QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
SummerActive 2008

Q: What is SummerActive?

A: SummerActive, as well as WinterActive, are led by the Government of Canada in collaboration with the Provincial and Territorial Governments. SummerActive is designed to help Canadians improve their health by encouraging them to adopt healthier lifestyles, including participating in physical and sport activities, making healthier food choices and living tobacco-free.

Q: How do the SummerActive and WinterActive initiatives help Canadians?

A: SummerActive and WinterActive are designed to help community leaders organise and promote events and programs where Canadians are encouraged to adopt healthier lifestyles, including participating in physical and sport activities, making healthier food choices and living tobacco-free. 

SummerActive has proven to be a popular annual initiative that comes at a time of year when many Canadians are thinking about spending more time outdoors and enjoying warm weather pursuits such as walking, swimming and bike riding. 

WinterActive aims to demonstrate to Canadians that no matter what winter brings to their region of the country, the winter months are also an ideal time to do more of the healthy activities they already enjoy and try new ones.

Through both initiatives, Canadians are exposed to a variety of healthy lifestyle messages and information via the media, the official initiative websites and community leaders who organize events at the local level. 

Q: What’s happening at the national level regarding SummerActive 2008?

A: Across Canada, SummerActive 2008 runs from May 8th to June 20th and offers unique approaches to encouraging a healthy lifestyle during the summer months.

On the official SummerActive website at www.summeractive.ca each participating province or territory outlines SummerActive activities occurring in their jurisdiction.  Also, through the site,  Canadians  can search for SummerActive events in their communities and to download tips, tools and resources on how to participate in physical and sport activities, make healthier food choices and live smoke-free. The SummerActive website also provides tools and resources for community leaders and individual Canadians to register and promote the SummerActive events they are organizing.  Event organisers and individuals who register their participation in  SummerActive events are all eligible to win great prizes, so be sure to register your event and participation!

Q: What are the benefits of participating in SummerActive?

A: The benefits of participating in SummerActive include:

• Canadians taking steps to lead a healthy lifestyle by being physically active, eating healthily, living smoke-free and participating in sport opportunities
• Access to a national website (www.summeractive.ca) that provides tips, tools and resources to help Canadians live a healthier lifestyle as well as to help community leaders lead successful community healthy living events and activities
• An opportunity to win a SummerActive prize package consisting of hot summer gear to help Canadians lead a healthy lifestyle
  

Q: Where can I get more information about the SummerActive initiative?

A: You can visit www.summeractive.ca for the latest news and information on the 2008 SummerActive initiative, including information on how to contact your 2008 SummerActive Provincial/Territorial representative.

For more information about SummerActive 2008, contact: