News from ParticipACTION

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Iqaluit for some meetings and when the work day was done, I was amazed at how remarkably high the sun still sat in the sky. In Canada we get our reward for making it through the drawn-out winter nights with gloriously long June days - whether we find ourselves in Iqaluit or somewhere south of 60°.

For all of us Canadians, not only does June deliver the longest days of the year, but with all that daylight, it also brings a perfect opportunity to get outside to our local parks and get active.

June is recognized as Recreation and Parks month by many provinces across the nation and we are all encouraged to take advantage of our amazing recreation programs and diverse parks.

The 2011 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth tells us that 93% of Canadian parents say that public facilities for physical activity and sport are locally available, yet only 69% of children use parks and outdoor spaces.

Visits to parks are linked to significantly higher levels of physical activity. So, why not make it an after dinner ritual this month to spend some time together as a family in the park? Bring a ball, take the bikes out, or just go for a stroll.

When we make sure that communities have safe and accessible spaces where we can participate in activities that "move us", we are giving a hand in ensuring the health and well-being of all Canadians.

So get out, enjoy those long days, and spend some extra time this June playing in the park.

Enthusiastically,

Kelly

ParticipACTION Updates

ParticipACTION Welcomes New Minister of State for Sport

Congratulations to both the newly elected Minister of State for Sport, the Honourable Bal Gosal, and the returning Minister of Health, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq.

ParticipACTION looks forward to supporting the new and returning Ministers in their work developing policy that promotes physical activity for all Canadians.

A continued, strong collaborative approach among all of our partners in the sector is needed to address Canada's physical inactivity crisis, and ParticipACTION will support all efforts by the Minister of State for Sport and the Minister of Health to make our nation the most physically active on earth.

A fun way to help get your kids twisting, jumping, dancing and moving their way to a happier and healthier life!

Are your kids getting the Canadian Physical Activity Guideline recommended 60 minutes of activity every day? Why not encourage them to jump, twist, bop and move with the Get Moving 3-CD Set of songs and action games for kids! Help your kids dance their way to a happier and healthier life! The CD set includes bonus tips from ParticipACTION to help you keep your kids moving!

Specially priced and available exclusively at Costco (excluding Quebec).

New! After-school Physical Activity Guide and Tracker Tool - hard copies available upon request

This year the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth revealed that Canadian children are barely moving after school. In fact, our kids are only spending 14 minutes of the three hour after-school period engaged in any sort of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Shocking? Absolutely.

In response to this news, ParticipACTION has created a tool for parents and caregivers to use with their children to help get kids up off the couch, away from the computer and TV, and back to playing games after school that involve both mind and body.

Filled with suggestions for fun, classic activities, the guide also allows children to track how often they achieve the Canadian Physical Activity Guideline recommended 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.

Hard copies of the tracker are available while quantities last. Please contact ParticipACTION (info@participACTION.com) if you would like to order copies of the After-school Physical Activity Guide and Tracker to use and distribute. Copies will be provided at no charge, other than the cost of shipping.

For those that would prefer to access the Guide and Tracker digitally, a PDF version is also available for download from the ParticipACTION website at www.participaction.com/afterschool

Sports Day in Canada - Event Registration opens June 8, 2011

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Beginning June 8, 2011 organizations, schools, and clubs, big and small, are invited to sign up for this year's Sports Day in Canada to be part of our nation's biggest celebration of sport. Brought to all Canadians by ParticipACTION, CBC Sports and TrueSport, this year marks the second annual event.

Your group can participate by hosting an open-house, try it day, competition or tournament in the week leading up to, and including, Sports Day on September 17, 2011.

CBC Sports will be delivering extensive coverage of SDIC across the nation, and your sports event could be featured in the broadcast, earned media or on-line, so get in the game and start planning your events now.

For more information about Sports Day in Canada and to register

your event, visit www.cbcsports.ca/sportsday.

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.

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Many of the materials are available to all. And if you are a ParticipACTION Partner Network (PPN) member, you can also access customizable materials.

Tool of the Month: Take a look at ParticipACTION's article on active transportation - ready for you to reprint in your own newsletter or website.

