BC’s doctors work with school kids to get them active 60 minutes every day

Vancouver, BC – The doctors of British Columbia are challenging kids at their local schools to BE ACTIVE EVERY DAY (BAED) for four weeks from October 7 – November 1.  Over 4,000 grade one to five students in select schools around the province will pledge to be active for at least 60 minutes every day in an effort to get themselves on the right track to healthier habits. 

The second annual BAED program was developed by the BC Medical Association in response to the latest findings from the Canadian Health Measures Survey that only seven per cent of 5-11 year olds meet the Canadian Physical Activity guidelines of one hour of activity a day. Physicians across BC are going into 34 schools from Fort St John to Victoria to Kamloops to Cranbrook, and organizing activities that will keep students active throughout the month in an effort to curb childhood obesity trends.

BCMA President Dr William Cunningham got an early start by leading an event at MacKenzie Elementary School in Vancouver on October 3. Dr Cunningham told the kids: “Being active every day is so important when you are a kid. Doing something fun every day that gets your heart rate up will help build muscle and give you energy to do well in school. And hopefully it’s something you’ll choose to do for your whole life.”    

BAED has the support of the Canadian National Free Style Skiing and Snowboarding Associations. Olympic half-pipe snowboarder Mercedes Nicoll and Canadian National team mogul skier Andi Naude will encourage the kids to keep moving through a series of videos and blog posts.

By participating in the month-long challenge, kids learn about setting activity goals and the work involved achieving them.  They also learn about the value of health, nutrition, and fitness from a doctor’s perspective.

Please visit the Be Active Every Day website at: www.doctorsofbc.ca/active

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For more information:

Sharon Shore,
Senior Manager, Communications and Media Relations
604-638-2832
604-306-1866 (pager)