News from ParticipACTION

Always around July 1st, I get a bit sentimental with national pride. What a terrific country we live in. Among all the other great things about Canada, we have abundant spaces in which to get outside and get active; fantastic urban parks, kilometers of recreational trails, and more fresh water to play in than any other nation on earth.

While counting all the good things that we have to be thankful for, one Canadian trend has emerged that tests my patriotic fervor. The national trend is this: over the last 25 years, we have become a significantly less active, less fit nation.

In a recent comparison of fitness levels from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey to fitness levels recorded in 1981 the results were disappointing; over the last generation overall fitness levels, muscular strength, and flexibility has decreased for Canadian adults and youth, while our waist size and BMI measurements have grown.

It is within all of our power to reverse this trend. But it takes a commitment from each one of us to get more active. A pledge to bike to the store. To go for a stroll during a coffee-break at work. To take the stairs. To try a new sport or go back to an old one. To make a plan to move our bodies and stick to it.

We are a strong, hard-working, proud, and fun-loving nation. Let's put our national spirit to work and each one of us commit to becoming more active. Together, I know we can do it!

Enthusiastically,

Kelly

ParticipACTION Updates

Sports Day in Canada Event Registration is open - Game on!

You can now register your Sports Day in Canada (SDIC) local event, for the week leading up to and including September 17th, by visiting the SDIC website.

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Once you have registered your event - anything from a recreational tournament, try-it day, open-house, charity run or a seriously competitive match - you can start promoting it to potential attendees using the free, promotional tools now available for download from the Sports Day in Canada website. Get the word out and rally participants to join in the action, or drum up spectators to come on out and root for the contestants.

By being one of the first registrants you'll have a jump start on increasing the chance of your event being featured on the CBC Sports Day in Canada television broadcast, September 17th. CBC is looking for local, grassroots events that will capture the imagination of Canadians; showcasing the range of ways we all celebrate sport.

If, on the other hand, you are looking to find an event to join, the Sports Day in Canada website has an event search function and interactive map to find the local celebration of sport that suits you. Check back weekly - registrations will be rolling in, and you will be able to browse over 1,000 local events to help you celebrate sport in your own personal style.

Thank you for showing your support of Sports Day in Canada, the biggest celebration of sport at all levels that this nation has ever seen. To get in the game, go to

www.cbcsports.ca/sportsday.

School's Out - ParticipACTION offers great ideas to keep kids moving and having fun!

Once the thrill of "no more teachers, no more books" wears off and you start hearing, "I'm bored", coming from the kids - fear not. ParticipACTION has just the ticket; an Activity Guide and Physical Activity Tracker jam-packed with fun ideas that will get the kids moving, both indoors and out.

0.9504132231404959 Some of the creative suggestions that can be found in the Activity Guide include organizing a mini Olympics; choose 5 - 10 "sports" and divide the neighbourhood kids into teams based on different countries. Or hold a "classic games" afternoon, and introduce your children to Capture the Flag, SPUD, or Kick The Can.

Pick an activity from the guide every day to mix it up and while you are having fun, get the kids to keep tabs on how much physical activity they are getting using the accompanying Physical Activity Tracker - and see whether or not they are reaching the recommended 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily. Go on, get moving and enjoy the summer!

The ParticipACTION Tool Kit offers FREE communication and promotional materials

0.9428571428571428 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.

Tool of the Month: The new Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with a Spinal Cord Injury.

These Guidelines are the first evidence-based guidelines to be developed specifically to support people with SCI in living healthier, more active lives.

Feel free to view and download these or additional materials online at the ParticipACTION Tool Kit webpage.

Tips from ParticipACTION's Active Living Ambassador

Stay Active & Beat The Heat! 10 tips from Catherine, our Active Living Ambassador!

1. Beat the heat! If you're planning to exercise vigorously or for a prolonged period, plan an early morning or evening workout.

2. Sun protection that includes a hat, sunscreen, light clothing and eye protection is a must!

3. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water before exercising, take sips throughout your workout and rehydrate following physical activity. Plain old water is the best bet!

4. Take the plunge or at least go to the water, and enjoy water-based physical activity that will also keep you cool! Swimming, aquafit, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking or just playing with the kids.

5. Lighter evenings and warmer days make summer the ideal time of year to try some new activities. Whether you ride your bike along a city trail, head to the lake for some windsurfing, or enjoy active family time in your own backyard, it's all about moving more.

6. Play outside with the kids. Jump rope, turn on the sprinkler, grab a beach ball, arm each family member with a squirt gun, kick a soccer ball around, head to your local tennis courts or run to the park.

