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Issue 3/March 2010
Move More!
Welcome to our latest E-Newsletter from: www.participACTION.com
Message from the President
It's March, 2010, and our belief in the power of sport to unify and motivate the nation is at a high in Canada. At the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games on March 12 - 21, we will witness more of the world's best athletes go head-to-head on the courses, rinks and slopes of our home country.
For the first time ever, the Paralympics will be held in Canada. ParticipACTION invites the country to join us in celebrating the Games and the grit, determination and athleticism that they represent to all of us.
The Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in Ottawa on March 3 with a lighting ceremony, and then visit 10 communities across Canada. The 10-day celebration will highlight and share the stories of inspirational individuals: their achievements, their passions and their courage. Get inspired and get moving, everybody, and rise up to support our athletes. Go Canada!
Warmly,
Kelly Murumets |
| ParticipACTION Update |
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ParticipACTION's digital annual report wins silver at the Mercury Awards
ParticipACTION is thrilled to be awarded a silver at the 2009/10 Mercury Awards - an international competition honouring excellence in professional communication. With over 760 entries from 21 countries, the awards recognize talented and creative professionals from across the globe.
We share this award with Kolody Inc., who worked with us to develop our first fully interactive online annual report. To learn more about the awards, please click here.
To view our award-winning ParticipACTION Annual Report, please click here.
Rick Hansen and Kelly Murumets win Coca-Cola's Live Positively Award in Vancouver
Congratulations to Rick Hansen and Kelly Murumets, who were both honoured with the Coca-Cola "Live Positively Award" at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on February 18. The awards celebrate the people who "inspire others to create a more positive Canada."
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| Monthly Highlight |
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A one-of-a-kind active transportation school opens in Canada
In an effort to battle rising child obesity rates, traffic congestion, environmental concerns and injuries from motor vehicle crashes, P.L. Robertson Elementary School in Milton, Ontario, opened in January of 2010 as the first in Canada that forbids parents from driving their kids to school. About 98% of the school's 700 students bike, walk, skateboard or ride scooters to and from school. If the pilot program, run in collaboration with a local school transportation consortium, is successful, it will be expanded to 18 to 20 additional schools within the next year.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games
The excitement continues with the first Paralympic Winter Games ever to be held in Canada, from March 12-21, 2010. Five sports will be on the Games program: Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing, Wheelchair Curling and Sledge Hockey.
To follow the Games, please visit the official website. |
| Fun Family Tips |
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March is an exciting time. The weather is starting to get a little warmer (maybe?) and families are looking forward to March Break. If you're planning to stay close to home this break, there are plenty of ways to get more movement into your family's plans:
- Schedule play dates that revolve around physical activity or sport
- If the weather's nice, bring the children to a local park
- Go skating, skiing, tobogganing or snowshoeing
- Check out special programs through local recreation centres, youth groups and community sport and physical activity organizations
- Register your children for a day camp or skills camp that focuses on physical activity
- Go window shopping or walk through the malls
- Explore museums or science centres for some culture and creativity while you stroll!
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| Research Update |
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Life events and their impact on women's physical activity
Everyone experiences milestone events throughout their lives - from getting married, to becoming a parent, to entering and exiting the workforce. Recent research looked at the impact of various life events, each associated with increases or decreases in discretionary time, on women's physical activity levels. When women have less discretionary, or "free" time, their physical activity decreases, and when they have more discretionary time, their physical activity increases. For example, for young women, the birth of a child is associated with a reduction in physical activity, and for middle-aged women, retirement is associated with an increase in physical activity. Some life events do not change demands on time, but present challenges in other ways. In these cases, increased physical activity is a way of coping with stressful events.
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| Q&A |
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Q - I made a New Year's resolution to get more active. For the first few weeks, I did really well and was able to get 60 minutes of activity on most days, but I have slowly have fallen back into my old ways. What do you recommend to get back on track? Abbey
A - First of all, don't give up! Starting, stopping and restarting a physical activity routine is quite common, so don't be discouraged. You may have been a little over ambitious with your New Year's resolution. Try setting more realistic goals, like gradually building up to 60 minutes a day. And remember that activity doesn't have to be done all at once - you may find it easier to fit in 10 - minute bouts of physical activity throughout your day. |
| Professional Development |
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Inspiring Action - Jump in 2010
March 5
Regina, SK
Only 15% of Saskatchewan kids meet national guidelines for physical activity. If you're not OK with that, we invite you to jump in and be part of the solution.
Want to make an impact? Start by attending or participating in this event in order to:
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Hear Severn Cullis-Suzuki speak about how global change begins at the community level.
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Ask questions about what this means to you.
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Connect with others who care about making Saskatchewan more physically active.
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Discuss what you can do to make it happen.
Can't be in Regina? Be part of the day wherever you are:
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Join us through the LIVE Satellite Network and find a participating site near you.
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Watch live over the internet from your home or office.
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Host a group in your school or community.
To learn more about Jump in 2010, please click here.
Mothers in Motion seeks Community Collaborators
The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is seeking opportunities to collaborate with eight communities across Canada. Interested in developing and delivering a physical activity program and/or sport initiative for mothers of low socioeconomic status (LSES) that fully integrates a healthy eating and/or nutrition for sport component.
Each program must be a minimum of 8 weeks, with the ultimate goal of promoting the importance of healthy, active living. Programs must begin before June 1, 2010. Each community will receive $2,000 in program support, which can be used for equipment, resources, promotion of programs and/or events, childcare services or transportation costs for LSES mothers.
