Ready to walk the talk? Not everyone starts running right from square one; in fact, many people become physically active through walking. That’s why United by Running is thrilled that the Heart and Stroke Foundation, through its Heart and Stroke Walkabout™ program, is returning as a charity partner in 2013 for the Sole Sisters Women’s Race.
Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM supports Nova Scotians to walk more. The initiative includes tools and resources to support groups, workplaces and individuals. United by Runningbelieves this is a tremendous initiative to help people become more active – and we’re confident that this year’s walkers are next year’s runners.
United by Running is making it a priority to be involved with charities, particularly those that encourage active living, and the organization is excited to partner with the Walkaboutprogram to promote and encourage walking at the United by Running’s Sole Sisters race. Sole Sister’s is an untimed event where participants move at their own pace, making it a perfect event for new walkers and runners. About 10 per cent of registrants at Sole Sisters are walkers.
“The Heart and Stroke Foundation is excited to partner with community organizations and events such as Sole Sister’s Women’s Race to support and encourage active living,” said Elaine Shelton, Director of Health Promotion, Policy and Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation in Nova Scotia. “Heart disease and stroke are leading health concerns for women, and being physically active is one way to help reduce your risk and be more healthy. Programs and events that support and encourage women to be more active provide important resources to help us make positive health decisions – one step at a time.”
Registered walkers who stop by the Walkabout booth during race kit pick-up will receive a free surprise and the opportunity to learn more about the organization’s interactive website that helps individuals connect with other walkers, map out walking routes on Nova Scotian streets and track their steps.
To join the October Trail Challenge you can enter online at www.halifax.ca/trails between
October 1st – October 31st, 2012! Great prizes for individuals, families, schools and community groups. Please pass this message along to your community/school/workplace/networks!
We are so lucky in HRM to have so many places and spaces for people to get moving – especially in the outdoors!
Did you know: Most of the wonderful trails that we have in HRM were developed, and are maintained by community volunteer groups. For more information on the Halifax Regional Trails Association go to www.halifax.ca/trails
Brought to you by HRM Community and Recreation Services, HRM Trails, HRM Corporate Communications, and HRM Regional Transportation Planning
]]>Walkabout and Hike Nova Scotia presents a walk on the Dartmouth Harbourfront Trail
Thursday October 4 12:15 pm
We will walk rain or shine. All are invited. The walk will take place on the waterfront paved trail running between both ferry terminals (1 hour return trip). Meet at the east side of the Dartmouth ferry terminal. Find the trail at www.halifax.ca/walkhikebikehrm.
RSVP is appreciated at Heart & Stroke Walkabout™ [email protected] or call 423-7530 ext. 3347
There will be a chance to win a prize from Hike Nova Scotia and Walkabout
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- Healthy Eating + Physical Activity = A+
SIGN UP for this webinar to learn how you, your school board and your community can support students to succeed. New evidence links healthy eating and physical activity to better academic outcomes. Register to hear the evidence and find out how you can be involved.
Sept. 26th from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
RSVP: Sherry Jarvis at [email protected]
The inaugural event is planned for September 9th, from 9am – 2pm, and will consist of limiting vehicular access along 5km of streets with activity nodes planned at points along the route, includingPoint Pleasant Park,VictoriaPark, and the Hydrostone.
Five activity nodes in total will be situated along the Switch route. These nodes will provide opportunity for a variety of artistic, entertainment, educational, culinary and other endeavors. Dancing, music, yoga, bicycle workshops, and food vendors are just a small sample of what organizers imagine will take place in the designated areas. These activity nodes represent a great opportunity to expose your business or organization to a large and varied amount of people.
An invitation to the inaugural Swtich event may be found here indicating the route and location of the proposed activity nodes. Included in the invitation is a registation form to be submitted by August 17, 2012 should you choose to participate in this event.
Please visit www.pdcentre.ca for more information about the Planning & Design Centre and Switch. Should you need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 494.8494 and asking for Ross or Mark.
Thank you for your time and we look forward to your support in making Switch a success!
