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Issue 2/February 2010
Move More!
Welcome to our latest E-Newsletter from: www.participACTION.com
Message from the President
It's February, 2010, and Canadians have Olympic fever! This winter, let's celebrate the elite athletes who will convene in our home country by nurturing the athletes within ourselves.
Before one of our hometown heroes rises to the podium, he or she had to start somewhere far away from the bright lights and blaring national anthem. A passion for sport and the willingness to strive for true excellence begin with a few basic skills and the confidence to try.
Before rising to the top, our kids need physical literacy -- to learn how to move, throw, catch, sled and dance. According to PHE Canada, kids who are physically literate move with competence in a wide variety of physical activities. This February, let's celebrate our Olympians, and encourage the budding athletes across our country, in multi-sport programs, phys. ed. classes and family backyards. Let's make the legacy of these Olympic Games a healthier, more active country. Go Canada!
Warmly,
Kelly Murumets |
| ParticipACTION Update |
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ParticipACTION responds to the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)
ParticipACTION is concerned about new data released January 13 by Statistics Canada on the declining fitness levels of Canadians. The report tells us that we are heavier, rounder, weaker and less flexible than we were a generation ago.
We have known for a while that we are in a physical inactivity crisis in Canada, with over half of Canadian adults considered inactive. Unfortunately, this report underlines that poor activity levels are having a measurable and negative impact on our country's health and fitness.
For ParticipACTION's complete response, please visit our website.
CAAWS 2009 Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity List
The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) has released its 2009 list of Most Influential Women. ParticipACTION President and CEO Kelly Murumets has been named to the list for the second time (2007) alongside 19 other influential women leaders, including Jagoda Pike, who headed up Toronto's successful 2015 Pan Am Games bid, Melody Davidson, General Manager and Coach of the National Women's Hockey Team and the entire Canada's Women Ski Jump Team. Congratulations Kelly!
ParticipACTION supports Ontario's new Health & Physical Education Curriculum
ParticipACTION joins Ophea (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association) in supporting the vision of Ontario's revised Health and Physical Education (H&PE) Curriculum for Grades 1-8, announced on January 18. The new curriculum's vision is that the knowledge and skills acquired in the program will benefit students throughout their lives, and help them to thrive in an ever-changing world. This vision will be achieved by enabling students to acquire physical and health literacy, and to develop the comprehension, capacity and commitment needed to lead healthy, active lives. For more information, visit Ophea or the Ontario Ministry of Education website.
ParticipACTION roots for Hayley
We look forward to cheering on one of our own in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. ParticipACTION board member and three-time Olympic medalist Hayley Wickenheiser is widely regarded as one of the best female hockey players in the world. We wish Hayley and the Canadian women's hockey team success in Vancouver. We will be rooting for you! For more information, or to become a Facebook fan, you can visit Hayley's website. |
| Monthly Highlight |
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Just in time for this year's Heart Month, the Heart and Stroke Foundation released its 2010 Annual Report on Canadians' Health. The report warns that a "perfect storm" of risk factors and demographic changes are converging to create an unprecedented burden on Canada's fragmented system of cardiovascular care, and that no Canadian, young or old, will be left unaffected. For more information, visit the Heart and Stoke Foundation website. |
| Fun Family Tips |
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Fun Family Activities to beat the Winter Blues!
Winter is in full swing, which means many people will be starting to get the winter blues. A great way to combat that 'blah' feeling is to introduce new activities into your family routine. Here are a few new ways to introduce physical activity into your family's life:
- Snap Happy
- Grab your camera, head outdoors and get busy. Take silly pictures of your day with the family at your local park or walking down your favourite street. Start a scrapbook of your family activities and you can continue to add to it!
- Interactive Games Day
- Head outdoors to play some family game favourites. Hide and Seek, Capture the Flag, Red Rover or Red Light, Green Light are all fantastic ways to get your heart pumping and have fun in the process.
- Family Snow Fun
- Dress warmly and head outdoors for some fun in the snow! Create snow sculptures or castles by carving, piling and molding snow into different shapes to make your own creation! For example, you can create a basic snow turtle by making a mound of snow with legs, head and a shell pattern -- this is a great activity for younger kids.
