The Alberta government is honouring a Red Deer public school for its work in promoting healthy eating, physical activity and positive social environments.
École Oriole Park School was among the nine Alberta schools, individuals and school districts that received an Alberta Healthy School Communities Award.
A total of 37 nominations were given for the Healthy School Communities Award. Award recipients were selected in the following categories: individual champions, school champions, high school champions, and school district champions.
The public school received an Award of Merit within the School Community Champions category.
École Oriole Park School has long been an advocate for ensuring its students are healthy. It was an original member of Ever Active Schools, which looks at promoting the benefits of physical activity, healthy eating and mental health.
The Red Deer school partnered with local businesses to create a healthier hot lunch menu; fundraised to buy sports equipment and enhance the physical education program; and created an annual student benevolence fund to help students in need buy things like winter boots or breakfast at school.
Dave Rodney, associate minister of wellness, presented the Healthy School Communities Awards in Edmonton on Monday.
The Healthy School Communities Award recognizes individuals and organizations for their work to encourage healthy lifestyles among children and youth. The award program also promotes ways school authorities, schools, communities, businesses and individuals can create healthy environments for Alberta children at school.