7. Limit screen time now more than ever. Canadian children spend in excess of six hours a day in front of screens and it's up to parents to set limits. This is the perfect time of year to help your family turn over a new leaf. Leave the screens behind and head outdoors!

8. Make active plans for the kids and as a family. Keep the kids active over the summer months with community-based activities, swimming lessons, tennis lessons and sports camps. As a family, head outdoors or to your local pool after dinner a few nights a week. Plan active weekends of hiking, cycling and outings that get everyone moving more.

9. Making summer vacation plans? How will you keep everyone active and engaged while away? Consider booking hotels with swimming pools or tennis courts, enjoy early morning and evening walks, commit to trying some new activities, and incorporate active transportation while sight-seeing.

10. Pick a fall event and start training for it! Now is the perfect time of year to sign up for a 5 or 10K walk or run taking place in September or October and to begin training for it. I do this myself and advise everyone to do it too. It helps keep people motivated and moving towards a goal.

For more get-active ideas and tips, visit ParticipACTION's website at www.participACTION.com, or check out our blog at http://participaction-en.blogspot.com.

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

Live Right Now - A Continuing Success

CBC's Live Right Now (www.liverightnow.ca) will be celebrating its six-month milestone on Canada Day... and from where else but the nation's capital! This exciting six-month initiative launched January 1 in an attempt to help millions of Canadians embrace a healthier and more active lifestyle. As it turns out, Canadians have stepped up to the plate and pledged over and above the one million pound weight loss they were challenged to lose and thousands have committed to a more active lifestyle too! CBC's Heather Hiscox will be on Parliament Hill on Canada Day... along with CBC's Steven and Chris who were tremendous leaders and ambassadors for Live Right Now. This year's Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa are sure to attract more than the usual crowd of 200,000. With the Royal newlyweds coming our way and sharing in Canada's birthday celebrations, it's going to be a Canada Day weekend to remember. Of course you're invited too! We'd love to see you in Ottawa celebrating Canada Day and the magnificent success of Live Right Now!

Announcing new Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with SCI

SCI Action Canada (a Community-University Research Alliance funded by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada) and The Rick Hansen Institute have recently released new Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with a spinal cord injury (SCI). These Guidelines are the first evidence-based guidelines to be developed specifically to support people with SCI in living healthier, more active lives. The systematic review of evidence behind the Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with SCI was performed by a team of researchers from McMaster University, Brock, University and Parkwood Hospital.

For more information or to access the guidelines visit the SCI website.

New Website Launched Aimed at Keeping Young Canadians Active For Life

0.8558558558558559 A new website has just been launched that aims to help improve the quality of the lives of Canadian children through their experience in sport and physical activity, at www.activeforlife.ca.

Canadian Sport 4 Life, a movement dedicated to improving the quality of sport and physical activity in Canada by improving support and training for athletes at all levels, and B2ten,a charitable organization that supports elite Canadian amateur athletes, have recently teamed up to launch www.activeforlife.ca.

The website outlines the fundamentals of physical literacy and offers the tools necessary to help children become active for life. By promoting quality sports programming, the importance of self-esteem through sport, and reinforcing the seminal concept of "fun" in sport, activeforlife.ca encourages lifelong participation in sport.

The website also offers practical tips and tools for parents, including communications materials to help spread the word about the importance of fundamental skills and physical literacy, a directory on how to find quality sport programs for children, and a PDF version of the document, "Canadian Sport For Life. A Sport Parent's Guide".

Launch of the Child Safety Good Practice Guide: Canadian Edition

1.0069444444444444 The Child Safety Good Practice Guide: Canadian Edition was produced with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the expertise of the Safe Kids Canada team, the Expert Advisory Committee and case study coordinator.

The Canadian Edition of the Child Safety Good Practice Guide provides the first, comprehensive document in the country from which decision-makers, practitioners and legislators can base their work and recommendations. It is designed to enable Canadian injury prevention practitioners to examine Canadian strategy options for unintentional child injury, move away from what has 'always been done' and move toward good investments - strategies that are known to work or have the greatest probability of success.

Evidence-based good practices are provided in this guide for those considering uptake, transfer and implementation of specific strategies or interventions. In particular, evidence "at-a-glance" tables include referenced evidence statements and transfer / implementation points on 11 child safety topics, and 17 case studies demonstrate 'real world' success in at least one Canadian context.

To see the online resource, please visit the following links: English & French.

Research Update

Fitness level of Canadians: How far have we come?

