ACTIVE AT SCHOOL congratulates the Province of Prince Edward Island for deepening its commitment to getting kids active for one hour per day
Olympic gold medallist and PEI-native Heather Moyse shows her support for getting kids active
CHARLOTTETOWN, Sept. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - ACTIVE AT SCHOOL congratulates Premier Ghiz and the province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) today as they continue to invest and build on the Province's existing School Health Grant Program by adopting the ACTIVE AT SCHOOL movement.
ACTIVE AT SCHOOL champions one hour of physical activity a day for kids across Canada. It is pleased to recognize PEI as the second province in the country to commit to making this a reality for children, and the first to completely implement the commitment to all schools in the province. Through ACTIVE AT SCHOOL, Canadian Tire has committed to a $250,000 multi-year investment towards physical activity initiatives in the province, which will be delivered through go!PEI – a community-based initiative that promotes healthy living and quality of life and an ACTIVE AT SCHOOL partner.
Canadian Tire is a founding member of ACTIVE AT SCHOOL, a group of over 80 influential, credible organizations from across Canada with an expertise in health and wellness, sport and recreation, industry and education. Launched in late 2013, ACTIVE AT SCHOOL works with governments and school partners by offering access to its considerable network, resources and marketing efforts to reverse the trend of inactivity amongst millions of Canadian children and youth.
"Prince Edward Island and Premier Ghiz have showed great leadership in recognizing the importance of physical activity through the School Health Grant Program and ACTIVE AT SCHOOL will help build on those efforts," said Stephen Wetmore, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation. "We are thrilled to see PEI take the bold step of implementing this commitment in all schools in year one."
Physical activity is so important for children. Not only does it increase overall health and well-being, it helps kids develop important social skills and improves a student's concentration, attention span and mood ensuring they are more ready to learn. A recent 2012-13 SHAPES student health behaviour survey revealed that only 45 per cent of PEI students in grades five-12 are meeting the recommended guidelines of 60 minutes of daily physical activity. In response, schools across the province will soon have the opportunity to register and apply for grants that will help address the needs of individual school communities.
"We all have a role to play in improving our own health and supporting healthy families and communities," said Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz. "To continue to embrace a culture of wellness, we are pleased to partner with Canadian Tire and ACTIVE AT SCHOOL to promote physical activity to our students. By working alongside our local school communities, we have an opportunity to help get our kids moving for an hour a day, paving the road for life-long healthy choices."
"We are thrilled to partner with ACTIVE AT SCHOOL to provide children across PEI with the tools and resources needed to get active every day," says Barb Mullally, Steering Committee Member, go!PEI. "Our goal is to help Islanders improve their overall health and quality of life and with this new partnership, we can achieve this.
ACTIVE AT SCHOOL Ambassador and Olympic gold medallist, Heather Moyse, was on-hand to show her support for getting kids moving.
"Growing up here in PEI, sport and physical activity was such an important part of my life and I'm so glad that more kids in this province are now going to have the opportunity to access daily physical activity before, during and after school," said Heather Moyse, ACTIVE AT SCHOOL Ambassador and Olympic gold medallist. "I'm excited to work alongside ACTIVE AT SCHOOL and the province of PEI to encourage kids to get active."
ACTIVE AT SCHOOL will help support the Province through equipment donations and marketing efforts. In addition, schools across the province will be eligible for visits from high-profile athletes to inspire kids to get active.
About ACTIVE AT SCHOOL
ACTIVE AT SCHOOL is a broad-based group of more than 80 influential private, public and not-for-profit organizations committed to ensuring that one hour a day of quality physical activity and education is brought back to schools across Canada. With a goal of helping to reverse the trend of inactivity in Canadian kids and youth, ACTIVE AT SCHOOL is focused on using its varied voices to keep the issue top of mind with federal, provincial and municipal government as well as school boards across Canada.
Image with caption: "Grade 7 students at Queen Charlotte Intermediate School in PEI join Premier Robert Ghiz, Stephen Wetmore, CEO of Canadian Tire, and ACTIVE AT SCHOOL Ambassador and Olympic gold medalist, Heather Moyse to celebrate PEI’s adoption of the ACTIVE AT SCHOOL movement, an initiative that champions one hour of physical activity a day for kids across Canada. (CNW Group/ACTIVE AT SCHOOL)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140905_C1322_PHOTO_EN_5374.jpg
SOURCE: ACTIVE AT SCHOOL
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