BCAHL Blog
Introducing the After-School Active Play Club
March 18, 2024 The After-school Active Play Club provides a unique opportunity for elementary and middle school children to engage in unstructured play on their school grounds after the school day ends. Under the light supervision of an adult, children are free to explore, create, and interact, fostering their physical, social, and emotional development. We are trialling an early version of this program across schools in B.C., and includes an Active Play Grant...Read More >
Active Transportation Highlighted in the News
March 5, 2024 The Community Active Transportation Engagement (CATE) Grant Program provides funding to promote the use of recently built active transportation infrastructure by addressing behavioural, or individual level, barriers. We at the BC Alliance for Healthy Living (BCAHL) are excited to see these projects funded by the CATE Grant making a difference in communities across the province. One of these projects is the Town of Sidney's active transportation engagement initiative, which addresses...MediaRead More >
Communities Going Active Toolkit
January 31, 2024 Active transportation has many benefits: it can reduce traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage communities to be physically active, which in turn helps prevent chronic diseases and foster mental wellness. However, many people in British Columbia experience barriers that prevent them from using active transportation infrastructure. In order to address individual barriers, we have developed the Communities Going Active Toolkit to support communities in promoting the use of...Read More >
BCAHL’s Reflections & Accomplishments: 2023
December 13, 2023 What a year 2023 has been. We’ve seen how resilient people across BC can be: from a difficult summer of wildfires to increasing food prices, we’ve seen our friends and families adapt quickly, give generously and support each other. With activities and events now back in full swing after the pandemic, many have been able to get back to enjoying amenities and recreational facilities once again. Throughout this past year,...Read More >
Alcohol & Safety: A Conversation on Community Policies recording
December 12, 2023 On November 16, Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Alliance for Healthy Living hosted a dialogue, where participants discussed alcohol consumption and how to keep community members safe and aware about alcohol-related health risks. The event started with presentations from Dr. Mark Lysyshyn (Vancouver Coastal Health), Kate Vallance (Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research), and then Councillor Tom Stere (District of Tofino). Dr. Lysyshyn discussed alcohol-related harms, specifically in the...Read More >
Investing in Healthy People for a Healthier BC: Province Announces $4M in Funding to Create More Affordable Physical Activities to Get More People Moving
October 5, 2023 BC Alliance for Healthy Living (BCAHL) applauds the Ministry of Health’s $4 million investment in physical activity. Through this funding, more communities will have access to inclusive physical activity opportunities which will make a significant contribution towards improving the health and well-being of people across British Columbia. Physical activity has been recognized as one of the most effective ways to decrease the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension,...MediaRead More >
Active Communities Grant Program
October 5, 2023 Physical activity is important at every age, and it has been recognized as one of the most effective ways to decrease the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and several types of cancers. Physical activity can also support positive mental health and well-being as it helps with stress management and fosters social connectedness. Most of us know that being physically active is important to keep...Read More >
Reflecting on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 27, 2023 As an organization focused on disease prevention and health promotion, BC Alliance for Healthy Living (BCAHL) understands that colonization and institutionalized racism are largely responsible for the gap in health outcomes between non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples. As such, BCAHL stands with Indigenous partners and communities in this journey toward reconciliation. We recognize that these are early days and there is much learning and work to be done ahead of us...Read More >
Quebec proposes a ban on flavoured vapes; but where is Health Canada?
May 4, 2023 Youth vaping is a serious problem that needs urgent action. We’ve been seeing a steady increase in vaping among youth year over year, in BC 42% say they’ve tried vaping and 27% say they’ve vaped in the last month. This is worrisome as there are toxic chemicals in the aerosol, which can lead to short-term respiratory and cardiovascular health effects and the longer-term effects remain to be seen. E-juice typically...Read More >
Pressed for time? Here are some quick, easy & affordable recipes you can try this week
March 6, 2023 Weeknight dinners can be a bit stressful because of a number of things: sometimes, the commute home takes longer than usual or maybe you didn’t have time to buy ingredients. No matter the reason, here are some ways you can make it easier on yourself this week, while keeping your meals nutritious and cost-effective. Check out these recipes from TikTok cooks. Veggie & noodle stir fry (Prep and cook time:...Read More >
