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NLIS 4 May 9, 2003 (Tourism, Culture and Recreation) (Health and Community Services) (Education) Summer Active 2003 launched Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, announced the launch of Summer Active 2003, an annual promotional campaign to help people improve their health and sense of well-being by becoming more physically active. Representatives from the recreation and sport division of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, along with students from the College of the North Atlantic�s Community Recreation Program, kicked off the campaign today with a "sneaker day," which included a lunch time walk with employees from all over government. Summer Active is a national campaign coordinated by Health Canada in partnership with the provinces and territories. It encourages Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to take the first step to becoming more active. "Active living is an important building block of strong communities," said Minister Bettney. "As individuals, the benefits we receive from balanced lifestyles are obvious. As a province, these benefits mean having healthy, vibrant, sustainable communities," said the minister. For the fifth consecutive year, the department is partnering with the Newfoundland and Labrador Parks and Recreation Association (NLPRA) in delivering this campaign. Annually in this province, over 250 sites register their Summer Active event and receive a leaders resource kit. Schools, workplaces, institutions and communities organize activities that get people to have fun and be active. Examples of some activities that will be taking place include walking, cycling, gardening, unstructured play, aerobics, bowling, swimming, and roller blading. The launch of Summer Active 2003 also supports the department�s Physical Activity Strategy - Regaining Our Health - a document which outlines ways and action steps to get inactive Newfoundlanders and Labradorians more active. Minister Bettney, along with Gerry Reid, Minister of Education, and Gerald Smith, Minister of Health and Community Services, also announced the release of the Physical Activity Guide for Children and the Physical Activity Guide for Youth. These Health Canada resources were developed in cooperation with the provinces and territories and other national associations and agencies. The guides will be distributed to children, parents and teachers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. They also highlight the province�s Physical Activity Strategy document, Regaining Our Health. The three departments - Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Health and Community Services, and Education - each contributed $25,000 to support the physical activity strategy. "We know that the majority of people in our province are not active enough," said Minister Reid. "It is important that we incorporate the message of the benefits of a more active lifestyle into our education system. These resource materials will go a long way in helping school children understand the link between physical activity and a healthier life." "I am very pleased that these resources complement the directions we have outlined in Healthier Together, our province�s strategic health plan, particularly our wellness strategy. We are implementing many initiatives that support healthy behaviors, including healthy eating and physical activity, as we work to improve the health and well-being of the people of this province," said Minister Smith. "We all have a role to play in our own health and well-being. These resources will provide individuals with the proper supports to encourage them to get active." To find out more information on Summer Active 2003 or the Physical Activity Strategy, contact David Doyle at (709) 729-5281. Media contact: Melony O�Neill, Department of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928 2003 05 09 1:00 p.m. |
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