NLIS 8
September 18, 2001
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

 

International Walk to School Day

On Tuesday, October 2, schools from all over Newfoundland and Labrador will be joining schools around the world to celebrate in International Walk to School Day. This international event is a component of the National Active and Safe Routes to School Program, supported by Go for Green, a national organization encouraging active living and environmental stewardship.

On International Walk to School Day, millions of children, teachers, parents and community leaders around the world will walk to school together to promote safety, health, physical activity and environmental citizenship. Some of the countries participating in this October 2 event include Canada, United States, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Italy, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, said: "Participating in the International Walk to School Day provides schools with the perfect opportunity to teach their students that daily physical activity such as walking and/or cycling to school is a means of improving one�s health, helping the environment and minimizing unsafe traffic congestion around schools." The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation administers the Go for Green Program provincially.

Last year, the first ever International Walk to School Day, schools in Newfoundland and Labrador participated along with 2.5 million children, teachers, parents and community leaders from nine countries around the world, including 840 schools across Canada. This year promises to be even bigger.

"Over the next week, all schools in our province will receive information on how to register for International Walk to School Day," said Minister Aylward. "Schools registered for the event will receive helpful tools and resources, such as How to Organize a Walk to School Day Event, and will become eligible for a $500 prize courtesy of Go for Green. This is a wonderful opportunity for our province to heighten awareness around increasing physical activity in our daily lives. Activities such as walking and/or cycling to school contribute to long term health benefits."

Federal, provincial/territorial governments have targeted a 10 per cent reduction in the number of "inactive" Canadians between 1998-2003. Projects like the International Walk to School Day "help our province move toward achieving this goal."

Media contact: Catherina Kennedy, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

For more information on International Walk to School Day and to register, visit Go for Green�s website at www.goforgreen.ca/asrts or contact your provincial co-ordinator Corey Parsons at (709) 729-1990.

2001 09 18                                    4:15 p.m.


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