Government of Canada investments in Healthy Living initiatives

TORONTO, March 13, 2013 /CNW/ - Dr. Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, an investment under the Public Health Agency of Canada's Healthy Living Fund to support three community-based projects managed by partner organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.

"We want to increase opportunities for Canadians to be physically active so they can lead a healthier lifestyle," said Dr. Carrie. "These projects will provide resources to help promote healthy living practices among those who are most at risk of chronic illness due to unhealthy weight or physical inactivity."

Physical activity plays an important role in the health, well-being and quality of life of Canadians. People who are physically active live longer, healthier lives. Active people are more productive, and more likely to avoid illness and injury.

The "Ready, Set, Go!" project, managed by the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association, will increase the capacity of Canadian educators to promote physical activity among youth and their parents through the development of resources that support the implementation of the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.

"The commitment to health promotion and the prioritization of education and inclusion are the building blocks of a strong society," said Chris Markham, CEO of OPHEA. "Our organization strongly supports the idea that we must all work together to ensure that our young people are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and tools to live a healthy, happy life."

The "Benefits of Physical Activity for First Nations, Inuit and Metis Canadians" project is being led by Saint Elizabeth Health Care. With support from Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada, the project aims to adapt the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines to make them culturally relevant for Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities. 

"For more than a decade, Saint Elizabeth has been working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to improve health care delivery at the local level," said Shirlee M. Sharkey, President and CEO of Saint Elizabeth. "This project will continue that work by engaging community health and recreation workers, Elders and youth in promoting and disseminating physical activity tools and resources."

The "Active Healthy Aging" project is being conducted by the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults. It will develop materials to help community workers integrate physical activity guidelines and other preventive strategies for chronic disease to motivate healthy lifestyle changes among older adults.

"Our organization envisions a society where all older Canadians are leading active lifestyles," commented Patricia Clark, Executive Director of ALCOA. "Through this project, we will provide tools to help encourage older Canadians maintain and enhance their well-being and independence through a lifestyle that embraces daily physical activities."

The Healthy Living Fund makes strategic investments to address the conditions that lead to unhealthy eating, physical inactivity and unhealthy weights.

Également offert en français

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FACT SHEET              MARCH 13, 2013

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HEALTHY LIVING: PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CANADIAN COMMUNITIES

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Innovative partnerships to help Canadians achieve healthier living

Physical activity plays an important role in the health, well-being and quality of life of Canadians and helps to prevent chronic diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The Government of Canada is advancing innovative partnerships, particularly with the private sector, to promote healthy living and reduce obesity and other risk factors that can lead to more serious health problems. Everyone has a role to play in promoting healthy living.

The Healthy Living initiatives for the Greater Toronto Area, funded under the Public Health Agency of Canada's Healthy Living Fund, amount to more than $400,000 over two years.

The projects are:

• Ready, Set, Go: Educators as Key Intermediaries to Support Physical Activity Guidelines - Funding of $197,529 to the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (Toronto) to increase the capacity of Canadian educators to promote physical activity among children, youth, and their parents. In this project, tools will be developed and disseminated to support the implementation of the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.
• The Benefits of Physical Activity for First Nations, Inuit and Metis Canadians: Sharing Knowledge and Community Leading Practices - Funding of $57,865 to St. Elizabeth Health Care (Etobicoke) to develop and deliver targeted, culturally relevant messages to community health and recreation workers and encourage integration of physical activity guidelines in all community-based programs for First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
• Active Healthy Aging - Funding of $157,664 to the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults (Dufferin-Caledon) to support the development and dissemination of tools and resources that will promote active healthy aging.
  

SOURCE: Public Health Agency of Canada

Health Canada     
Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
[phone]

Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations
[phone]