Media Release
MOU for a Physical Activity Strategy to be signed
(Friday, April 27/07) - Officials from a variety of health and education organizations along with the Halifax Regional Municipality and Province of Nova Scotia will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday, April 30, 2007 for the development of a comprehensive, community wide Physical Activity Strategy. This strategy will endeavour to increase the amount of residents incorporating active living into their daily lives.
WHAT: Physical Activity Strategy - MOU Signing Ceremony
WHO: Signees include Chris Power, Capital Health, President and CEO; Dan English, CAO, Halifax Regional Municipality; Farida Gabbani, Senior Director of Physical Activity and Recreation, NS Health Promotion and Protection; Carole Olsen, Superintendent, Halifax Regional School Board; Jane Farquharson, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia; Anne McGuire, President, and CEO, IWK Health Centre; Steve Kisley, Chair of Health Outcomes, Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University
WHEN: Monday, April 30, 2007, from 8:00am - 9:00am
WHERE: St Mary’s Boat Club, 1641 Fairfield Rd, Halifax
Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor that contributes to high rates of chronic disease. Self reported data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) for age 12 years + indicate that nearly half of HRM residents are inactive while at the same time average body mass index (BMI) scores are increasing.
Evidence indicates that the most effective interventions to increase physical activity at the population level are those that are comprehensive, integrated, multi-disciplinary and multi-level, targeting individuals, communities, physical and social environments and policies. This requires key stakeholders to work in partnership toward a common goal. This MOU for an important HRM wide Physical Activity Strategy will be endorsed by various stakeholders in HRM including:
• Halifax Regional Municipality
• Capital District Health Authority
• Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University
• Halifax Regional School Board
• Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
• IWK Health Centre
• Province of Nova Scotia - Health Promotion and Protection.
Media are welcome to attend.
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For more information:
Gabrielle Riley
HRM Active Living Coordinator
902-490-5447
