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Issue 11 / November 2010
Move More!
Message from the President
This past month, I was honoured to be invited to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to share ParticipACTION's message with the international sport and physical activity community.
From October 7 to 9, I joined scientists and physical activity experts from around the world to learn more about the global inactivity crisis and effective strategies to overcome it.
ParticipACTION was asked to present to the Agita Mundo Network Annual Meeting as an example of different agendas in Physical Activity Promotion at the International Level, alongside speakers from as far as Sweden, Dubai, Australia and the United States. I was proud to represent Canada, telling the story of how we work with other organizations across our country to promote physical activity and sport to our citizens.
I was also proud to represent Canada at an International Forum on Good Practices in Physical Activity Promotion in the World at the concurrent International Symposium of Sports Sciences the next day.
Those present were interested in what Canada has to say. They see us as partners in the global movement to move more. And they were interested in how we, as Canadians, are working towards making physical activity a part of who we are as a nation. ParticipACTION is only as strong as its fantastic network of friends, colleagues and partners - so thank you.
Together, we can achieve our vision for a society where Canadians are the most physically active on earth!
Warmly,
Kelly Murumets |
| ParticipACTION Update | | |
Be active in social media too!
Now you can keep up to date with the latest ParticipACTION news and join in on the discussion. There are three ways to communicate with us: become a fan of our FACEBOOK group, follow us on TWITTER or check out our BLOG.
Hope to see you there soon!
ParticipACTION and Get Active Toronto donate outdoor fitness parks to City of Toronto to encourage residents to get outside, get active
ParticipACTION, in partnership with Get Active Toronto, has donated two GreenGym accessible outdoor fitness gyms for Toronto residents to use for free at Ashbridges Bay Park and Glen Ravine Park in Scarborough. Kelly (centre left) teamed up with Toronto Argonauts Cedric Gagne-Marcoux (left) and Ricky Foley (right) and Get Active Toronto Manager Catriona Delaney (centre right) to try out the new outdoor equipment - challenging all Torontonians to get off the couch, enjoy the outdoors and stay physically active.
"This is another great way to give our residents more opportunities for physical activity," says Mayor David Miller, who is also Honorary Chair, Get Active Toronto. "We all live healthy, more vibrant, more thoughtful lives when we are fit."
ParticipACTION worked with Get Active Toronto and its partners to secure the Ashbridges Bay Park and Glen Ravine Park locations and promote the use of the outdoor equipment to city residents.
"Being active outdoors is a great way to improve your health while escaping the pressures of everyday life," says Murumets. "Thank you to the Toronto Argonauts, the City of Toronto and Get Active Toronto for helping us spread the word about the movement to move more."
According to the 2010 Get Active Toronto Report on Physical Activity, over 57 per cent of Torontonians aged 12 and up are inactive; a number that has risen six percent since 2005.
This donation is meant to make physical activity accessible to people of all incomes, abilities, interests and ages.
"These new outdoor fitness parks provide a great opportunity for families to enjoy outdoor physical activity for free," says Delaney. "We are proud to work together with ParticipACTION to reduce or eliminate barriers and enable a more active population."
The GreenGym outdoor fitness equipment is weatherproof, so can be used all year round, and does not use weights for resistance, but rather one's own body weight.
"I think it's a great idea," says a local resident who has made use of the equipment at Glen Ravine Park. ParticipACTION is proud to work with its partners to encourage physical activity and give back to the community.
Feel the fall - get outdoors and get moving this month
Here are some fun suggestions from ParticipACTION on how you, your family and friends can enjoy the fall colours while staying active this month:
- Head out to a local farm and pick pumpkins or apples.
- Go on a geocaching adventure and enjoy the autumn scenery.
- Rake the leaves as a family. Create piles of leaves to jump over!
- On a grey day, put on your rain gear and head out for a stroll or dance in the rain.
- Go fall fishing.
- Venture through a local corn maze or explore a fall fair.
For more fun ways to get you - and your loved ones - active visit the ParticipACTION Fun Tips webpage.
Join the ParticipACTION Partner Network
The ParticipACTION Partner Network (PPN) is a robust network of not-for-profit and public-sector organizations dedicated to physical activity and sport participation. ParticipACTION's belief is that the PPN will not only help support the work of individual member organizations, but will strengthen the physical activity and sport participation sector in Canada. The PPN is a formalized mechanism through which:
- ParticipACTION can marshal resources and deploy these resources to PPN members in support of the delivery of initiatives to address the physical inactivity crisis.
- PPN members can build a community of practice related to physical activity through collaboration and communication between stakeholders.
- ParticipACTION can facilitate the coordination of communications and knowledge exchange across Canada, to ensure clarity of message to the general public and to help build capacity of member organizations.
