A pair of provincial ministers were in region this week to announce a new active school travel project that will be led by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and Minister of Transportation and Francophone Affairs Caroline Mulroney announced details about the On the Move project in the gym of St. Angela Merici Catholic School in Bradford.
St. Angela Merici principal Joe Almeida, Bradford Mayor Rob Keffer and members of council, were on hand to welcome the ministers as well as members from Green Communities Canada, the health unit, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and the Simcoe County District School Board.
The $1.5-million provincewide project will encourage students to live a more active and healthy lifestyle by walking to school and spending more time outside.
Of that funding, Simcoe County will be receiving a $110,000 grant from the Ontario Active School Travel Fund, a program of Green Communities Canada, a non-profit organization that helps create innovative community programs that benefit health, the economy, the environment and infrastructure.
The grant will be used to help promote healthy, active living through events and activities within 50 schools in Ontario.
A steering committee with representation from several muncipalities has been formed to help develop activities that encourage active travel to school.
“We are grateful that families ... will have the opportunity to benefit from the active school travel project,” Keffer said. “Being active, walking to school, enjoying the outdoors, it’s good for the environment, it’s good for your health, it’s good for the community."
Others agreed.
“We want less traffic congestion, safer streets, cleaner air, healthy active children. Today, we are here to celebrate projects that support all of those things,” said Kate Berry, program director for Ontario Active School Travel.
Lecce spoke specifically about the young elementary school students, about the importance of living an active lifestyle, not just for physical health, but mental health, too.
“Getting out enjoying nature, going to school, getting off our iPads, is such a positive thing,” he said. “We’re making investments with partners to get kids moving.”
Both Lecce and Mulroney made a commitment to the students that they would cycle as much as they could if the students continued with their walking and wheeling to school. The young students cheered and applauded with that idea.
“We want to support your physical and mental health and that’s what today is all about,” said Mulroney.
“I am pleased that the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will be receiving over $110,000 in funding from Green Communities Canada for the City of Barrie and the wider Simcoe-Muskoka district to expand and strengthen active school travel in these areas,” said Mulroney.
“We’re excited about the program, it’s going to make a difference and in Simcoe. Over $100,000 will go a long way,” added Lecce.
