January 2, 2015
It is always exciting to ring in the New Year, but this year there's even more reason to celebrate and look ahead. 2015 has been proclaimed the Year of Sport and what an exciting year it's gearing up to be!
With events like the Canada Winter Games, the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships, the FIFA Women's World Cup, and the Toronto 2015 PanAm and Parapan American Games taking part across our country, there are ample opportunities to not only show support for our Canadian athletes but to also celebrate the role that sport plays in our country and to participate in and seek the benefits of sport for ourselves.
We all know that being physically active is an important part of our overall health and well-being. However, only four percent of Canadian children and youth are getting the recommended daily amount of physical activity. And those who aren't active enough and aren't maintaining a healthy weight are at a much higher risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
That's why the Government of Canada, through its Multi-Sectoral Partnership Approach to Promote Healthy Living and Prevent Chronic Disease, invests $20 million per year in projects that focus on addressing common risk factors, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and tobacco use, to prevent chronic disease. This includes our partnership with Reebok Canada, the Reebok Canada Fitness Foundation and the Canadian Football League to bring to Canada Build Our Kids' Success, a before-school physical activity program aimed at getting elementary school kids moving and their brains ready for a day of learning, and working in collaboration with Canadian Tire, LIFT Philanthropy Partners, and with support from the CBC, to launch The Play Exchange with the goal of finding the best untapped idea in Canada to nudge Canadians off the couch and into play. Tune in to CBC on January 9, 2015 to see the six finalists and cast your vote for one project to receive up to $1 million to implement their idea.
These initiatives support coordinated action among all sectors of society, including communities, academia, the not-for-profit sector and the private sector, so that together we can encourage young Canadians to be more physically active.
At this time of year, when we're making resolutions for the year ahead, why not commit to making physical activity or sport a daily part of your life - even adding 10 minutes a day can make a difference!
Happy New Year!
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health
