BACKGROUNDER: BCHLA Funds Healthy Living Initiatives

$22 million dollars from ActNow BC will be used to fund the following initiatives:

Healthy Eating Initiatives

Not enough of the BC population is consuming the recommended five to ten daily servings of vegetables and fruit (including more than 60% of children). These BCHLA Healthy Eating programs will target adults 35-54 years old and their children:

  1. Support for Healthy Food and Beverage Sales Where Families Learn, Play and Work: Provides nutritional expertise and assistance to schools, recreation facilities and other public buildings to replace unhealthy food and sugary drinks with better nutritional choices.
  2. Access to Vegetables and Fruit for Food Insecure Families: Province-wide program aimed at getting more fresh produce into the kitchens of low-income families.
  3. Development of Food Skills for Families: Programs for low income families that teach the skills necessary for preparing healthier meals. Programs will address needs of low income, aboriginal and immigrant families.
  4. School-based Sugar Sweetened Beverage Reduction Program: Working with educators to help children and youth make healthier beverage choices.

Physical Activity Initiatives

Almost half of British Columbians are not active enough. These BCHLA Physical Activity programs will promote and support increased physical fitness, especially among adults between 35 and 54:

  1. Provincial Walking Initiative: Programs will be developed in community facilities and workplaces to get individuals and groups walking on a regular basis, with family physicians referring inactive adults to these programs.
  2. Low Income Opportunity Access Initiative: Working with community centres to remove access barriers experienced by low-income individuals and families, so that “everyone gets to play”.
  3. Community Based Awareness Initiative: Supports ActNow BC’s ongoing province-wide campaign by developing additional materials and resources specifically designed to reach vulnerable populations (such as low income, Aboriginal, new immigrant, low literacy).
  4. Built Environment and Active Transportation Initiative: Planning grants for smaller communities to develop trails, paths and other infrastructure to get more people walking and cycling. 

Tobacco Reduction Initiatives

Tobacco companies invest heavily in marketing to young adults (ages 19-29), who now have the highest rates of smoking and are more likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke. These BCHLA Tobacco Reduction programs will target that age group:

  1. Tobacco Reduction in the Workplace: Smoking education and cessation services through WorkSafe BC, targeting up to 100 companies with higher rates of smoking employees.
  2. Tobacco Reduction in Post Secondary Institutions: Smoking cessation programs for students, plus an education campaign to help establish tobacco-free campuses.
  3. Tobacco Reduction Community Outreach: Smoke-free education materials offered at popular clubs, restaurants, cafes, sporting and cultural events, plus promotion of smoke-free rental housing options.

Contact:
Rita Koutsodimos
Manager, Advocacy & Communications
(T) 604-629-1630  (Mobile) 604-989-4546
rkoutsodimos (at) bchealthylving (dot) ca
 

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