If high gas prices are not reason enough for you to leave the car parked at home, read on about all the health benefits of making this easy lifestyle change. Small local trips made under your own steam all add up quickly and count towards recommended weekly physical activity levels.

Don't keep it a secret - download the article and spread the word.

Feel free to view and download the available materials online at the ParticipACTION Tool Kit

webpage.

Let's work together to get all Canadian children moving and playing more after school. Let the fun and games begin!

Tips from ParticipACTION's Active Living Ambassador

You free after school?

We've waited a long time for this... and it's finally here. Welcome Summer!

Looking back, many readers will recall summers spent outdoors as kids and teens. On break from school, the days started early and ended late. After all, having waited months for treasured warmer days, there wasn't a second to be lost. Outdoor games, riding bicycles, exploring, tree climbing, shooting hoops, swimming, playing tennis and local parks kept us busy - and active -- until we quite literally fell into bed.

Sadly, today's children and teens just don't measure up... at least when it comes to physical activity. In fact, the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth offers more than enough evidence to sound off alarm bells. This year's report card grade? A big sedentary "F."

The Report Card, released by Active Healthy Kids Canada and its strategic partners, ParticipACTION and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute - Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO), reports that during the after-school period (3 to 6 p.m.), Canadian children and youth are sitting idle indoors - getting only 14 minutes, out of a possible 180, of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity. Reversing this disturbing trend is vital as research shows that children and youth who are physically active during this period improve their overall daily physical activity levels and health.

"The after-school period represents an underutilized opportunity for children and youth to gain emotional and physical health benefits through physical activity," says Dr. Mark Tremblay, Chief Scientific Officer, Active Healthy Kids Canada, and Director of HALO. "Teens involved in supervised after-school programs, for instance, are less likely to experiment with risky behaviour, including drugs and alcohol. It's also notable that children and youth who play outdoors after school take 2000 more steps per day (about two kilometres) than children who do not. The science and benefits are clear; we need to re-establish the healthy practice of after-school physical activity in our communities."

Issues like safety and lack of access to physical activity areas and programs cannot be ignored as barriers to active after-school play. While 73 per cent of Canadian parents admit that their children are sedentary after school (mostly indulging in excessive screen time), 72 per cent of parents state that their children do not have access to a supervised, after-school program encouraging physical activity. Also, safety concerns add to parents preventing their children from participating in outdoor physical activity after school. As Canadian children and youth grow older, time spent playing outdoors diminishes almost by half. The result is that they become glued to the screen - dramatically exceeding the guideline of no more than two hours of screen time per day.

For the fifth year in a row, the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card assigns an "F" to Physical Activity Levels since only seven per cent of Canadian youth and children meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity per day. This statistic puts Canada at the bottom in comparison to European and Western Pacific countries. European children and youth take about 2,400 steps more per day than Canadian children and youth.

Forty-four percent of children are getting 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity on three days of the week (goal should be seven days/week) and 80 per cent are getting 30 minutes. It is promising to see that most Canadian children and youth are getting at least some physical activity, but the challenge moving forward is encouraging them and providing the required resources to enable them to increase both their duration and frequency.

No one group owns Canada's physical inactivity crisis. Just as the support of government and educational institutions is essential to raising the grade, parents too have a role.

Parents should target the after-school period for both organized and unstructured physical activities and active play for their children.
Parents should reduce sedentary time during the after-school period and replace it with active time.
Almost 62 per cent of parents report their children rely on inactive modes of transportation to get to and from school. Using active transportation such as walking or cycling is one of the easiest ways to incorporate physical activity into one's day. Parents should promote and model active transportation.
Parents should keep the TV out of their child's bedroom, impose screen time limits and create opportunities for active, outdoor play for their children.
Only 15 per cent of Canadian adults meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. It's vital that parents themselves get physically active and be good role models for healthy, active living.

"Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping to change our children's after-school habits," says Kelly Murumets, President and CEO, ParticipACTION. "Support can be as simple as encouraging your child to try out for sports teams, using active transportation as much as possible, restricting television viewing, video and computer games during the after-school period, or making the playground, instead of the couch, an after-school destination. As parents and caregivers, we are the role models for our children; we must set higher standards for our own physical activity levels if we wish to see results in our children."

Catherine Cameron
Ambassador, Active Living

For more tips and articles written by Catherine Cameron, Ambassador, Active Living, or to chat with her, visit the ParticipACTION Blog. Keep up to date with the latest ParticipACTION news and join in on the discussion - become a fan of our FACEBOOK group, follow us on TWITTER or check out our BLOG.

Physical Activity in the News

Together, AthletesCAN, Coaches of Canada, True Sport Foundation, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Sport Officials Canada, and Egale Canada have created the Step Up! Speak Out! Ally Campaign for Inclusive Sport.

The Step Up! Speak Out! Ally Campaign for Inclusive Sport aims to eliminate homophobia in sport by asking athletes, coaches, officials, sport administrators, parents, fans and other members of the Canadian sport community to publicly commit to being an Ally and bring the message of inclusion, respect and equality to their sport. A Step Up! Speak Out! Ally is any person, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender, who takes a stand against homophobia in sport. Allies include all members of the sport community from grassroots recreational levels to the highest levels of amateur and professional sport, from individuals and teams to organizations and associations, and from family members to fans.

To learn more about the Step Up! Speak Out! Ally Campaign for Inclusive Sport, and make the Ally Commitment, visit the Step up Speak out website.

CBC's Live Right Now continues to inspire Canadians of all ages and abilities to commit to better health

- An update from Catherine Cameron Ambassador, Active Living

ParticipACTION is thrilled to be an advisory board member to this get-moving, get-healthy initiative!

It's my pleasure to be working with CBC and its partners and to be leading our Friends of ParticipACTION team! We've remained among the top five groups since Live Right Now launched in January and are proud of each and every one of our team members.

My hope is that this exciting six-month program will have enabled Canadians to commit to and adopt healthy lifestyle choices that they can stick with and build upon for life. At ParticipACTION, we know all too well about the nation's inactivity crisis and just how vital it is to get everyone moving more. As I often speak to when writing features for our blog, choosing to be active doesn't have to mean running marathons and moving mountains. Quite the contrary: it's about finding simple ways to integrate physical activity into our daily lives knowing that even small steps can make a big difference.

Walking or cycling to work, playing tennis with the kids, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking briskly to the bank or store instead of driving, and getting the kids hooked on physical activity and active transportation.... these are just some of the ways we can take steps towards better health.

As a parent, I know that healthy and happy kids are what every parent wants most. The truth though, is that most children and youth in Canada don't get nearly enough physical activity... and yet it's absolutely essential for good health. I urge all parents to place on physical activity, the same emphasis they put on good nutrition... and even good grades at school. It's sometimes easy to lose sight of what really matters in life (busy lifestyles can help us lose track!) but if you ask me, it's really family, friends and health that matter most. For this reason, take time to take stock every now and then and make sure your family's lifestyle is the healthiest it can be.

Move, groove and prove that you've got it in you! It's time for action!

Research Update

Research Tip Summary - Outdoor activity. A prescription for better mental health.

Could taking a walk outside be part of a prescription to improve your mental health? Regular physical activity has been shown to have a positive impact on both physical and emotional well-being. Furthermore, physical activity is a potentially effective treatment option for persons suffering from psychological illnesses such as depression or anxiety.

Recent studies are indicating that getting active outdoors may be even more beneficial for overall mental health - exposure to increased amount of green space and the natural outdoor environment are associated with improved mental health scores.. As a result, outdoor recreation may reduce mental fatigue and negative moods while improving stress and health overall.

For more information, see our Research File.

For tips related to outdoor activity and mental health, see our Lifestyle Tips.

Q & A

Q - As a new mom, I am not sure how to ease back into my old workout routine, or whether there is an appropriate workout routine for me now that I've had a child. Any suggestions?

