Healthier Communities Program Launch

Provincial sport and recreation organizations gather in Yarmouth today to launch the Building Healthier Communities Together campaign.

The program, aimed at communities throughout Nova Scotia, has a clear message -- time, effort and money must be invested in sport and recreation facilities and programs to physically, socially and economically benefit people and their communities.

Building Healthier Communities Together is an assortment of graphic and audio materials intended as tools to help communities and organizations with advertising, educational material and merchandising.

The kit is designed to promote healthy lifestyles and remind the public how important sport and recreation is to the quality of life. It will assist volunteers, media, health care, and sport and recreation professionals, educators, government representatives and business leaders in spreading that message.

"Building Healthier Communities Together reflects a fundamental aspect of the commission's mandate -- that of partnering with key organizations to promote greater awareness and provide opportunities that contribute to the health and well-being of Nova Scotians," said Tony Martin, deputy head of the Sport and Recreation Commission.

"It's time to celebrate the importance of sport and recreation in our communities," said Pauline Doucet-Scott, recreation co-ordinator, Argyle Municipal Recreation Department. "The Building Healthier Communities Together launch is one of a series happening throughout Nova Scotia. This launch will help promote the importance of healthier lifestyles and the role that sport and recreation play in the quality of life in our communities. Recreation matters and sport makes a difference!"

The Yarmouth launch starts at 6:45 p.m. today, April 6, at the Town Hall, 400 Main St., Yarmouth.

Building Healthier Communities Together is being launched over a two-month period by the Sport and Recreation Commission, Sport Nova Scotia and Recreation Nova Scotia in collaboration with community organizations in: Sydney, Truro, Yarmouth, Barrington, Shelburne, Liverpool, Wolfville/Kentville, Bridgetown, Trenton, Bridgewater and Halifax.