Health and Community Services
December 7, 2011
Applicants Selected for the New After School Physical Activity Initiative
Twenty-five school and community partnerships in Newfoundland and Labrador have received up to $25,000 each to undertake after school physical activities for students grades four to nine over a two-year period. In total, the Provincial Government has committed $444,000 to implement this initiative. The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services made this announcement today at St. Matthew’s Elementary School in St. John’s.
“This pilot project provides young people with opportunities to get more active and to learn about a variety of recreational and physical activities,” said Minister Dalley. “Research has shown that the after school hours are a sedentary time for many youth. Physical activity is an important component of health and wellness during this critical time period. Through this pilot project, schools and community organizations will work together to get kids moving and having fun.”
First announced in Budget 2010, the pilot project is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and Health and Community Services. It promotes the physical activity priorities as outlined in the Provincial Wellness Plan, Go Healthy - Achieving Health and Wellness in Newfoundland and Labrador, which was released in 2006. With annual funding of $4.1 million, the plan is aimed at improving the health of the provincial population and helping all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians achieve their optimal state of wellness.
“Providing children with the opportunity to take part in after school activities leads to numerous health benefits including the promotion of healthy weights, physical activity, and essential social interaction with their peers,” said Minister Sullivan. “This initiative supports the Provincial Wellness Plan which focuses on a shared responsibility for health and provides direction for promoting health, preventing illness and injury, and increasing the capacity of individuals, groups, communities and various sectors to take action for wellness.”
Applicants were selected based on their proposal to address barriers associated with participation in recreation and physical activity during the after school time period. The barriers include lack of transportation, high program costs, high registration fees, and lack of leadership and supervision. St. Matthew’s Elementary is one of the successful applicants of the project. The school, in partnership with the Parkside Community Centre, will provide opportunities for a variety of fun-filled activities such as hip hop and pilates. A detailed listing of successful applicants can be found in the backgrounder below.
For more information about the after school physical activity initiative visit www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/sports/activity_initiative.html.
Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador invested $11.5 million to support recreation and sport in the province. Since the launch of the Provincial Government’s recreation and sport strategy, Active, Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador (2007), more than $70 million has been committed to recreational and sport infrastructure, programming, and athlete development throughout the province.
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Photo: The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services were at St. Matthew’s Elementary School in St. John’s today to announce the details of the after school physical activity initiative. Shown with students from St. Matthew’s are, from left to right: Minister Sullivan, Kyran Dwyer, Principal of St. Matthew’s, Minister Dalley and Dan Crummell, MHA for St. John’s West.
Media contacts:
| Diana Quinton Director of Communications Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation 709-729-0928, 631-8155 DianaQuinton@gov.nl.ca |
Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377 jennifertulk@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
After School Physical Activity Initiative Funding for 2011-12
| Recipient | Amount |
| Balboa Elementary and the Clarenville Athletic Recreation Association | $25,000 |
| Baltimore School and the Community Youth Network | $23,000 |
| Bay Bulls-Bauline Association (St. Bernards Elementary and Mobile Central High) and the Southern Avalon Community Youth Network | $16,000 |
| Catalina Elementary and the Bonavista Area Community Youth Network | $10,000 |
| Conrad Fitzgerald Academy and St. Jacques-Coombs Cove Town Council | $22,000 |
| Copper Ridge Academy and the Advocate Youth Services Co-op | $21,000 |
| Crescent Collegiate and the Town of Long Harbour | $23,000 |
| Epiphany Elementary and the Heart’s Delight-Islington Recreation Committee | $11,000 |
| Green Bay South Academy and the Town of Roberts Arm | 17,000 |
| Hampden Academy and Dove Memorial Recreation Committee | $12,000 |
| Henry Gordon Academy and Cartwright Recreation Committee | $10,000 |
| Heritage Collegiate and the Town of Musgravetown | $18,000 |
| Holy Cross Junior High and the Froude Ave Community Centre | $18,000 |
| Indian River High-Indian River Academy and IceCap Youth Centre | $21,000 |
| Labrador Straits Academy and the Labrador Straits Regional Recreation Board | $20,000 |
| MacMorran Community Centre and Rennies River Elementary | $18,000 |
| Memorial Academy and the Botwood Boys and Girls Club | $12,000 |
| Milcrest Academy and the Corduroy Brook Trail Association | $10,000 |
| New World Island Regional Recreation and New World Island Academy | $23,000 |
| Presentation Junior High and the Dunfield Park Community Centre | $20,000 |
| St. Lawrence Academy and the St. Lawrence Community Youth Network | $11,000 |
| St. Matthew’s Elementary and Parkside Community Centre | $20,000 |
| St. Thomas Aquinas and the Town of Port Au Port East | $23,000 |
| Stephenville Elementary and the Leisure and Recreation Council | $20,000 |
| Viking Trail Academy and the Town of Bird Cove | $20,000 |
| TOTAL | $444,000 |
2011 12 07 1:20 p.m.