Application forms and more details can be found here. Submission Deadline: March 17, 2010.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Laura Spragge at lspragge@caaws.ca
ParticipACTION/Active Healthy Kids Canada - Take Action Webinar
March 24
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 webinars. The next one is:
March 24,1:00 - 2:30 pm - Physically active kids - the influence of family, peers and community.
Join us to:
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Get familiar 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.
PARC Pre/Post-natal Physical Activity
March 31
In-Person Workshop
Kingston, ON
This workshop will outline the importance of physical activity before, during and after pregnancy and present the latest research from Dr. Michelle Mottola, Director of the Exercise and Pregnancy Lab at the University of Western Ontario. Workshop participants will be provided with the most recent resource list on what is available for pre- and post-natal physical activity. By the end of the workshop you should:
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Have knowledge about the benefits of being physically active before, during and after pregnancy.
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Be aware of special considerations and exercise contraindications.
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Have increased knowledge of current research in the area of physical activity and pre/post pregnancy.
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Know how to incorporate physical activity into existing pre/post-natal programs, and be aware of what programs already exist.
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Know where to get more information.
To register for the workshop, please visit their website. |
| Partner Highlights and Events |
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Les Hivernades de Chicoutimi
Chicoutimi, QC
March 1 - 7
Les Hivernades offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the joys of winter as a family. Activities include dance, arts exhibitions, snowmobile and ATV activity, an outdoor amusement area and more!
To learn more, please visit their website. (French only)
Louisbourg 5-Mile Slush Run
March 6
Louisbourg, NS
Come out and participate in an exhilarating 5-mile race, starting and ending at the George D. Lewis School in Louisbourg. The cost is $10 per participant, and a delicious chili luncheon will follow at the school.
Out from Under - Disability, History and Things to Remember
March 9 - 21
Vancouver, BC
A groundbreaking, interactive installation that pays tribute to the resilience, creativity and cultural contributions of Canadians with disabilities.
For more information on the interactive installation, please visit their website.
Carrot River Winter Festival
March 12 - 14
Carrot River, SK
Enjoy a variety of activities, including a figure skating carnival, street hockey tournament, sleigh rides, children's events, youth curling bonspiel and more. There is no admission charge, however there are entry fees for the hockey tournaments, chainsaw competition and youth bonspiel.
For more information, please visit their website.
Winter Carnival 2010
March 13 - 20
Labrador City, NF
Come out and enjoy Labrador's Winter Carnival. Activities include winter sports, snowmobile races, skiing, snowboarding, sliding, Zamboni Olympics and more.
For more information, please visit their website.
Rock & Ice Ultra Coldfoot Classic
March 20
Yellowknife, NT
Participate in a 50-km solo or team endurance race on skis or snowshoes through the backcountry around Yellowknife. For more information, please visit their website.
Snowbird Beach Day
March 21
Oak Hammock Marsh, MB
Be transported to the wonderful world of the Caribbean through live displays of birds of the tropics and live steel drum music. You will also have the opportunity to learn Latin dancing.
For more information, please visit their website. |
| Success Story |
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As a child amputee, I spent most of my time in gym class sitting around watching the other kids have fun. I just assumed that because of my disability, I was supposed to sit around and do nothing. As the years passed, this lethargy took its toll, leading to weight gain, difficulty walking and poor self-esteem. But wasn't that the way it was supposed to be? I was dragging a heavy prosthesis around with me. Wasn't I supposed to have a "desk job" somewhere and make other people look good?
Enter Vancouver. When I first came here, people said, "it's an outdoorsy kind of place." Well, I thought to myself, I'm sure there are other things I can do - I'm disabled after all. I'm not supposed really be into fitness. In one word, I was... wrong! In addition to learning more about recreation for disabled adults, I got myself a personal trainer, started working out, changed my diet and I've never looked back. Today I run literally a mile every day on a treadmill. I do sit ups on bosu balls with ten-pound weights, as well as twenty pushups every day. Wait, there's more! I've also become an outstanding downhill skier, and I have had the great joy of skiing at Whistler, as well as Grouse Mountain here in Vancouver. I was told I am an excellent skier. Wait, there's more! I also went water skiing and literally stood up on one leg on the water. My whole body had changed. Walking was easier. I thought I had reached my peak. What else could I hope to achieve? Wait, there's more! Last fall I was in London, England. Thank God I couldn't afford to get a car. Why? Because I was forced to walk 2-3 miles every day, and I did it! The result? I lost over ten pounds! I am wearing a belt around my waist for the first time in my life... and it's at the last notch!!! This is unbelievable!!
Today, I am an "integrated dancer." Integrated dance is a unique art form utilizing both able-bodied and disabled performers in contact improvisation. Currently I am in rehearsal for a dance performance to take place at the Paralympics here in Vancouver. Together with six wheelchair dancers, we will be dancing to a theme song of the games called "Open Happiness." What a great experience it is to work with other disabled performers. I am required to hop around and interact with the other dancers while they do their original wheelchair thing. What a great opportunity to show the world my best body yet. I am light years away from lethargy and obesity.
Recently, I had a heart reading done. The doctor described my heart reading as "perfect." For me, ParticipACTION has changed my life, improved my health and provided me with international exposure at the Paralympics. Wait there's more... I'm not stopping yet.
Story submitted by Lawrence Shapiro
Lawrence Shapiro performs "Open Happiness" at Robson Square in downtown Vancouver at different times throughout the day on March 11 and March 12.
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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