To learn more, please contact Christa Costas-Bradstreet at ccbradstreet@participACTION.com
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| Research Update | |
 Physical activity and the prevention and management of diabetes
Due to the serious implications of diabetes, every effort should be made to ensure proper management and prevention for those at risk of developing diabetes. Poor management and lack of treatment may result in serious or life-threatening complications such as cardiovascular disease, renal failure and retinal and nerve damage. Aside from the known general benefits of being active, physical activity is increasingly being recognized as an effective prevention and management option for persons with diabetes. Research shows that regular physical activity has the potential to both directly and indirectly impact the progression and/or development of diabetes through a variety of means, such as improved muscle and liver insulin sensitivity, improved glycemic control, decreased body weight and percentage of body fat and lower blood pressure. Physical activity may also be responsible for the prevention/delay in development of other diabetes-related complications.
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| Q&A | |
Q- My kids are really busy with homework at school and it's hard to juggle their busy schedules to make time for them to be active. Isn't school more important? Leonora.
A- Kids are busy these days, and you're not alone in feeling a bit stretched for time. However, research shows that regular physical activity can actually improve reading and math grades. Even when time is taken away from other school subjects to devote to physical activity, academic performance is not diminished - in fact, it's improved. So, if you want your children to excel in school, you may want to make sure they have time to hit a ball around in addition to hitting the books. |
| Professional Development | |
Ontario Sport 4 Life SummitNovember 26-27Toronto, ONYou've heard it before - Canadians need to get active. Obesity is rising at alarming rates and sport participation is dramatically declining. So what is Ontario doing about it? "Shaking the Foundations" to change the way we organize and participate in sport and physical activity in the province. The goal of this event is to mobilize and build real momentum for implementation of Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) concepts in Ontario. Experts from across the country will be on hand to lead interesting discussions, along with Ontario based organizations sharing local best practices. For more information on the "Shaking the Foundations" summit, or to register, please visit the Ontario Sport 4 Life website.
Healthy Children Healthy Spaces ConferenceNovember 14-16Ottawa, ONAs a strategic and action-based forum, the Healthy Children Healthy Spaces Conference will explore the roles that outdoor spaces, risk, perceptions of risk and liability, access to safe, inspiring outdoor play, learning and living have on the health of our children and communities. Outcomes will address existing barriers and increase access to healthy spaces that foster opportunities for every child to learn, live and play outside. For more information on the conference, or to register, please visit the Healthy Children Healthy Spaces website.
Urban PolingActivator Certification Course/Instructor Certification CourseVarious dates in NovemberVarious locations in CanadaThe Activator Certification Course (ACC) is for instructors and therapists who work with less active older adults, care facilities and rehab centres. It provides in-depth training on using Activator poles for core strength, ROM, posture, stability and balance for group programs and one-to-one rehabilitation. The ACC schedule is as follows: November 30, Victoria, BC. For more information, please visit the Urban Poling website. The Instructor Certification Course (ICC) provides unique and comprehensive training on the proper use of urban poles (Nordic walking) and gives trainers all the materials, tools and support needed to start their own urban poling program.
The ICC schedule is as follows: November 5, Saskatoon, SK. For more information, please visit the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation website or the Urban Poling website. November 28, Toronto, ON. For more information, please contact Barb Gormley at bgormley@rogers.com or visit the Urban Poling website. Petro Canada Sport Leadership sportif 2010November 18-21Ottawa, ONWhether you are a coach, administrator, sport scientist, researcher, coach educator or leader in the corporate community, the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference is your opportunity to CONNECT, LEARN, NETWORK and CELEBRATE sport in Canada. Attend Sport Leadership sportif to celebrate successes, challenge traditional thinking and reflect upon and explore current struggles. Hear and interact with innovators, influencers, change agents, thought leaders and icons that inform and inspire in one of four streams: coaching the developing athlete, high performance coaching, coach education and research and sport management. The SPIN Summit, prior to the start of Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif, is an excellent forum for exchange between high-performance coaches and sport science experts. For more information, please visit the Petro Canada Sport Leadership sportif 2010 website. Bone FitAdvanced Training Workshop for Health and Exercise ProfessionalsNovember 27-28Sudbury, ONDo you work with people who have osteoporosis? If so, we can help you bone up on the development of safe exercise programs that can help reduce the risk of fractures due to bone loss. Osteoporosis Canada, the only national organization serving people who have, or are at risk for, osteoporosis, has developed the Bonefit course with the help of experts in the field and input from patients. Our workshops are designed for kinesiologists, physical therapists, certified exercise physiologists and other healthcare and exercise professionals. They focus on safe exercises and activities based on best practices in the management of osteoporosis. For more information on the course, or to register, please visit the Bonefit website.
