Fact Sheet

Harper Government invests in New Brunswick Healthy Living project

News Release: Harper Government Invests in New Brunswick Healthy Living Project NB PLAYS!

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity and healthy eating, plays an important role in the health, well-being and quality of life of Canadians and helps to prevent chronic diseases like some cancers, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The Government of Canada works with partners to take an integrated approach to promoting healthy living and preventing chronic disease by addressing common risk factors. The Government is supporting multi-sectoral partnerships, recognizing that innovation and greater impact can be achieved through engaging all segments of society, including the private sector, in addressing complex social issues such as obesity and the prevention of chronic diseases.

Through the Healthy Living Fund, the Government of Canada is providing $233,363 in funding to Recreation New Brunswick (RNB) for a project entitled New Brunswick After-school Hours Initiative: NB PLAYS!  This project aims to improve after-school programming benefiting children and youth in New Brunswick, particularly those in Aboriginal and low-income communities. It will provide training to after-school leaders/service providers, including the well-respected HIGH FIVE, fundamental movement skills, a First Nations, Inuit and Metis Supplement, and becoming a HIGH FIVE trainer. RNB will work with its partners to develop a New Brunswick after-school hours toolkit and workshop with supplements that promote the natural environment/parks and culturally appropriate approaches for First Nations children and youth. Another key area of this project is to enhance knowledge transfer through opportunities for sharing and celebration of successes and best and promising practices.

The project is expected to result in new and strengthened relationships with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, enhanced capacity in quality programming in the after-school hours, increased knowledge transfer, improved health outcomes for New Brunswick children and youth, and more quality after-school programming.
 
About RNB:
Recreation New Brunswick (RNB) is a network of recreation professionals who, through leadership, education and advocacy, ensure that New Brunswick residents enjoy the benefits of recreation and active living. RNB is dedicated to advancing the recreation and parks field by broadening the knowledge and experience base of its members and by advocating for the value and benefits of leisure and recreation opportunities. RNB acts as an umbrella organization for a number of like-minded associations and committees and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Healthy Eating Physical Activity Coalitions of New Brunswick.

About the Healthy Living Fund:
The Healthy Living Fund makes strategic investments to address the conditions that lead to unhealthy eating, physical inactivity and unhealthy weights. Projects are funded across the country to increase healthy living opportunities for Canadians, including children, youth and their families.