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July 24, 2003 (Tourism, Culture and Recreation) Communities receive grants to promote healthy living Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Culture, today announced 219 communities across Newfoundland and Labrador will receive a total of $180,000 to support recreation and active living programs in their communities. The annual Community Recreation Development Grant supports general recreation programming such as recreational sports, kids summer programs and physical active/active living programs for the whole community. "Over the past couple of years, I am pleased that we have seen an increase in the number of recreation/active living programs being delivered at the community level," said Minister Bettney. "Again this year, we are providing grants to the largest number of communities ever." Research shows that two-thirds of the population are still not active enough on a daily basis to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In 2002, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation partnered with the Department of Health and Community Services, the Department of Education and a provincial committee to support Regaining Our Health, a provincial physical activity strategy. Regaining Our Health assists organizations in outlining ways and providing opportunities for inactive Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to become more active. It also helps create social and physical environments that support and encourage daily physical activity for the whole population. "Putting physical activity back into the daily lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will take a shift in focus for everyone," said Minister Bettney. "We need to become more physically active not only at the community recreation level but also at home, work, school and play. Physical activity can be enjoyable, inexpensive and rewarding. Anything involving movement, even if it is not vigorous, results in positive benefits to our health and well-being." Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-0857
There were many other grant recipients |
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