ParticipACTION Forum - WebinarFebruary 2011NationalThe ParticipACTION Forums are designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing between organizations. Our last ParticipACTION Forum on Age Friendly Communities, which occurred on October 20, was very successful, with about fifty participants. We look forward to more and more participants joining in on these forums as they are scheduled. The next ParticipACTION Forum will take place in February 2011 (Date to be confirmed), from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (EST). The theme of this forum will be "Physical activity and sport participation: the relationship to preventing, treating and controlling breast cancer." If you would like to sign up to participate in this forum as a presenter or a participant, please email: forum@participACTION.com. We are looking for people to present their initiatives (programs, resources, etc.) related to physical activity/sport aimed at addressing breast cancer.
If you have an upcoming professional development opportunity that you would like featured in our newsletter, please contact info@participACTION.com |
| Highlights and Events | |
Traditional Horse Campground ProjectOngoingE.C. Manning Park, BCThe Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia (BCHBC) is excited that their dream of a horse camping area for equestrians in E.C. Manning Park in southwestern British Columbia is becoming a reality! Their partners, BC Parks, Equine Canada, Horse Council BC and Manning Park Resort are also thrilled. Together, they are striving to develop a safe and secure overnight camping area for horseback riders, which can also be used as a staging area for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. This project will help promote the beautiful BC Parks and encourage participants to get outdoors. Recently, 25 BCHBC volunteers participated in a two-day work bee to do horse logging, build a ranch gate and start a perimetre fence. Participants ranged in age from eight to 80. Everyone stayed busy, from making coffee and serving meals to hooking logs and pounding nails! It is truly amazing what has been accomplished by these volunteers who believe in what they are doing! For information on helping BCHBC raise needed funds by voting for the Manning Park Horse Camp Project, please visit the following website.
The Reel Rock TourNovember 4Halifax, NSClimb Nova Scotia and The Trail Shop, in association with Dal Kings Climbing Club, are very excited to bring The Reel Rock Tour to Halifax. The Reel Rock Tour (RRT) is a series of climbing videos that will send a chill of adrenaline down your spine. The RRT is scheduled to stop at over 150 locations worldwide to show the latest and best climbing videos, including bouldering, sport, big-wall and mountaineering. Whether you consider yourself a climber or not, the RRT will provide you with the most entertaining and thrilling movies you see all year. Everyone is encouraged to come and take advantage of this FREE event. For more information on the Reel Rock Tour event, please visit the Climb Nova Scotia website or the Reel Rock Tour website. Remembrance Day HikeNovember 11Winnipeg, MBEnjoy a fall hike on Bluestem trail in Bird's Hill Park with Ray Burns. For more information, or to register for the hike, please visit the Nature Manitoba website. Santa Claus ParadeVarious datesVarious locationsIt is about that time of year. Despite the lack of snow in some areas of the country, there is still a lot of winter cheer mounting in the air. Various cities and towns across the country will be having their annual Santa Claus Parades this November. Take the family out for a stroll and share some time together while taking in some of the festive sights and sounds. Visit your local city website for more information on when a parade may be hitting your town.
24h de ski de TremblantDecember 10-12Mont Tremblant, QCCome celebrate the 10th anniversary as a participant, fan or spectator, and enjoy an amazing and memorable weekend packed with free outdoor concerts, endless activities in the pedestrian village and numerous surprises. Join in the festivities and contribute to the largest fundraiser in the ski industry. For more information on this event, please visit the 24h de ski de Tremblant website. |
| Success Stories | | |
Tyler and Jocelyn's Bike Across Canada for Sogo Active and the Youth Inactivity CrisisTraveling Canada by bike is, by far, one of the best ways to explore what our country has to offer, however not everyone has the time or opportunity to travel this way. They can still adventure outside of their comfort zones and explore their own turf, though. Canada is the most beautiful country - why would you travel overseas, when you haven't even explored your own backyard? Now that I have seen all of this great country, I can travel the world and tell those I meet abroad why they should explore Canada. It is friendly, safe, cultural, historical, has something for every type of traveler and would be an experience of a lifetime. One thing that helped us succeed in our cross-Canada adventure was goal setting. Obviously, there was the long-term goal of crossing all 10 provinces, but more importantly, we created short-term goals - markers that we regularly checked off - giving us a feeling of achievement as we went. Without these short-term goals, this trip would have been far too mentally exhausting for us. Goal setting is an extremely important life skill that helped us meet challenges and inspire us to drive change. On this tour, we learned a lot about ourselves - we learned how building teamwork, trust and strong partnerships are vital life skills, beneficial for the growth and maturation of a person. Through our time on the road, we strengthened these life skills, challenged ourselves, inspired those around us, promoted healthy and active lifestyles and smiled the whole time. We set a goal to traverse the country by bike, worked as a team and overcame many obstacles, and are now able to look back at what we have completed with a great sense of accomplishment. We did this for ourselves and are very happy to be able to share our experience with you! Submitted by Tyler Ladouceur.
View other Success Stories or submit your own on the ParticipACTION website.
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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