Best Regards,
The Switch: Open Street Sundays Team
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REMINDER : Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ is offering Walkable Communities Grants to help organizations or groups take steps to increase walking participation. Deadline for submissions is Monday July 9th 2012.
Application
Walkable Communities Grant 2012 – Application
Categories of Grants
- Infrastructure: improved accessibility or physical improvements to existing walking infrastructure to encourage Nova Scotians to walk more (e.g. signage, aesthetic features, safety, cost, scheduling)
- Marketing: innovative marketing and encouragement programs (new media, community based social marketing, incentive programs etc.) that link with Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ and encourage Nova Scotians to walk more.
- Advocacy: communication or other activities addressing a local issue (e.g. lack of crosswalks) or project that would promote walkability (e.g. Engaging with decision makers to advance policy change or changes in infrastructure, to create long-term change for better walkability)
Eligible Groups
Groups eligible to apply for this funding include organizations, groups of individuals or communities. Those who have previously received a Walkability Grant may reapply.
Level of Support
Grants of $500 to $2,000 will be awarded to 3-12 groups this year. A total of $6000 will be distributed. Funds will be distributed by Fall 2012 and completed spending is required by Aug 31 2013. A final report will be required at that time.Successful applicants will receive a package of Walkabout promotional items to enhance your project.
Criteria
The grant proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria. Priority will be give to proposals that:
- Are action and results oriented, with an achievable work plan.
- Clearly and effectively link with action or strategic direction of Heart & Stroke Walkabout™(* See attached fact sheet or visit www.heartandstroke.ns.ca)
- Communicate a clear purpose and activities that are reasonable and can be evaluated for their effectiveness
- Build public support and involvement
- Engage local or regional leaders and decision makers (e.g. informing municipal counselor of your plans)
- Build on existing community support or physical activity strategies (e.g. Municipal Physical Activity Leadership strategies; school or municipal active transportation plans)
Useful Resources:
Infrastructure and Advocacy: https://walkaboutns.ca/walkabout-info/resources/creating-walkable-communities/
Marketing: Heart&Stroke Walkabout has transit ads, posters, signage templates, radio ads, wholesale rates on pedometers, tracking tools, The Walkabout logo is available for appropriate use.
Inquiries should be communicated to
Elaine Shelton, Director of Health Promotion, Policy and Research: 423-7682 X3311 or [email protected]
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For immediate release May 7, 2012
HALIFAX, NS- Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ announced the launch of their new website www.walkaboutns.ca Monday with the start of their Follow Your Farmer Contest.
Walkaboutns.ca is part of Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ a comprehensive program designed to get Nova Scotians walking. The newly designed site has improved features intended to help users track their steps and monitor their progress. Research shows that to improve your health you should add 2,000 to 3,000 steps to your routine a day. It only takes five minutes to walk about 500 steps. The site offers a social media component that allows users to message friends and colleagues, share their favourite walking stories and link up with walking groups their area.
Walking is an easy, accessible and cost-effective way to achieve the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day.
“Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ is excited to launch our new website. We hope that Nova Scotians will use the tool to help them set and achieve their own physical activity goals.” says Menna MacIsaac, CEO, Nova Scotia, Heart and Stroke Foundation.
To celebrate the launch of the site, Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ is hosting a contest in partnership with Nova Scotia Egg producers. Follow Your Farmer is an interactive contest that encourages participants to register on www.walkaboutns.ca and join the Follow Your Farmer group. Once there, users will receive daily updates from the farm about physical activity, farm life and yummy and nutritious egg recipes.
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For more information:
Victoria Horne
Communications Coordinator
Heart and Stroke Foundation, Nova Scotia
423-7682 ext 3343
About Heart&Stroke Walkabout:
Heart&Stroke Walkabout is an initiative of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, Department of Health and Wellness and the Ecology Action Centre. Our goal is to help Nova Scotians discover the magic of walking and realize the physical and mental benefits of walking within their communities. It’s about changing the way we think about walking—putting feet back on the streets and walking back in the hearts and minds of Nova Scotians.
About Heart and Stroke Foundation:
The Heart and Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.
