|
|
|
Issue: 4 / April 2011
Welcome to our latest E-Newsletter from:
www.participACTION.com |
Move More! |
|
|
|
|
Message from the President
Spring has sprung! April showers may be upon us, but a little wet weather won't stop many of us here at ParticipACTION from getting to work under our own steam. Now that we've shrugged off the long, dark days of winter, it is true Canadian bliss to stretch our legs outside, unencumbered by layers of winter woolies.
Some of my colleagues bike to work - no matter what the weather! Others take transit and get off several stops early to walk the last few blocks. One of us even bravely skateboards in from a nearby neighbourhood.
As for me, I have the real pleasure of walking to work. It never fails to boost my spirits and give me energy to take on whatever the day has in store. No traffic jams, and if I'm lucky, lots of blue skies overhead.
If each of us exchanged some of our trips in the car with active ways to get to where we need to go, we'd be a healthier, more physically active nation. So why not take advantage of the fresh spring air and put away the car keys the next time you need to go out.
Enjoy the weather!
Enthusiastically,
Kelly
|
|
|
ParticipACTION Updates
ParticipACTION wants to hear from YOU!
We recently revamped our E-newsletter and would love to hear your thoughts about its look, the content and information we provide in it, and whether we're missing anything that you would like to hear more about! Please take a few minutes of your time and fill out the following survey.
As always, thank you for supporting our vision in making Canada the most physically active place on earth.
ParticipACTION's Dare2Move Teen Challenge
We would like to thank every teen who entered the Dare2Move Teen Challenge. There have been some very creative entries - a lot of hard work was put into each and every submission. We are so very proud to have such enthusiastic and involved teens in Canada! Every submission was inspirational, motivational and unique.
The deadline to submit Challenge entries has come and gone, and the winners will be chosen very soon. Visit the ParticipACTION Dare2Move webpage in the coming weeks to view the winning submissions.
With every step we take in educating teens about youth inactivity, we are one step closer to solving the crisis at hand. For more information on the Inactivity Crisis and for statistics on youth and child physical activity levels please visit the ParticipACTION Inactivity Crisis and Facts and Stats webpages.
The ParticipACTION Tool Kit offers FREE communication and promotional materials
To help inspire and inform Canadians, we've developed the ParticipACTION Tool Kit, which contains free communications materials that organizations can use to promote physical activity and sport participation.
Many of the materials are available to all. And if you are a ParticipACTION Partner Network (PPN) member, you can also access customizable materials.
New to the toolkit: ParticipACTION 'Think Again' pin ups, ads, posters and web banners.
Feel free to view and download the available materials online at the ParticipACTION Tool Kit webpage.
|
|
Tips from ParticipACTION's Active Living Ambassador
Staying fit and on budget!
For many people, the cost of joining a gym is prohibitive. But don't think for a minute that this means you can't be physically active. Building physical activity into daily routines is among the best ways to make it part of your life -- for life! Walk the kids to and from school and you'll all benefit; walk part or all of the way to work; ride your bike; enjoy an after-dinner walk all year-round, or try one or more of the following options. Commit to fit and enjoy the many benefits!
Everyday routines: Walk everywhere you can! Ever since you were a mere several months old, your body has been trying to get you upright and on your feet. Walking is the most natural exercise there is!
Don't watch, join: If you've got kids at play, join in! Get in on the soccer, ball hockey, tennis and Frisbee fun. It's good for all of you and may up your cool factor with your kids and their friends.
Work it: Shovel the last of the snow, mow your lawn this spring and summer, weed the garden, rake the leaves and crank up the tunes when cleaning up around the house. It's all about moving more!
Invest a little: I'm a big fan of jump ropes, resistance bands and hand weights. Add in an exercise mat, pedometer, Nordic Walking poles and a good pair of running shoes and you've got everything you need - and more - to get into the shape of your life! Some tunes are nice too!
Community programs and services: Check out Parks and Rec. programs, community centres and even local libraries and churches. Many offer fitness classes that are free or very reasonable in cost. Further, make use of public tennis courts, trails that provide workout stations along the way, and what about the local pool? Pull out your maple leaf covered Speedo and away you go! (Actually, you may want to rethink this last suggestion!).
Exercise DVDs: Borrow exercise DVDs from your local library or from a friend. Or, follow an exercise program on TV.
Spring is the perfect season to spring into action in the great outdoors. How will you get getting active and fit this season? For more tips and articles written by Catherine Cameron, Ambassador, Active Living, or to chat with her, visit the ParticipACTION Blog. |
|
Physical Activity in the News
The Report Card is coming!
