FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 25, 2011 - Today, the BC Healthy Living Alliance is launching the “Think Healthy, Vote Locally” guide to get more people interested, informed and involved in the upcoming elections.
BCHLA Chair and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon Division, Barbara Kaminsky said, “we know that supportive environments make all the difference when it comes to whether people can and do make healthy choices which in turn affects their risk for chronic disease.”
She added, “physical activity and healthy eating should be an easier part of our daily lives and supported by local governments - we want citizens to get informed and vote with these issues in mind.”
Suzanne Strutt, BCHLA Past Chair and CEO of BC Recreation and Parks Association, highlighted, “living in walkable neighbourhoods where you can walk to the store, to school and run errands on foot lowers the risk of being an unhealthy weight by 35%”.
The “Think Healthy, Vote Locally” voters’ guide provides an overview of some of the key issues that fall within the jurisdiction of local government. It covers 6 main issues:
1. Healthy Community Planning
2. Active Transportation – Providing More Places to Walk and Bike
3. Healthy Eating and Food Security
4. Renewal of Recreation Facilities
5. Healthier Schools
6. Support for Affordable Housing
The guide also provides a checklist and sample questions that can be used to assess candidates’ positions on healthy living, background information on the issues, social media tools, sample letters and links to media from Abbotsford to Williams Lake.
The "Think Healthy, Vote Locally voters guide" is available on the BC Healthy Living Alliance website and Facebook page.
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For more information please contact:
Rita Koutsodimos, Manager Communications & Policy,
BC Healthy Living Alliance Secretariat
Telephone: 604-629-1630 Mobile: 604-989-4546
rkoutsodimos(at)bchealthyliving(dot)ca