- Kim

A- Whether it's your first baby or your fifth, pregnancy and life after baby can surely bring about change! Whether you're thinking about resuming your pre-pregnancy fitness routine, or are new to exercise altogether, we've got a few tips to help you get started:

Begin by getting the green light from your doctor and commit to a safe and healthy return to exercise.
Remember that if you're breastfeeding, you need a sufficient number of calories to produce the breast milk your baby needs and to ensure your own nutritional needs and calorie requirements are met. Talk to your doctor about what is right for you and your baby.
Walk! If you've got a stroller and a good pair or running shoes, you're good to go. Walking improves muscle tone in your lower body and burns calories. Looking to make your walking workouts more challenging? Increase your distance, pick up your pace, and add some hills. By walking on a 5.0 incline you'll burn approximately 64 percent more calories.
Make every step count and strive for moderate intensity (brisk walking). Use a pedometer to count your steps and track your distance.
If you've got the go-ahead from your doctor but find it easier to stay close to home, challenge yourself with short, high-intensity intervals with brief periods of rest in between. You might consider jumping jacks or jumping rope for a couple of minutes with 30 second to one-minute rest periods in between. Increase the length and intensity of workouts gradually and add some new power moves along the way.
Finding it hard to get to the gym or commit to a scheduled class? Consider trying an exercise DVD... borrow some from your local library or ask friends for their recommendations.
Thinking about joining a fitness centre? Many YMCA locations offer child care for a nominal fee, starting with infants as young as six weeks. Take advantage of the childcare and find some workout time for yourself. Afterwards both you and baby can check out one of the parent-and-tot swim or yoga classes that are often offered.
Consider some of the stroller-fit classes available in many communities across Canada, or start your own with other parents from your community.
Invest in some hand weights. While baby is napping or otherwise happily entertained, reach for some light hand weights and work your arms, shoulders and back with some simple exercises, being careful to start our slowly and to ramp up gradually.

Professional Development

Canadian Sport Policy Renewal: Consultations 2011

The Canadian Sport Policy (CSP) is being renewed, and members of sport organizations are being encouraged to participate in the related consultations that will be carried out between April and June 2011.

Initial consultations in 2010 revealed enthusiastic support throughout the sport community for a renewed sport policy. Based on this support, the Federal and Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Sport agreed that each government in each F/P-T jurisdiction would consult with its respective sport sectors, related sectors and municipalities in view of developing and presenting a new Canadian Sport Policy to Ministers for approval in April 2012.

An important component of the consultation process is to have as many Canadians as possible participate and share their perspectives. Equally important is the opportunity for sport organizations to endorse the new policy and collaborate in its future implementation.

For this reason we encourage you to complete the e-questionnaire which can be found on the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) Canadian Sport Policy Renewal website. The e-questionnaire includes 15 questions that are identical to those being used by all governments in their in-person meetings.

We also encourage you to read the background documents on the various questions. These can be found on the SIRC website, along with the consultation plans for Sport Canada and each provincial/territorial government, and additional background information on the CSP Renewal process.

The information obtained in the consultations will be used by the Federal-Provincial/ Territorial Sport Committee to draft a new Canadian Sport Policy. This draft will be reviewed by representatives of the sport and related sectors from across Canada at a national gathering, in November 2011, and modified, as required, for presentation to F-P/T Ministers of Sport at their next conference in April 2012.

Public Health in Canada: Innovative Partnerships for Action
Montreal, QC
June 19-22

Public health professionals, researchers, policy-makers, academics and students from across the country and around the world will meet in Montreal, Quebec for the 2011 Annual Conference of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) as the Association enters its second century of service to Canadians. The Conference will explore the role of partnerships in creating the conditions in which people can lead ﬂourishing lives and will showcase innovative collective actions that support the maintenance and improvement of the health of populations. We are interested in how partnerships help us 'do things differently,' how they 'bridge divides' in the broad field of public health, as well as how they are conceived, developed, implemented and sustained.

For more information, or to register for the conference visit the CPHA website.

Alberta Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Conference

Calgary, Alberta

June 16 - 18

The Alberta Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (AIAAA) invites you to attend the single premier convention that provides an outstanding professional development program for Canadian interscholastic athletic administrators.

This conference features professional speakers, Leadership Training courses, workshop sessions, and an exhibit show targeted specifically to athletic administrators. You will have the opportunity to interact with authoritative athletic administrators who willingly share their experience and expertise on a variety of subjects.

For more information, or to register for the conference, visit the AIAAA website.

Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging
Research 2 Action Conference
The University of Western Ontario
June 24 & 25

The Research 2 Action Conference is for Health Care Professionals, Fitness Instructors, those working with seniors and people looking for continued education and training. The theme of this year's conference is Motivating Older Adults To Get Physically Active. The event will feature a host of dynamic new presenters and speakers. All are eager to share their latest research and physical activity initiatives with our delegates!

For more information on the conference or to obtain a registration/accommodation form visit the following website or email conference.services@uwo.ca

Ontario Healthy Workplace Coalition (OHWC)

Networking Breakfast Meeting

June 29

Ontario Healthy Workplace Coalition (OHWC) is hosting a Networking Breakfast Meeting on June 29 with the option of attending in person or participating in the presentation via videoconferencing.

The theme of the meeting is: What in the World is a Healthy Workplace? Perspectives from the World Health Organization. Engage in conversations that matter and be inspired to take actions that make a difference!

For more information, or to register for the meeting, visit the OHWC 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 130 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

Highlights and Events

Child and Nature Alliance of Canada
Nature Play Day Canada
National
June 15

On June 15th, the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada and its members, collaborators and fans are encouraging all Canadians to get outside and play! In communities, schools, businesses and households across Canada, the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada are asking Parents, grandparents, educators, schools, families, communities programmers -EVERYONE - to take part in a playful event/activity outside.

For more information, or to register your event visit the Nature Play Day website.

Sound of Music Festival
Burlington, ON
June 16-19

Check out the Sound of Music Festival this Fathers Day with the family and experience some great music, and fun activities. There is even a Family Zone geared for children aged ten and under. Activities run on Saturday and Sunday of Father's Day weekend. The Family Zone is an integral part of the Festival and visited by thousands during the course of the weekend. Be sure to bring your little Festival fans and enjoy the FREE fun!

For more information visit the Sound of Music Festival website.

Bike for Tykes
Toronto, ON
June 22

The Arnell Plaza at the Bay Adelaide Centre will be spinning with high energy as the Bike for Tykes event takes place. Funds raised by the event -- an exhilarating 4 hour stationary bike relay -- will support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto and help improve the lives of Toronto's children and youth.

Bike for Tykes is the perfect way to kick off the summer with friends and colleagues. During the event, the Courtyard beams with energy as more than 400 individuals take turns spinning for their team and following an instructor-led biking journey. The event features great music, lots of prizes and, best of all, it gives participants and supporters an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and youth in our communities.

For more information, or to register for the event, visit the Bike for Tykes website.

Surrey Canada Day
Western Canada's Biggest Canada Celebration
Surrey, BC
July 1

Over 100,000 people celebrate Canada's birthday in Surrey. The festival will feature two stages, the Shooting Stars Midway, great food, and plenty of interactive activities for all ages. Stay til the end and experience the Fruiticana Fireworks Finale.

For more information on Canada Day celebrations in your community, visit your city's website for event details.

The 9th annual Ontario Walks series
Ongoing until June 11
Across Ontario

Ontario Walks features walking and hiking events from the Shores of Lake Ontario to the forests of Ontario's Greenbelt. The Ontario Walks mission is to inspire Ontarians to take charge of their personal and environmental wellness through walking. They believe that your health is your wealth.

For a full list of scheduled walks and background information visit the Ontario Walks website.

Success Stories

ParticipACTION Dare2Move Teen Challenge Featured Finalist

0.8493506493506493 Mrs. Avery's class, at St. Margaret's School in Cambridge, submitted a fantastic video for the Dare2Move Teen Challenge. The submission captured the entire class taking part in a flash mob - for the purpose of promoting physical activity, and spreading the word about the youth inactivity crisis in Canada. Every student participated in the making of the video, and they worked really hard to come up with the dance routine on their own.

The class even got the whole school involved when they performed the flash mob for the school at the St. Margaret's "dance-a-thon" school fundraiser. The youth also reached out beyond the school to friends, family, sports leagues, and communities using social media to spread the word about the inactivity crisis.

We would like to thank Mrs. Avery's Class for submitting such a creative, unique, and inspirational piece. The students played a huge role in helping ParticipACTION educate youth about the inactivity crisis and in motivating teens to do something about it.

To view Mrs. Avery's Class- Flash Mob submission visit the ParticipACTION Dare2Move webpage.

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