Active Canada 20/20: Speak up now!

Last week I had the honour to help facilitate a consultation on the Active Canada 20/20 National Physical Activity Strategy at Alberta’s Action on Wellness Symposium. For those who may not be familiar with Active Canada 20/20, I would definitely encourage you to check out the website.

This strategy is being developed by a steering committee of organizations and stakeholders around the country who feel that Canada needs a physical activity strategy. Other countries have strategies (e.g., USA, Scotland) and we need one too.

The goal is to provide clear direction and vision on helping to increase physical activity opportunities and reducing sedentary behaviours. It is planned that this strategy will be presented to the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for physical activity in their jurisdiction in April 2012.

During the summer months there was an online survey to gather feedback on the Strategy. Now the steering committee is taking the consultation process further by hosting facilitated consultations in many of the provinces and territories. Alberta was fortunate enough to host the 3^rd consultation just last week in Banff.

As you might guess, the purpose to the consultation was to get some direct feedback from practitioners and decision makers in the physical activity field on the Active Canada 20/20 strategy. It was a very busy three hour facilitation process, but fantastic to hear all the ideas and suggestions that emerged.

By chance or luck, there was a large group of high school students who were able to participate. What a fantastic addition to the process! Even though some of the concepts being discussed were at a policy and organizational level, many of these students were able to provide clear and original suggestions.

Currently the Active Canada 20/20 is in draft format, so this is the perfect time for YOU to provide some feedback of your own. So, even if you did not make it to the consultation process, I encourage you to review the strategy and share your ideas and suggestions.

You can access the most current draft here: http://www.activecanada2020.ca/home/documents

And you can provide feedback to this email: info@activecanada2020.ca

Sidewalks that stop

How annoying are sidewalks that just stop?

You are out enjoying a pleasant walk in the evenings- especially now since it’s lighter out… and then boom… no more sidewalk.

Well, as an able bodied person.. I do have some options…

I can:
1. Turn around
2. Cross the street, where I might find the sidewalk does continue over there…
3. Walk on the grass/gravel/mud
4. Walk on the road

Now… What if I was out pushing my kid in the stroller... or what if I have bad knees and hips.. or what if I rely on a walker or even a wheelchair. How does this affect my options?

We can make the mighty step to go outside for a walk...whether it is for our health, stress relief, or for the health of our dog… but we need a place to walk or wheel, safety and comfortably. Bottom line is we are all pedestrians.

We also need to all be advocates. How many of us call up the city/town.. .and let them know of our abruptly ending sidewalks? Let them know that our sidewalks have mutated and parts of it are being overtaken by roots and cracks? Or that we simply need a sidewalk put in place.

If you do anything this spring/summer season, take the time to let your town/city know about at least one area where the sidewalk and trails could perhaps continue or be improved.