]]>For immediate release May 7, 2012
HALIFAX, NS- Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ announced the launch of their new website www.walkaboutns.ca Monday with the start of their Follow Your Farmer Contest.
Walkaboutns.ca is part of Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ a comprehensive program designed to get Nova Scotians walking. The newly designed site has improved features intended to help users track their steps and monitor their progress. Research shows that to improve your health you should add 2,000 to 3,000 steps to your routine a day. It only takes five minutes to walk about 500 steps. The site offers a social media component that allows users to message friends and colleagues, share their favourite walking stories and link up with walking groups their area.
Walking is an easy, accessible and cost-effective way to achieve the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day.
“Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ is excited to launch our new website. We hope that Nova Scotians will use the tool to help them set and achieve their own physical activity goals.” says Menna MacIsaac, CEO, Nova Scotia, Heart and Stroke Foundation.
To celebrate the launch of the site, Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ is hosting a contest in partnership with Nova Scotia Egg producers. Follow Your Farmer is an interactive contest that encourages participants to register on www.walkaboutns.ca and join the Follow Your Farmer group. Once there, users will receive daily updates from the farm about physical activity, farm life and yummy and nutritious egg recipes.
-30-
For more information:
Victoria Horne
Communications Coordinator
Heart and Stroke Foundation, Nova Scotia
423-7682 ext 3343
About Heart&Stroke Walkabout:
Heart&Stroke Walkabout is an initiative of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, Department of Health and Wellness and the Ecology Action Centre. Our goal is to help Nova Scotians discover the magic of walking and realize the physical and mental benefits of walking within their communities. It’s about changing the way we think about walking—putting feet back on the streets and walking back in the hearts and minds of Nova Scotians.
About Heart and Stroke Foundation:
The Heart and Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.
]]>Heart&Stroke Walkabout is interested in putting feet back on the streets and walking back in the hearts and minds of Nova Scotians. While physical activity is important for both males and females of all ages; Heart&Stroke Walkabout has recently branched out to support the physical activity needs of Nova Scotian girls in Grade 7.
According to a study titled Physical Activity Levels and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth (2005) only approximately 20% of females in Grade 7 met the study standard of physical activity and these results continue to drop to less than 1% of females in Grade 11 meeting the recommendations.1
From November 2010 – February 2011, 16 junior high schools across the province participated in a youth focused pilot project. Participating schools were selected based on school board region, interest and ability to participate. The purpose of the pilot project was to gather feedback on the use of pedometers and accompanying extra- curricular activities in supporting Grade 7 girls to be more active. Here are the results:
- 11 of the 16 schools tested pedometer with extracurricular resources and 5 schools tested pedometers without extra-curricular resources. Approximately 294 students participated in the pilot. 84% of participants were female
- Female students indicated that pedometers supported them to be more active by increasing self-awareness of physical activity levels
- On average, 80% of participants indicated they would wear a pedometer again, particularly female participants, providing strong support for continued programming in this area
The pedometer kits are currently being updated based on the feedback received from the pilot. Recruitment letters will be distributed to schools across Nova Scotia who did not participate in the pilot to expand distribution in Fall 2011. In the future, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia is planning to provide a Grade 7 curriculum supplement to junior high schools as well.
________________________________________
1Health Promotion and Protection. (2005) Physical Activity Levels and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth in the Province of Nova Scotia. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from
http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/pasr/akhk-research.asp
What’s new:
• Home button added to help members find their way to the home page from any page
• “My profile” button changed to “My Walkabout” and accessible from the main navigation bar to help members find their step tracking profile easily
• Ability to log more than one day’s worth of steps at one time
• Steps are visible on the progress graph in real time, as you add them.
• Find routes and groups right from your My Walkabout page with new links.
What’s next?
The usability research identified new opportunities for the Walkabout site to become an even stronger resource for Nova Scotians. Over the next several months we are working with Kula Partners, a local website company to redesign the Walkabout website to make it more responsive to your needs. We’ll keep you posted about website plans as they develop, however if you have any questions, please let us know!
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