Partnership with ActNow BC - Meeting the Challenge - Public Health Association of BC

: 2010 Legacies Now is working with the Union of BC Municipalities to help Mayors, City Councils, and Chief Administrative Officers embrace healthy living as part of the fabric of healthy communities. In 2006 we will sponsor the UBCM Community of Excellence Partnership Award. Any municipality can be nominated for demonstrating commitment by creating or implementing policies that support physical activity and healthy living. Examples might be creating subdivisions that are more walkable or have cycle paths and help reduce the use of vehicles while they increase individual citizen’s physical activity level. Helping support changes in the built environment facilitates a more physically active population.

: Workplace wellness is an important way to activate people. We spend at least 8 hours a day in the workplace and if we can make that a healthier place to be, there are social and economic gains for all. 2010 Legacies Now has seeded a learning symposium for for workplace wellness coordinators in municipalities. This exciting exchange of ideas and sharing of resources will occur a second time this fall and is a partnership between UBCM and 2010 Legacies Now. A community of practice which is a web based communication link for individuals with a common interest area. This technology reduces the barriers due to geographic isolation and provides a forum for housing resources for all to access and for sharing ideas.

: When the world come to visit BC in 2010, we intend to have some programs to showcase internationally. Action Schools! BC will be one of them. Norway and South Africa are enquiring about adopting the program in their countries. We are in the process of signing a Provincial Sharing agreement with the Yukon. Our aim in partnering with the World Health Organization’s Age Friendly index development is to enhance our Accessible/Inclusive Cities & Communities Project. The United Nations Sport in a Box pilots we are managing reflect Olympic values and ideals and uses sport as a peace building tool among communities encouraging youth to get active and stay active for life. Healthy Children Healthy Communities envisions a Canada fit for children and empowers canadian children by putting their voices first in community conversations.

: How are we helping government meet the 20% challenge? Over 150,000 children in Grades 4-7 are now actively engaged in Action Schools! BC. 80 communities have registered and are planning and implementing their individual community initiatives. Over 100 municipalities are a part of the workplace wellness project entitled ACE – Active Civic Employees. Through the various program partners and initiatives the challenge is being met.

: From the playground to the podium, we want to see children embrace the joy of being physically active. The government’s objective is to reduce chronic disease and 2010 Legacies Now’s is to create lasting community legacies that will have all people enjoying active and healthy lifestyles in communities that embrace and celebrate physical activity and healthy enviroments. This publication comes from the Public Health Association of BC web site. http://www.phabc.org

Partnership with ActNow BC – Meeting the Challenge