Belleville Intelligencer – June 28th

After a successful launch in Toronto on June 26, the ParticipACTION Sun Life Inspire the nation tour got off to a rousing start, and garnered front page coverage in the Belleville Intelligencer.

Developed for ParticipACTION and Sun Life by TrojanOne – Inspire the nation is a national tour across 31 Canadian communities.

Participating is easy

Posted By Luke Hendry, The Intelligencer

It’s not as difficult as you might think.

That’s the message on fitness being spread across the country this summer as part of the Participaction Sun Life Inspire the Nation Tour.

Launched Friday in Toronto with the help of Olympic gold-medal sprinter Donovan Bailey, the tour arrived Saturday at Belleville’s West Zwicks Island Park.

“It’s about showing people how simple it is to get active,” Participaction host Melanie Plourde said. “It’s not about wearing spandex or joining a gym.

“It’s all about making simple changes and how those little changes can make a big difference in our health and our economy and society.

“Over half of Canadians are considered inactive,” said Plourde, noting that includes children, who have a very low rate of physical activity.

“They need to be active for 90 minutes a day and only 13 per cent get that — which is an appalling number.”

Participaction workers handed out pedometers and flying discs. Plourde said a person must walk 10,000 steps a day to be considered active.

A special trailer equipped with a video camera and screen invited visitors to record their own messages or stories about fitness. Plourde said the video clips, each no longer than a minute, are reviewed each day and — provided they’re appropriate — posted within days to the website at www.participaction.com

“People are realizing we’re in the midst of an activity crisis,” Plourde said.

She said most people need external motivation to get or stay fit.
“They get moving when other people around them get moving.

“By telling your story you’re helping the whole nation get healthy and get active.”

Plourde said three to five videos will be selected for a television commercial. The commercial’s official release date isn’t known but it’s expected to appear late this year.

Stephanie Roth of Picton recorded a message with daughter Sydney Manlow, 7, and Sydney’s classmate Aliyah Jarvis, also 7. Both attend Queen Elizabeth Public School.

Roth is general manager of the Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre and a member of the Picton Fitness Committee.

“To have Participaction back in the limelight is a huge deal,” said Roth. “It’s fantastic.

“It’s had such a history. People recognize it.”

The national fitness program was launched in 1971 but closed in 2001 after losing key federal funding. It was revived in 2007 thanks to the support of Sport Canada and the Public Health Board of Canada.

Roth said the program’s revival well-timed since it precedes the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Roth said “million-dollar equipment” isn’t required for exercising.

“It could be getting your groceries and walking your groceries out,” she said, adding all ages can get fit.

“I really like to swim because it’s fun and very active,” said Aliyah, adding it makes her feel “relaxed and stuff.” If she didn’t swim, she explained, she’d be “pretty bored and stuff.”

Sydney said she plays soccer, swims, and performs gymnastics.

“It will keep your body strong and active,” Sydney said, adding she’s excited when she’s exercising and everyone should do it daily.

Belleville mom Sandra Thompson-Cleroux watched as children Brad Cleroux, nearly 4, and Cora, 6, raced through a Participaction obstacle course and clambered along the wooden bleachers.

“We’re always looking for more ways to get active and eat healthily,” Thompson-Cleroux said, adding she picked up some information from Participaction staff.

“I started running because of my son,” she said.

She runs three times a week, including once with her young cyclist.

Getting some exercise is part of the family’s life and even includes their dog, she said.

“I’d rather be outside in the backyard playing baseball or soccer. It’s a good way to have fun as a family. We don’t spend a lot of time watching TV.”

Taryl Graham, Belleville financial manager for tour sponsor Sun Life Financial, said she was happy the company supported such a project.

“We recognize, being in the industry that we are, how important physical activity and health are,” said Graham. “It ties in with our business very well.”

She said the Inspire program is a good way to get Canadians to “promote better health within their family.”

She said her new pedometer had already recorded 733 steps in the hour she spent milling around the park.

Participaction staff say physical activity appears to reduce the risk of more than 25 chronic conditions, namely coronary heart disease, stroke, adult-onset diabetes, breast and colon cancers, hypertension and osteoporosis. The economic burden of physical inactivity in Canada in 2001 was estimated at $5.3billion, or 2.6 per cent of the country’s total health care costs.

The Inspire tour ends Aug. 28 in Waterloo.

One Response to “Belleville Intelligencer – June 28th”

1. Fitness Blogger » Blog Archive » ParticipACTION and Sun Life – Belleville Intelligencer | TrojanOne says:

   July 3, 2009 at 5:48 am

   [...] admin wrote an interesting post today onParticipACTION and Sun Life – Belleville Intelligencer | TrojanOneHere’s a quick excerpt [...]