For other ways to incorporate more movement for your family, click here. |
| Research Update |
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Impact of Parental Attitudes on Children's Physical Activity 
Parents need to be physical activity role models for their children. And to impact their children, they have to do more than just move -- they have to display positive attitudes towards physical activity. A recent study examined the relationship between parental and child physical activity levels and their respective beliefs about activity. They found that children and parents share similar attitudes about the value of physical activity. It should be noted that the results differed for girls and boys in some aspects. Reducing gender bias in parental attitudes towards physical activity is important to ensure girls are physically active.
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| Q&A |
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Q - My kids are excited about the Olympics. What can we do other than watch the Games on TV? Janet
A - Why not channel this enthusiasm into activity by staging your own version of the Games? Adapt activities to your own environment and interests and take the opportunity to try something new. Who knows? Your events might even be more fun.
Opening ceremonies - gather friends to celebrate the start of the Games and include a group run or walk around your block.
Bobsleigh, luge or skeleton - go to your favourite snowy hill and time how long it takes each person to sled down the hill.
Biathlon - run around the park, then make a snowball and try to hit a tree or another target. If there isn't enough snow, use a soft ball.
Hockey - have a neighbourhood hockey tournament on your driveway. |
| Professional Development |
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Coaching FUNdamentals
Coaches Association of Ontario
Various dates, Ontario
A number of Canada's successful coaches will be traveling to Ontario communities to deliver a dynamic, interactive camp-style session that will fuel passion for coaching as well as provide practical tools and resources to get started with coaching a community program. The 3-hour sessions teach entry-level coaches, parents and community or school leaders how to coach, how to connect with today's young athletes and the importance of being a coach. The sessions cover:
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How kids learn
- The long-term athlete development model
- The importance of 'playing' in skill progression
- Understanding the role of parents in sport development
If you're an organization interested in hosting a Coaching FUNdamentals session, please contact events@coachesontario.ca
ParticipACTION/Active Healthy Kids Canada Webinar
February 16
Webinar (phone and web access required)
English Only
In response to the 2009 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card, ParticipACTION developed the Take Action guide - a resource intended to help organizations take the Report Card recommendations further and turn the research into action.
In addition to offering the guide, ParticipACTION has teamed up with Active Healthy Kids Canada to develop two webinars. The webinars will:
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Familiarize participants with the long-form Report Card
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Delve in to one to two key recommendations
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Determine actions that interested partners could undertake, either on their own or in a coordinated fashion
February 16, 1:00 - 2:30 pm (EST) - Physical activity and sport participation in the community and at school
This webinar will focus specifically on how we can work together and engage the public sector to establish and link programs intended to help children and youth achieve physical activity targets. For example, we'll discuss how schools, the community and families can each contribute 30 minutes of physical activity (30-30-30) to help kids reach the 90 minutes of physical activity recommended by Canada's Physical Activity Guides. A component related to this topic is the marketing that promotes the joint responsibility and contribution of different partners. We will also touch on the after-school time frame, as well as physical education policies.
March 24, 1:00 - 2:30 pm (EST) - Physically active kids -- the influence of family, peers and community
ParticipACTION Partner Forum
February 24
Webinar (phone and web access required)
English Only
Our first 2010 ParticipACTION Partner Forum will be taking place on February 24 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (EST). The forums are designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing between partners. Participants will have the opportunity to connect, share insights and potentially collaborate on future initiatives. The format will include:
All 2010 forums will require phone and web access.
Once confirmed as a participant, you will receive an email containing the call in/sign in information. Forums will be held in English only.
All Abilities Welcome Workshop
February 26
Bible Hill, NS
The All Abilities Welcome Workshop provides the opportunity for individuals/organizations who promote physical activity via community centres, fitness clubs or recreational facilities, to learn how to develop inclusive programs. Participants will hear success stories from persons who have made the effort to created inclusive programs and participate in facilitated discussions to help provide strategies to develop more inclusive programs in the future.
Registration deadline is February 19, 2010.
For more information, please visit their website.
