Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to announce the new active living program which my department is promoting across the Northwest Territories this year.
The NWT active living challenge is part of a national movement to encourage Canadians to adopt a healthy, balanced life-style by being physically active every day. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is taking up the challenge to promote active living in the north.
A calendar of events and an activity guide have been developed. The calendar lists various active living events being hosted across the Northwest Territories. The activity guides provide over 100 ideas for groups who may wish to host an event.
During 1993, individuals, families, work places, schools, voluntary organizations and communities are encouraged to host active living events every month of the year. Groups that host events, and register their participation in the challenge, are eligible to receive an active living flag and a plaque. These are presented monthly to one of the registered participants by an NWT inter-agency committee with representatives from many government departments and organizations with responsibility for the well-being of northerners.
Mr. Speaker, the communities that promote active living events for their residents are contributing to the well-being of our northern society by improving the quality of life. Recent studies have also shown that even moderate amounts of enjoyable daily physical activity can improve a person's physical, mental, spiritual and emotional well-being. I encourage you to promote participation in our NWT active living challenge in your constituencies.
I would like to sincerely thank the inter-agency committee members for their help. They consist of representatives from the Departments of Health, Education, Social Services and Personnel, the NWT Recreation and Parks Association, Ecology North, Storefront for Voluntary Agencies, Sport North, the YWCA, the NWT Council for Disabled Persons, and the city of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause