Health Check Up report is available on the Region of Durham's website at durham.ca. Residents with questions about regional programs and services can also reach the Region by dialing 311 from within Durham Region, or 905-668-7711 from outside its boundaries.
The report is one of the ways the Health Department reports publicly on its activities each year, giving residents a window into the inspections, programs and services that operate behind the scenes in their communities.