Mental Health & Physical Activity: Recovery in Motion
PARC Workshop
Various dates in March, Ontario only
Discussion and presentations of the latest research on the topic of using physical activity within mental health treatment. The workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss topics ranging from physical activity and depression to physical activity and substance abuse, based on work from a lead researcher in this area from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
By the end of the workshop you should:
Workshop Dates:
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Thunder Bay, March 2, 10:00 - 3:00 pm
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Sioux Lookout, March 4, 10:00 - 3:00 pm
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Kingston, March 30, 10:00 - 3:00 pm
To register, please visit the PARC website. |
| Partner Highlights and Events |
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Xperiment.ca: A Safe Place for Youth to Learn About Drugs
As part of a larger national drug prevention initiative, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) has launched Xperiment.ca, an innovative drug prevention website for youth. The site provides information about drugs and their effects on the body in an engaging and interactive way, free of preaching overtones.
Xperiment.ca was created through the work of A Drug Prevention Strategy for Canada's Youth -- a national drug prevention initiative that aims to reduce illicit drug use by Canadian youth aged 10 - 24. Other components of this strategy include the development and implementation of youth drug prevention standards for schools, family and community environments, and the development of sustainable partnerships.
To learn more, please visit CCSA's website.
Quebec Winter Carnival
January 29 - February 14
Quebec City, QC
The Quebec Winter Carnival runs from January 29 - February 14 and provides a wide range of family, extreme and nightlife activities to choose from. This year you'll be invited to move, burn your energy and celebrate the sound of lively music.
To see the complete carnival program, please visit their website.
Seniors' Sunday Night Dance
February 7 & 28
Chester Basin, NS
This fun-filled event features 50s and 60s country music from the band Old Time Country.
For more information, please visit their website.
Olympic Torch Relay
February 8
Fort Langley, BC
Come out and celebrate a full day of activities as the Olympic Torch passes through Fort Langley. Admission is free.
For more information, please visit their website.
The Canadian Ski Marathon
February 13-14
Western Laurentian Mountains, QC
Come out and participate in North America's longest and oldest Nordic ski tour. This annual two-day event features a double-tracked ski trail divided into 10 sections and spanning 160 km. The tour runs from Lachute to Gatineau and welcomes over 2,000 skiers of all skill levels and ages (5 to 85). The shortest track is 12 km. Ski at your own pace and put winter to the test!
For more information, please visit their website.
South London Baseball Association Summer Registration
February 20 & March 6
London, ON
The South London Baseball Association is aimed at promoting the sport of baseball to the South London Community. Programs are open to boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 24, as well as adults aged 22 - 65 and offer both fastball and hardball leagues in male, female and co-ed divisions.
Registration dates:
For more information, or to register online, visit their website. |
| Success Story |
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I had been a certified fitness instructor for 10 years when, little by little, the active lifestyle I loved came to a standstill. Due to osteoarthritis, I needed to have a total left hip joint replacement at the age of 51. I returned to leading fitness classes when my rehab was completed, but had another setback with the replacement of my arthritic right hip nine years later. It seemed like I was just getting back on track again when the arthritis developing in my feet became a major concern. I kept looking for something that would give me that old "working hard and loving it feeling," but it was painful for me to simply walk. I tried every type of fitness class available. Then I discovered something called Urban Poling. Under the watchful eye of Urban Poling Master Trainer Kerstin Lemm, I gave it a try. And to my amazement, I could walk for longer periods of time and with significantly less discomfort using the Urban Poles. This activity was fun and easy to learn and I purchased the fitness poles on the spot. I started out with short walks, increasing my time and distance almost every weekend. I noticed a change in my posture and in the strength of my core muscles, as well as the muscles of my arms and legs, as I became more adapted to using the poles. A portion of my body weight was now being transferred through the poles rather than totally through my feet, and the plant, push and propel technique was turning my walks into total body work-outs, just as Kerstin had promised. In June of 2009, ignoring the comments about there being "no snow," I poled my way through a 10K fundraiser. I continued to investigate Urban Poling and became certified as an instructor, also completing the Advanced Techniques Training. Best of all, this past summer, I was back walking and hiking the Bruce Trail with my husband, my German Shepherd, Gabby and, of course, my Urban Poles. This was something that I thought I might never do again. Thanks to Mandi Shintani, Urban Poling and my trainer, Kerstin Lemm, for giving me back my mobility and that "workout" feeling that was so much part of my life.
Story submitted by Fran Betts, Ontario
If you would like to submit articles, events/programs or news to our e-newsletter, or for more information on ParticipACTION, please feel free to contact us by email at info@participACTION.com or visit our website at www.participACTION.com | |
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