Physical Activity Strategy

The more you move, the better you feel. That's why physical activity is key to a healthy and happy life.

How communities are planned and built can impact the health outcomes of the citizens who live there and their ability to make healthy life choices.

Supports that enhance the built environment by expanding transportation options and increasing access to enjoyable spaces for physical activity and recreation provide universal benefits to the community as a whole.

BCHLA's four physical activity initiatives were developed to take British Columbians from the TV to the trails. Read about how BCHLA walked the talk in our Physical Activity Strategy and on the Physical Activity website.

We continue to advance policies that will help British Columbians get moving. BCHLA recommends the following policy options:

• The provincial government (in particular, the Ministries of Community, Sport and Cultural Development; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Environment) work together with the federal government to support municipalities to revitalize aging recreation facilities.
• Consider incentives and taxation to encourage greater involvement of children in physical activities.
• The BC Government should support the efforts of local governments to apply a healthy living lens to their Official Community Plans.
• The BC Government should work with communities to support the development of comprehensive policies and strategies that reduce economic, social, cultural and systemic barriers thereby ensuring greater inclusion and access to physical activity facilities and programming for all British Columbians.
• Ensure communities have universal services which will have the greatest impact on healthy child development. Support the expansion of the community-based “neighbourhood hub” as a way to deliver community services.
• Provide resources for communities to audit and design or retro-fit their communities according to age-friendly guidelines.
• The BC Government should invest in active transportation, ensuring at least 7% of all infrastructure funding allocated for urban transit, road and other transportation construction be set aside for active transportation infrastructure.
• The Ministry of Labour together with ActNow BC support Healthy Workplaces.
• Increase investments in public transit – emphasize projects that maximize ridership while meeting local and regional needs.
• Encourage the development of hubs with higher density housing, shops and services to facilitate transit for the surrounding community (transit oriented development) in areas where the density is considered too low to deliver efficient regular transit service.
• Establish a task force to explore innovative public transportation systems that can serve rural and remote populations and others with mobility challenges.
• Continue to support local governments to create complete, connected communities with shops, services, food and employment accessible by transit systems and pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
• Explore ways to improve transportation to health services including prevention, primary, treatment and tertiary services for rural and remote residents that are unable to afford transportation.
• Encourage and support walking groups and physical activity events.
• Enhance access to places of physical activity; both indoor and outdoor.

BCHLA Initiatives:

Built Environment and Active Transportation (BEAT)
Building communities where it's easier to get around by bike or on foot.

Community Based Awareness (CBA) 
Resources to promote local opportunities for getting active.

Everybody Active
Removing barriers to physical activity.

Walk BC
Step by step tools and resources to a healthier life.

Summary of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research External Evaluation for the Walk BC initiative.

Click here to download the Summary for the Physical Activity Strategy evaluation.

For the complete evaluation contact shartleyfolz(at)bchealthyliving(dot)ca