PRESS RELEASE

Girls Soar - Kicking Off a Week Especially For Girls

(Tuesday, February 3, 2009) - Girls and young women will join Halifax's Mayor Peter Kelly and Halifax MLA Diana Whalen in demonstrating their Hip Hop Dance skills as HRM kicks off "Girls Soar Physical Activity Week 2009". Mayor Kelly, Halifax Clayton Park MLA Diana Whalen, and five HRM City Councillors will help launch Girls Soar Physical Activity Week (GSPAW) at the kick-off event from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 13, 2009 at The LeBrun Community Centre, 36 Holland Avenue in Bedford.

What:    Girls Soar Physical Activity Week Kick-Off Event
When:    Friday, February 13, 2009, 9:30-10:30 am
Where:   The LeBrun Community Centre, 36 Holland Avenue, Bedford

Active Halifax Communities will announce the diverse opportunities available for the fourth Girls Soar Physical Activity Week held this year from Monday, February 16, 2009 to Friday, February 20, 2009 in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). This weeklong celebration aims to Celebrate, Motivate and Educate. To increase awareness about the prevalence of physical inactivity among females, educate leaders about ways to increase female participation and enthuse girls to make personal choices for active living. With the participation of various organizations, Girls Soar showcases activities, facilities and resources available to girls in HRM.

Participation from organizations in this year's event-week is the highest it has ever been, showing the importance of this initiative. Small businesses, HRM Community Recreation Centres and not-for-profit organizations for youth and recreation are participating in their own creative ways. Additionally, over 10 schools are offering a range of activities for their students.

Girls Soar Physical Activity Week is led by a partnership among Halifax Regional Municipality, Halifax Regional School Board and Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection. This week long event is one initiative of Active Halifax Communities (AHC), a partnership of the aforementioned organizations and Capital Health.

For further information about Active Halifax Communities and Girls Soar Physical Activity Week visit www.activehalifax.ca.

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Contact

Rachel Bedingfield, HRM Active Living Coordinator
902.490.5447/bedingf@halifax.ca