Ontario Challenges Peterborough Kids to Be More Active and Healthy
Peterborough Launches Healthy Kids Community Challenge
August 31, 2015
The City of Peterborough is among 45 communities selected to take part in The Healthy Kids Community Challenge, which promotes healthy eating, physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices for children.
As part of its Sustainable Peterborough Plan, the City of Peterborough will invest funds from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in programs that support healthy habits among local children and their families.
As it develops and implements its programs, the city will draw on the support of:
- Peterborough County’s eight townships
- Local First Nations
- The Peterborough County-City Health Unit
- The Municipal Access to Recreation Group
- Nourish Peterborough
- Peterborough Council for Persons with Disabilities
- Other organizations, to be selected for their expertise in various theme areas.
Peterborough also plans to engage youth and local businesses in the development of its plans.
The Healthy Kids Community Challenge combines a community-based approach with centralized provincial supports to help communities develop and implement policies, programs and environmental supports that enable one common outcome: healthy kids.
Encouraging kids to stay active and healthy is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care; better home and community care; the information they need to live healthy; and a health care system that is sustainable for generations to come.
Quick Facts
- The City of Peterborough is receiving up to $825,000 from the province to fund local community projects.
- The vision of the Sustainable Peterborough Plan is “caring communities balancing prosperity, well-being and nature.” One of the theme areas highlighted in the plan is healthy communities.
- The Healthy Kids Community Challenge builds on steps the government has already taken to implement recommendations from the Healthy Kids Panel, including a 24-hour support line for breastfeeding moms and expanding Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program.
- In 2009, the economic cost associated with physical inactivity and unhealthy weight in Ontario was $4.5 billion.
- Supporting community-based activities to promote healthier living is a key recommendation of the Healthy Kids Panel report.
- The Healthy Kids Community Challenge
- Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care
- Healthy Kids Panel report
Quotes
“I am extremely excited to launch this program in Peterborough. The idea is to get kids to start learning about healthy living from an early age. Good habits learned in childhood will serve them well throughout their lives.”
“Keeping our youth active and healthy is part our of government’s Healthy Kids Strategy. I am thrilled that our government is partnering with the City and County of Peterborough to help implement activities to promote healthy behaviours for children in our community.”
“The Healthy Kids Community Challenge is another way to reach out to the children in our community, to encourage healthy eating habits and instill the importance of physical activities in their lives. With the support of the provincial government, the City of Peterborough is excited to partner with the Peterborough County-City Health Unit on this initiative.”
Shikha Sethi
Associate Minister’s Office
416-212-0410
David Jensen
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health-news
416-314-6197
NT4
