EDMONTON, AB – Thirty four Alberta communities are being honoured by Communities ChooseWell for their efforts to promote healthier lifestyles and enable physical activity and healthy eating for their residents throughout 2011.
Communities are recognized within five population classes for their efforts in Providing Health Education, Creating Healthy Opportunities, Building Community Resources through Partnerships, and Reducing Barriers to Healthy Living for Tweens and Teens. One Overall High Achiever is also being recognized within each population class for their progress and achievement towards creating a healthy community.
The High Achievers for Northern Alberta are:
• Overall High Achievers: Buck Mountain Central School (Hamlet of Buck Lake), Town of Manning, Town of Morinville, City of Cold Lake, City of Grande Prairie
• Providing Health Education: Villages of Mannville, Minburn and Innisfree, Town of Manning, Town of Bonnyville, Town of Beaumont, Strathcona County
• Creating Healthy Opportunities: Village of Spring Lake, Town of Vermilion, Town of Hinton, City of Camrose
• Building Community Resources through Partnerships: Buck Mountain Central School (Hamlet of Buck Lake), Town of Tofield, Town of Morinville, City of Leduc
• Reducing Barriers to Healthy Living for Tweens and Teens: Village of Berwyn, Town of Redwater, Town of Edson, City of Lacombe
The High Achievers for Southern Alberta are:
• Overall High Achiever: Village of Cremona & Water Valley, Town of Pincher Creek, Town of Claresholm & District, Town of High River, City of Lethbridge
• Providing Health Education: Village of Longview, Town of Hanna, Town of High River
• Creating Healthy Opportunities: Town of Didsbury, Town of Bassano, Town of Ponoka
• Building Community Resources through Partnerships: Village of Cremona & Water Valley, Town of Fort Macleod, Town of Trochu, Town of Ponoka
• Reducing Barriers to Healthy Living for Tweens and Teens: Village of Youngstown, Town of Irricana, Town of Claresholm & District, Town of Strathmore
“Leadership that helps the wellness of Albertans benefits us all,” said Fred Horne, Minister of Alberta Health and Wellness. “These award winners have demonstrated that building healthier communities is achievable and they deserve to be recognized.”
Communities ChooseWell High Achievers were selected by adjudicators representing recreation, health and wellness, related community organizations and health professionals. All communities receiving formal recognition for their efforts to address local health issues will receive an award, and Overall High Achievers will also receive $2000.00 to support future healthy living initiatives in their communities.
The Northern Alberta high achievers in Communities ChooseWell were recognized at a celebration held on November 17 in Morinville and the Southern Alberta high achievers will be recognized on November 24 in Okotoks.
Communities ChooseWell is an energizing healthy eating and active living initiative supported by Alberta Health and Wellness and managed by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association.
For more information or to register for Communities ChooseWell, visit http://arpaonline.ca/choosewell or contact 780-415-1745.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Damien Traverse
Manager, Communities ChooseWell
Alberta Recreation and Parks Association
Phone: (780) 643-1252
Fax: (780) 451-7915
Email: dtraverse@arpaonline.ca
Victoria Molnar
Communications Coordinator
Alberta Recreation and Parks Association
Phone: (780) 638-2916
Fax: (780) 451-7915
Email: vmolnar@arpaonline.ca