- Many young people do not have the opportunity to be physically active every day and are surrounded by ads promoting soft drinks and snack foods - More adults work in sedentary jobs and drive long distances to work - "Super-sized" food portions have become the norm - More communities lack sidewalks, park space, bike lanes and recreation programs.

In order to get Ontarians of all ages more physically active the McGuinty government introduced two new programs last year. ACTIVE2010, launched in October, aims to increase the physical activity of Ontarians to 55 per cent by the year 2010. A major feature of the strategy is the Communities In Action Fund to help local and not-for-profit organizations provide and enhance opportunities for physical activity and community sport and recreation. The "Pause to Play" youth campaign was launched in the fall of 2004 to encourage children and youth to make physical activity and sport participation a regular part of their daily lives. The United Nations has designated 2005 as International Year of Sport and Physical Education. The Ministry of Tourism and Recreation is encouraging regular physical activity to observe this global health and fitness initiative. "The Ministry of Tourism and Recreation is investing $5 million a year in ACTIVE2010 to motivate people to get active," said Minister Bradley. "We will also help to remove barriers that prevent people from participating in sport and physical activity, especially for those who are too often left on the sidelines, such as low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities." "I call on all levels of government, the health sector, food industries, work places, schools, families and individuals to create communities that promote healthy eating and regular physical activity," said Dr. Basrur.

This news release is available on our website at: www.health.gov.on.ca www.resultsontario.on.ca

Version française disponible

Backgrounder -------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 6, 2005

COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOLS, ACTIVE2010 AND ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY

COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOLS INITIATIVE

The McGuinty government believes that Ontario's schools should be true community hubs where people can gather to learn, participate in community- based organizations and stay active. By ensuring school space is affordable and accessible to the communities that schools serve, the government is supporting healthy, active lifestyles, encouraging citizen engagement in community activities and fostering safe and vital communities.

Rising user fees Until the introduction of this initiative, fees charged for the use of school facilities had been on the rise, and evidence suggested these increased fees were having a detrimental impact on communities across Ontario. Ontario school boards collected more than $29 million in rental fees from not-for-profit and other groups in 2003-04, representing a 138 per cent increase over fees collected in 1998-99 ($12.2 million). Community groups have handled these increased costs by raising registration fees. This has raised a significant new barrier to participation in community programs.

Making School Space Affordable for Community Groups The government is providing $20 million in new funding to help school boards with the costs associated with operating schools after hours for community use. This is allowing boards to lower or eliminate the fees they charge to community not-for-profit groups for use of school gyms, playing fields and classrooms, making programs and services more accessible and affordable. The funding is flowing to boards after agreements with each district school board are signed. The government's vision is to have every school in Ontario recognized as a centre for community activity.

Consultations The Ministry of Tourism and Recreation is currently working with school boards to sign Community Use Agreements to help make publicly funded schools accessible and affordable to not-for-profit community groups across Ontario. The government has also been consulting with provincial sport and recreation stakeholders as well as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to seek further input. The Ontario government has made a commitment to work closely with school boards, municipalities and community groups to help reduce the financial barriers that exist to Ontarians of all ages and improve their quality of life.

ACTIVE2010 Strategy -------------------

ACTIVE2010 is a comprehensive strategy to increase participation in sport and physical activity throughout Ontario. Its goal is to achieve higher physical activity rates and increased sport participation in order to improve the quality of life in the province. ACTIVE2010 consists of four key approaches: sector development, promotion and education, removing barriers to participation and multi-ministry coordination. ACTIVE2010 has two components: the Ontario Sport Action Plan and the Ontario Physical Activity Plan. Both plans advance the goals of ACTIVE2010:

- To create opportunities for Ontarians to become involved in quality sport activities - To enhance opportunities for Ontarians to participate in daily physical activity - To increase the number of Ontarians who value and believe that participation in sport and physical activity is an integral and essential part of life in Ontario.

ACTIVE2010 is a strategy that links sport development and physical activity to:

- Increase Ontario's rate of sport participation and physical activity so that by the year 2010, 55 per cent of Ontarians are physically active - Implement the Ontario Sport Action Plan and the Ontario Physical Activity Plan in partnership with sector stakeholders - Enhance sport development leading up to the 2010 Olympics - Leverage government resources to strengthen the sport, physical activity and recreation sector.

ACTIVE2010 is about working together to develop the sport and physical activity system to improve the health and quality of life of all Ontarians. The strategy will focus attention where the greatest needs exist and improve opportunities for children and youth, Ontarians with lower incomes, ethnic minorities, women and girls, Aboriginal Ontarians, older adults and Ontarians with a disability. ACTIVE2010 will partner with all levels of government, community groups, sport and recreation organizations across the province, and the private sector, to achieve these goals.

The Ontario Trails Strategy ---------------------------

The Ontario government has created a Minister's Advisory Committee on Trails to provide advice on the development of an Ontario Trails Strategy. The role of this committee will be to help develop an Ontario Trails Strategy, which will provide strategic directions and set priorities for trails in Ontario. The members of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Trails will provide expertise and attend consultation sessions in their communities. The committee will provide advice on key trail issues, such as economic sustainability, landowner concerns, safety, road rights-of-way, active living, environmental and cultural heritage impacts, and opportunities and tourism development potential. The committee comprises 19 members from organizations concerned with recreational trails. Tim Peterson, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Recreation, chairs the new committee. The development of an Ontario Trails Strategy is part of the ministry's ACTIVE2010 initiative. The following organizations are represented on the Minister's Advisory Committee on Trails:

- Ontario Trails Council - Trans Canada Trail - Ontario - Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs - Ontario Federation of All-Terrain Vehicle Clubs - Go For Green - Ontario - Waterfront Regeneration Trust - Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association - Trent University - Trail Studies Unit - Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters - Bruce Trail Association - Conservation Ontario - Ontario Heritage Foundation - Ontario Federation of Agriculture - Stewardship Councils of Ontario - Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability-Ontario - City of Thunder Bay (municipal trails representative) - Green Tourism Association - Ontario Nature - Wildlands League

Fact Sheet -------------------------------------------------------------------------

HEALTHY LIVING TIPS

Healthy living involves being physically active and eating well. The benefits of regular exercise and healthy eating are endless. You will reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and other medical problems. You will also feel more confident, have more energy and sleep better.

Being Physically Active

Any moderate, physical activity is good. Thirty minutes of intense exercise three or four times a week is sufficient. If you are uncertain about your health, you should seek medical advice before starting an intensive exercise regimen. But most people can begin building physical activity into their daily life immediately by:

- Taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator - Getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking home - Walking to the store instead of driving - Finding an exercise buddy and meeting regularly for a swim or game of tennis - Getting involved in an organized sport - Getting in the garden to dig, prune, rake and weed - Arranging to meet a couple of friends for a walk every day at the same time - Making a personal or family commitment to try a new activity each season - Joining a club or organization that coordinates active living events - Getting involved in intramural sports programs at school

Healthy Eating

Healthy eating, not fad diets, will enable you to maintain the weight that is right for you. Some useful tips on healthy eating include:

- Starting your day with a nutritious breakfast. People who skip breakfast actually eat more during the day than those who eat a good breakfast - Trying to eat something every three-to-six hours. If you leave it too long, it could lead to overeating - Taking your time eating. It takes about 15-20 minutes for a "full" signal to reach your brain. - Not doing other activities while you're eating since this can distract you from your internal "full" cues and result in overeating - Eating more fruits, vegetables and fibre

(Information from HealthyOntario.com)