Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt, Professor at the University of Ottawa and Chair of the Royal Society of Canada's Working Group on Children and Schools, recently wrote an Op Ed piece for the Globe and Mail, entitled: 'Physical activity - the forgotten core area of child development during the pandemic'. In the piece Dr. Vaillancourt highlights the observation...
On March 13, 2021, Dr. Mark Tremblay, chair of Outdoor Play Canada, was interviewed by Adrian Harewood on the CBC show 'Our Ottawa'. Dr. Tremblay discussed major findings from the national survey of children and youth's movement and play behaviours during COVID-19, that he led with researchers from universities across Canada, commissioned by ParticipACTION. In the interview,...
On Friday, March 12, 2021, Minister McKenna and Parliamentary Secretary Fillmore announced they are moving forward with the National Active Transportation Strategy and the creation of a $400M Active Transportation Infrastructure Fund. Vélo Canada Bikes has been actively involved in calling for this Active Transportation Strategy and working with the government and stakeholders in moving this...
ParticipACTION and Sonnet Insurance commissioned a survey on how Canadians have been feeling and coping during COVID-19. The survey looked at things Canadians prioritized as a result of the pandemic, things Canadians missed, ways Canadians coped, as well as silver linings. Getting active outdoors was among the top 3 priorities, and was also THE top way...
In their newest article for The Conversation, Dr. John J Reilly, Professor of Physical Activity and Public Health Science, University of Strathclyde, and Dr. Mark Tremblay, Professor of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, discuss how children's outdoor play was in decline before the pandemic and now is in danger of becoming...
Lawson Foundation invests $4.95 million in 8 demonstration projects, including Outdoor Play Canada, to build adult capacity to support outdoor play in Early Learning and Child Care The Lawson Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the second phase of its Outdoor Play Strategy and an investment of $4.95 million in 8 demonstration projects,...
Congratulations to Heather Wilson recently appointed as the new Child and Nature Alliance of Canada (CNAC) Executive Director! Heather spent two decades working with national non-profit and charitable organizations before joining CNAC in 2018 as the Director of Operations and Finance. While her most pressing priority is to support parents, practitioners, and educators to #thriveoutside during...
On Friday, November 13th at 9pm EST, CBC will be airing Kids vs Screens, a documentary from The Nature of Things that explores the impact of excess screen time on children and youth's mental health, development, and learning. Guest host Dan Riskin, a biologist, science journalist, and author explores the latest research on children and...
The Great Canadian Hike, a media campaign by The Great Trail, encouraged Canadians to experience the Great Trail of Canada and connect digitally during COVID-19. Canadians across the country were invited to participate in Canada’s largest coordinated, collective hike by logging (online) sections of the Great Trail for a chance to win prizes. Over 100,000...
OTTAWA, 29 July 2020—The Healthy Transportation Coalition is asking that any federal stimulus money be invested in healthy transportation projects and affordable housing, and not in road projects to increase car capacity. In a letter to Ottawa City Council, the Ottawa Board of Health, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches, and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities of...
