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SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada
Encouraging children and youth to become more active
FREDERICTON, NB, March 14, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Keith Ashfield,
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Minister for the Atlantic Gateway,
Member of Parliament for Fredericton and Minister Responsible for New
Brunswick, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq,
Minister of Health, a project with Recreation New Brunswick. The
project, funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Healthy
Living Fund, will provide training to frontline after-school hours
(ASH) program leaders so they can help children and youth in New
Brunswick become more active in the after-school period, and
ultimately, lead healthier lives.
"We want to help children and youth in New Brunswick lead healthier
lives," said Minister Ashfield. "This project will support after-school
hours program leaders and service providers across the province,
ensuring our children and youth are provided with high-quality options
to be more physically active."
"After-school hours programs encourage partnerships with organizations
that can efficiently respond to the needs of each community," said
Dorothy Shephard, Minister of Healthy and Inclusive Communities for the
Province of New Brunswick. "The Healthy Living Fund provides an
opportunity for the federal and provincial governments to work together
toward setting our children and youth on the path of lifelong healthy
living habits. It also aligns with the province's wellness strategy to
rebuild a healthier New Brunswick."
In addition to training ASH leaders, the New Brunswick After-School Hours Initiative: NB PLAYS! will develop an ASH toolkit, deliver a variety of workshops, establish
partnerships and an ASH provincial working group to support and
coordinate the ASH initiative across the province, especially in
Aboriginal and low-income communities.
"Our project will enhance the experience of children and youth in New
Brunswick participating in the various after-school hours programs,"
said Kathryn Baird, President of Recreation New Brunswick. "We look
forward to working with our partners from across the province to
provide high quality programs that are so important to the health and
well-being of our youth."
The Healthy Living Fund makes strategic investments to address the
conditions that lead to unhealthy eating, physical inactivity and
unhealthy weights. Projects are funded across the country to increase
healthy living opportunities for Canadians, including children, youth
and their families.
The Harper Government remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by
the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the
safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen
of this country, and of course, their personal financial security.
FACT SHEET
MARCH 2013
Harper Government invests in New Brunswick Healthy Living project
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity and
healthy eating, plays an important role in the health, well-being and
quality of life of Canadians and helps to prevent chronic diseases like
some cancers, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The Government of Canada works with partners to take an integrated
approach to promoting healthy living and preventing chronic disease by
addressing common risk factors. The Government is supporting
multi-sectoral partnerships, recognizing that innovation and greater
impact can be achieved through engaging all segments of society,
including the private sector, in addressing complex social issues such
as obesity and the prevention of chronic diseases.
Through the Healthy Living Fund, the Government of Canada is providing
$233,363 in funding to Recreation New Brunswick (RNB) for a project
entitled New Brunswick After-school Hours Initiative: NB PLAYS! This project aims to improve after-school programming benefiting
children and youth in New Brunswick, particularly those in Aboriginal
and low-income communities. It will provide training to after-school
leaders/service providers, including the well-respected HIGH FIVE,
fundamental movement skills, a First Nations, Inuit and Metis
Supplement, and becoming a HIGH FIVE trainer. RNB will work with its
partners to develop a New Brunswick after-school hours toolkit and
workshop with supplements that promote the natural environment/parks
and culturally appropriate approaches for First Nations children and
youth. Another key area of this project is to enhance knowledge
transfer through opportunities for sharing and celebration of successes
and best and promising practices.
The project is expected to result in new and strengthened relationships
with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, enhanced
capacity in quality programming in the after-school hours, increased
knowledge transfer, improved health outcomes for New Brunswick children
and youth, and more quality after-school programming.
About RNB:
Recreation New Brunswick (RNB) is a network of recreation professionals
who, through leadership, education and advocacy, ensure that New
Brunswick residents enjoy the benefits of recreation and active living.
RNB is dedicated to advancing the recreation and parks field by
broadening the knowledge and experience base of its members and by
advocating for the value and benefits of leisure and recreation
opportunities. RNB acts as an umbrella organization for a number of
like-minded associations and committees and is a member of the Steering
Committee of the Healthy Eating Physical Activity Coalitions of New
Brunswick.
About the Healthy Living Fund:
The Healthy Living Fund makes strategic investments to address the
conditions that lead to unhealthy eating, physical inactivity and
unhealthy weights. Projects are funded across the country to increase
healthy living opportunities for Canadians, including children, youth
and their families.
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