As we prepare to celebrate our national holiday and revel in all that makes us uniquely Canadian, we should give pause to the news that as a nation we are definitively less fit than we were 25 years ago.

Recently researchers compared data from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey, which examined current fitness levels of Canadian adults and children and youth, with the findings from a similar study done in 1981. Compared to 25 years ago, today's Canadian youth and adults are less fit and more likely to have poor ratings of body composition. The studies also indicate, that fitness levels continue to decline with age.

Further, gender continues to play a significant role in the overall fitness of Canadians, with males more likely to demonstrate higher fitness levels and muscular strength as compared to females.

If you want to learn more about Canada's fitness levels for the past 25 years, follow the link below.

For more information, see our Research File.

For tips see our Lifestyle Tips.

Q & A

Q - It's only the beginning of summer vacation and my child has already begun complaining of boredom. How do I keep my child entertained and active through-out the summer months?

- Derek

A - The best way to make sure your children stay amused and active in the summer is to begin your activity planning as early as possible. Start by talking to your child the day before, or morning of, about the day's activities. It often takes a bit of time to plan things out, and it is good to understand what your child is interested in doing ahead of time.

Next, make sure that you incorporate at least 60 minutes of physical activity into the day in order for your child to meet the recommended Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for children and youth.

Try to also set some rules/guidelines when it comes to screen time - it is recommended that children get no more than 2 hours of screen time a day. Coordinate activities outside so your child isn't tempted to sit in front of a screen - there's nothing wrong with a little fun in the sun (as long as hats and sunscreen are part of the plan)!

Lastly try to plan some activities that are not only fun for your child but also incorporate time spent with one another. Here are some thought starters on the types of fun activities that both you and your child can get involved in over the summer:

Play with water toys; like squirt guns or water balloons, or visit the local pool. These are great ways to say active and keep cool in the summer.
Shoot some hoops! Basketball is a great way to get your child's heart rate up and it also improves hand/eye coordination.
Set up obstacle courses in your backyard, at a playground, or around the neighborhood.
Invite the neighborhood kids to play in an organized game. Organize a softball game with all the kids and adults.
Revisit your childhood and join your kids for some fun outdoor games. Play games like, Red Light/Green Light, Simon Says, Chance, Hopscotch, etc.
On days when it is just too hot to go outside, break out the active gaming systems, set up a scavenger hunt, or a dance party indoors.
Check out the local youth center and recreation programs for fun activites going on during the week or on the weekends.

It can be overwhelming at the beginning of the summer, thinking about the months ahead and wondering when your child's boredom will set in. But often it just takes a bit of planning ahead of time to keep your little ones entertained and moving.

For more summer tips visit the Fun Tips section of our website. You may also want to download ParticipACTION's Activity Guide and Tracker for your children to use through-out the summer.

Professional Development

ParticipACTION Forum - Physical Activity in the Great Outdoors

National Webinar
September 28, 2011, 1:00-2:30 pm EST

The ParticipACTION Partner Forums are designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing between partners. The theme of our September Forum is focusing on physical activity in the great outdoors, and will allow participants to connect, share insights and potentially collaborate on future initiatives. If you are interested in participating in our forum, or would like to receive information about our all of our 2011 ParticipACTION Forum dates and themes, please email forum@participACTION.com.

Exercise Physiologists of Western Canada Conference (EPOWC)
University of Alberta, Edmonton
August 11 - 13

The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta is proud to host the 2011 EPOWC Conference and invite students and faculty from across western Canada to join in an exciting three day gathering.

EPOWC is a student-focused conference where you'll have an opportunity to hear like-minded researchers deliver presentations on their research and present your own work to an audience of your peers. Each day of the meeting will include a keynote presentation from a distinguished and established exercise physiologist. This year's speakers will cover a broad range of topics from nutritional interventions for improving aging muscle and bone to how exercise impacts the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit the University of Alberta website.

CSEP - SCPE 2011
Exercise and Health for Everybody
Loews le Concorde Québec, QC

Oct 19-22

This theme represents the diverse goals and interests of the CSEP membership in achieving and promoting healthy living for all Canadians. This diversity ranges from research in basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of exercise, to the practical application of this knowledge in health and fitness programs. The majority of exercise scientists and CSEP health and fitness professionals in Canada attend this meeting, along with a large contingent of graduate students. Early bird deadline: September 14th.