Mark your calendar for April 26. That's the day that the 7th annual Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth will be released to the public.
Established in 1994, Active Healthy Kids Canada works to passionately advocate the importance of accessible, quality, and enjoyable physical activity for children across the nation. The annual Report Card is a much-anticipated release that shines the spotlight on physical inactivity among kids, drawing national attention to this crisis.
How will the physical activity levels of our nation's children
measure up this year? Stay tuned ....
Agita Mundo Walking: A Massive Physical Activity Message Dissemination
On April 6th, 2011, Agita Mundo is requesting that every physical activity/sport/recreation related institution disseminate a communication piece about World Day for Physical Activity. Spread the word around the world about physical activity and its importance in leading a healthy happy life.
If your organization is interested in getting involved in World Day for Physical Activity you may register an event or obtain communication posters at the Agita Mundo website. |
Research Update
Health Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children and Youth
Want to get active as a family? Get outside! The outdoor environment is increasingly being recognized as an effective venue for increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviors among children and youth. Parks, trails, recreation facilities and schools provide settings that can facilitate physical activity among youth and children. Recent studies suggest that times spent in outdoor activities such as active transportation, sports, and even non-structured activities like walking the dog or playing on the playground, are associated with increased physical activity in children. Specifically, there appears to be a link between the natural environment and enhanced mental well-being in kids and youth. Additional potential health benefits of outdoor activity include improved asthma, growth and development, myopia, as well as reduced stress, chronic pain, blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension.
Although more research is needed to identify predictors and barriers to being physically active outdoors, the natural environment provides plenty of opportunities for kids, youth, and families to stay motivated and get active.
|
|
Q & A
Q- Is there an activity, or sport, that can be considered the BEST for keeping me fit and healthy? And how long should I be taking part in this activity or sport in order to obtain the best possible results? - David
A - Contrary to popular belief, there is no one "best" activity or sport for physical fitness. The best sports and activities for keeping you healthy are the ones you actually do! In order to find something that you can stick to, and that works for your age and body type, it is important to choose activities that you enjoy and feel comfortable doing. Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines recommends choosing a variety of different activities. These Guidelines, broken into four age categories, explain the amount and types of physical activity that you need to experience significant, positive changes to your health. |
|
Professional Development
Superior Living Health & Wellness Expo
April 9- 10
Thunder Bay, ON
The 7th Annual Health Expo, showcasing over 70 fitness, nutrition, health and well being exhibits and experts with seminars, demos and interactive displays, will be hosted by the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
For more information please contact Nancy: nancy@tb-chamber.on.ca
Centre 4 Active Living
2011 Physical Activity Forum
May 10 - Edmonton, AB
May 12 - Calgary, AB
The 2011 Physical Activity Forum offers a dynamic and timely presentation by Dr. Phil Wilson: Motivating Physical Activity Behaviour: How do we separate fact from fiction? The presentation will provide insights to practitioners and professionals about major developments in the field of human motivation, as applied to physical activity behaviour. Following the presentation, Dr. Wilson and three Alberta practitioners will participate in a panel discussion.
For more information on the Forum, or to register, visit the Centre 4 Active Living website.
The ParticipACTION Partner Network - Building Strength in Numbers
Since the inception of the ParticipACTION Partner Network (PPN) in late 2009, a variety of not-for-profit and public-sector organizations have joined our ranks. The group shares a similar vision - to motivate and encourage Canadians to lead more active, healthy lives. With over 100 organizational members thus far, and with more and more organizations joining every week, the PPN is building strength in numbers.
The PPN is dedicated to those involved in the physical activity, recreation and sport participation sectors. 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.
Membership in the PPN is free and voluntary, and provides organizations with the following benefits:
- Access to desirable and valuable sector information through Partner Forums and free, easy-to-use communications and resource distribution channels
- Membership to the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC)
- Access to customizable ParticipACTION Tool Kit materials
For more information on the PPN and how the network can benefit you and your organization, visit the PPN webpage or contact Christa Costas-Bradstreet at ccbradstreet@participACTION.com
If you have an upcoming professional development opportunity that you would like featured, please contact info@participACTION.com. |
Highlights and Events
On the Move Workshops - Call for Ontario Host Communities
Deadline: April 29
With funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, CAAWS will be delivering a number of On the Move workshops in Ontario until June 2012. If you are interested in hosting an On the Move workshop in your community visit http://caaws.ca/onthemove/e/workshops/index.htm to download the application package.
