Research Agreement with Dalhousie
The Province of Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University today signed a research agreement as part of an effort to raise physical activity levels in Nova Scotia, especially among children and youth.
Evidence indicates current activity levels are low among Canadian children and youth. On this basis, the provincial government has formed an interdepartmental committee on physically active young people. The committee's objective is to increase, by 10 per cent, the number of children and youth active enough for health benefits by 2003. However, at present, there are no provincial measures of children's activity levels in Nova Scotia.
"Because of the known health and social benefits of regular physical activity, government is focusing on encouraging Nova Scotians to develop lifetime fitness habits," said Robbie Harrison, Minister responsible for Sport and Recreation. "The partnership with Dalhousie University will establish much needed measuring techniques and data to monitor our progress, and also identify success stories that can be used as models."
Under co-chairs Dr. Larry Maloney and Dr. Phil Campagna, Dalhousie University's School of Health and Human Performance will invite researchers in the Maritimes to identify and recommend measures that indicate the level of physical activity that produce optimum health benefits. They will develop and recommend a mechanism to collect baseline data that tracks changes in the physical activity levels of Nova Scotian children and youth over time.
"Nova Scotia is to be congratulated for recognizing the importance of physical activity among children and youth, for setting a goal and taking concrete steps to reach the goal," said Dr. Maloney, director of the School of Health and Human Performance. "There are many benefits associated with regular physical activity, and Dalhousie University is pleased to be a partner in a program that will ultimately translate to healthier communities."
The government committee comprises representatives from the departments of Health, Justice, Education and Culture, Community Services, as well as the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat and the Sport and Recreation Commission, which acts as lead agent. The committee also has a youth representative.