For immediate release: [insert date]

[Your Province, Territory, Community, etc.] Launches SummerActive Program to Help Residents Enjoy Healthier Warm Weather Lifestyles

[YOUR COMMUNITY] [Your province/territory] kicked-off its participation today in SummerActive, an initiative led by the Government of Canada in collaboration with the Provincial and Territorial Governments to help Canadians improve their health while having fun enjoying the best of Canada’s summer.

A popular annual event, SummerActive is designed to encourage Canadians to adopt healthier lifestyles, including physical and sport activities, healthy eating and living tobacco-free.

“ SummerActive 2008 runs from May 8th to June 20th and shows Canadians that summer is an ideal time to try new healthy living activities and add to the ones you already enjoy,” said [insert name of your provincial/territorial Minister or other appropriate spokesperson]. 

[Insert details of your province/territory=s unique SummerActive kick-off events or programs, if available/applicable]

Canadians from every province and territory are eligible to win a variety of unique prizes by visiting the official website at www.summeractive.ca and registering a SummerActive event or by recording how they got SummerActive by participating in an event.

The SummerActive website features listings of events that are searchable by province or territory plus unique approaches to being healthy in the summer.  These events provide community residents with an opportunity to learn more about the benefits of regular physical activity, the risks of sedentary living, and how healthy eating, avoiding tobacco and participating in sports can help improve their health.

A number of tools are also available through the SummerActive website (www.summeractive.ca) to help Canadians improve and maintain good health, including Canada’s Physical Activity Guides (www.paguide.com), Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide (www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide), information and support to help you quit smoking (www.gosmokefree.ca) and information on sport participation (www.pch.gc.ca/progs/sc/index_e.cfm). 

“Studies show that regular physical activity, healthy eating and choosing not to use tobacco products are essential to good health,” said [insert name of provincial/territorial Minister or other appropriate spokesperson].  “So don’t sit around this summer - Get Up, Go out and Be SummerActive!”

– 30 –

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
[Insert the name, title plus phone and fax number as well as email address of provincial/territorial media contact, as well as any other appropriate spokespeople]

SummerActive is brought to you by the Government of Canada in collaboration with Provincial and Territorial Governments.