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

The Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada
Pan-Canadian conference - Call for Abstracts
Ottawa, ON
Feb 8-10, 2012

At the 2012 conference, we will take stock of advances that have been made with regard to integrated action for chronic disease prevention in Canada; the successes, the challenges, the gaps, and our opportunities. In recognition of the multi-factorial causes of chronic diseases, the emphasis will be upon 'what works'; how sectors are coming together for collaborative action on chronic disease prevention.

This fourth pan-Canadian conference titled, "Integrated Chronic Disease Prevention: It Works!", builds on the previous three conferences and focuses on how individuals, organizations, strategies and sectors have collaboratively acted on the root causes of chronic disease in Canada. Producing the greatest gains in the health status of Canadians will require continued, urgent action to reduce the inequities that give rise to chronic diseases.

Abstracts must be submitted by August 8, 2011.

For more information on the conference or to submit your abstract, visit the CDPAC 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

Montreal Canada Day 2011 Festivities
Fun at the Old Port
Montreal, QC
July 1

Montreal's Canada Day -- fête du Canada in French -- would not be Canada Day without its parade, Old Port activities and the customary mega-cake. But every year has a little something different to offer.

On July 1st, 2011, Montreal Canada Day organizers promise an assortment of free activities perfect for families (and non-families too), from 11 a.m. to midnight.

For more information on the day's festivities visit the following website.

Outward Bound Canada
Grade 11 & 12 Course
Toronto, ON
July 4-22

Outward Bound Canada is a not-for-profit charitable outdoor education and leadership training school with over 40 international schools worldwide. This July Outward Bound is offering a Grade 11/12 course at The Evergreen Brick Works - open to students across the GTA. Full tuition bursaries are available to students in need through Outward Bound Canada. There is no course prerequisite for this IDS course.

For more information on the course and Outward Bound Canada, visit the Outward Bound Canada website.

Boys and Girls Club of East Scarborough
Free Cheerleading
Scarborough, ON
July 5- August 16

Interested in Cheerleading?! Registration is now open for try-it sessions occurring this July -August. This free program is intended to introduce the sport of cheerleading to the community. It is developed for children and youth in the community who enjoy dance, gymnastics, team work, fitness, and stunting. Every Tuesday evening from July 5- August 16th, youth ages 8-12 are invited to come out and cheer from 5-6:30pm, and youth ages 13-16 are invited to cheer from 6:30pm- 8:00pm.

To Register or for more information please contact, Monique Habbib mhabbib@esbgc.org or visit the following website.

Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games
Fairview, AB
July 21-25

Promoted as the "Come Early and Stay Late" Games, this is one of Alberta's premier multi-sport and cultural events. The event promotes the host community and engages participants wishing to pursue increased physical, social, intellectual and creative achievement through friendly competition and participation.

For more information visit the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games website.

Sport North
Western Canada Summer Games
Kamloops, BC
Aug 5-14

The next Western Canada Summer Games are scheduled to take place in Kamloops, BC this August 2011. The Games are broken into two phases and the Northwest Territories will have participants in a number of sports.

For more information on the Games visit the Sport North website.

Heart &Stroke Foundation
Big Bike
National
Aug-Sept

The Heart & Stroke Big Bike is a team event geared towards community organizations, companies and groups. Teams of 29 enthusiastic riders (and one driver provided by the Foundation) pedal through their community in support of heart disease and stroke research. It's free and takes about 20 minutes to ride the bike.

Events continue throughout the summer and into September For more information or to find an event near you, visit the Big Bike website.

Success Stories

One Family's "Marathon Of Health"
From Health Care to Well Care - Raising Funds for Kids' Fitness

1.0433673469387754 "We will run 90 km every day of the week, in relay, from Vancouver on the West Coast, all the way to St. John in the East, then down into the USA, back across to the West Coast and circle back to finish in Vancouver." - so announced the Chicoine family before embarking on an epic quest in the name of wellness.

On May 8th, the Chicoine Family from Wakefield, Quebec, started out on a 17,000-kilometre run across the North American continent, in both directions. A family of eight running across Canada and the US is a massive endeavour in every way... but this family's on a mission to encourage wellness and health in North America through physical activity - and to raise $5 million to support children's fitness, through Kid Sport Canada, Right to Play, and Get America Fit.

Dr. Ed Chicoine and his wife Gaye, along with their six children, Tanya, Ben, Karina, Dayna, Whitney and Jake, will arrive in Ottawa on July 24th, running from Mooney's Bay along the Rideau Canal on Colonel By Drive, to downtown Ottawa. They will be joined by runners from the region as they arrive on Parliament Hill at 11:00 a.m. for a special celebration.

For more information on the run, visit the Marathon of Health website.

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