On the Move is CAAWS' national initiative to increase opportunities for inactive girls and young women (ages 9-18) to participate in sport and physical activity. On the Move Workshops are half-day, interactive, issue-based sessions that provide an overview of the initiative, share best practices from across Canada, and provide "how-to" tips to increase the participation of girls and young women. Appropriate for everyone from practitioners to policy makers, the workshops also provide an opportunity for participants to network and discuss collaboration and local action to make a difference in the lives of girls and young women in their community. Workshops are available in French and English. Organizations interested in targeted workshops for Aboriginal or newcomer girls and young women are also encouraged to apply at this time.
For more information contact Sydney Millar, National Program Director, at snmillar@caaws.ca
CARE's Walk in Her Shoes Update
A big thank you goes out to everyone who took part in CARE's 2011 Walk in Her Shoes challenge in celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. With the support of partners like ParticipACTION and Canadian celebrities Jully Black (R&B artist) and Kim D'Eon (ET Canada entertainment reporter), the challenge captured the attention and support of thousands of people across Canada. CARE's unique approach of tracking the steps of two Kenyan women and profiling their story on the CARE website not only encouraged Canadians to learn more about the issues, but also helped bridge the gap between Canadians and women living in developing countries.
Not too late to take part! Due to popular demand, CARE has extended the national challenge. Registration will now be open until June, giving you the flexibility to build your own challenge in a timeframe that suits you.
To learn more, browse the participant slideshow or to sign-up today, visit The Care Canada Walk in Her Shoes webpage.
iCANwalk Pledge Can Help You Measure Success
If you are planning a physical activity campaign in 2011, consider using the iCANwalk Pledge as a tool to motivate participants and help you measure the success of your campaign. The iCANwalk Pledge can be used in a community wide campaign, in a workplace challenge or to encourage families to get active together. The pledge has a built in calculator that tallies the number of km walked, litres of gas saved, money saved and greenhouse gas emission reductions over a week, month and year.
Another great feature of this tool is that Green Communities Canada can give you before and after campaign statistics so that you know how many people in your health unit region actually took the Pledge and the impact of their behaviour change (Ontario only; information available upon request). There are also 11X17 colour iCANwalk posters that you can download from the website to help get your message out.
These tools and resources are available free from the iCANwalk website, www.icanwalk.ca . We appreciate knowing about your plans and are interested in hearing stories from individuals and communities, so keep in touch! For more information, please contact Kate Hall at khall@greencommunitiescanada.org
Snow on the Beach
April 9
Mount Sutton, Sutton, QC
If you're looking to celebrate the arrival of spring, the Snow on the Beach event is a must see/must experience event. Participants of the event will try to cross a lake, on skis or snowboard, while wearing hilarious costumes...
Additional items on the agenda are:
- Volleyball in the snow
- BBQ at the foot of the hill
- Live music
- Prizes for the participants, spectators and winners
For more information on the Snow on the Beach event visit the Mount Sutton website.
The Lung Association of Nova Scotia
The Atlantic Lung Run 5K and Active with Asthma 1.5k
April 9
Halifax, NS
The Atlantic Lung Run 5K and Active with Asthma 1.5 K for Kids started in 2007 as a new community event run by the Lung Association of Nova Scotia and a Team of volunteers dedicated to raising awareness of Asthma and COPD and to promote a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. While promoting awareness we are also raising funds to support Camp Treasure Chest and other Lung Association of Nova Scotia programs and services.
For more information on the Atlantic Lung Run visit the Lung Association of Nova Scotia's website.
Défi sportif AlterGo
April 26 - May 01
Montréal, QC
World unique, the Défi sportif is an international event that assembles athletes from the elite and newcomers, with all types of disabilities. The 28th Défi sportif will bring together over 3,500 athletes from about 20 countries, who will face each other in fourteen sports with the support of over 900 volunteers.
For more information about the weeklong event visit the Défi sportif AlterGo website.
|
|
Success Stories
Getting Started
I had been very fit and active until about 5 years ago when my work became very administrative and required me to work excessive hours. I gained 40 lbs. and as a result feel a lot older than I am. Due to this and the lack of time for community involvement I changed jobs. I have just joined a "ride for cancer" fundraising cycling team with the ride on June 18 &19, 2011. I am looking forward to being part of the solution against this disease, feel healthy again ,and enjoy the blessing of good health.
Submitted by: Cameron05
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
