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Red Deer in the running to be declared Canada’s Most Active Community

ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge continues until June 30
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There is still time for Red Deerians to join the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge. (Advocate file photo) FILE - A cyclist makes his way down the path near Piper Creek. (Photo by BLACK PRESS)

There’s still time for Red Deer to win the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge — so move it.

Red Deer was in first place on June 27, but has since dropped a couple spots in the ranking.

“We’re number two in the province now, and number four in the country, which is pretty impressive considering there’s probably 1,400 communities involved,” said Mayor Ken Johnston on Wednesday.

The month-long ParticipACTION challenge runs until June 30 and the community with the most active minutes logged during the challenge has a chance to take home a $100,000 grand prize.

Related:

Red Deerians challenged to be active this month

Determining the national winner is based on more than the number of activity minutes logged.

At the end of the challenge, 50 communities will be contacted to apply to be named Canada’s Most Active Community, and five of those finalists will be selected from Alberta.

Finalists will be judged based on active minutes logged per capita, what was done in their community to promote physical activity, how community partners were engaged in the challenge, what was done to reduce barriers to activity, and more.

Johnston said that even if Red Deer isn’t in the top spot, there’s still a chance for the community to be asked to apply to move on to the next level of the competition.

“All is not lost yet.”

He said recent rains couldn’t have come at a worse time, but so far people have really embraced the spirit ParticipACTION.

“I couldn’t be prouder.”

Related:

Sedentary Canadians not making the grade on fitness, ParticipAction report finds

And there’s still time for Red Deerians to join the ParticipACTION challenge. People may not realize just how easy it is to be active, or how their usual activities already qualify, Johnston said.

“There’s a wide range of activities. You could be gardening. You could be walking, cycling. You could be painting your house. You could be changing your roof shingles — it all qualifies as physical activity.”

Individuals, families and organizations can register at ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge and/or download the ParticipACTION app.

Move Your Mood, an Alberta Health Services program that promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyle practices, received a grant from ParticipACTION to promote the Community Better Challenge.



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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