Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education and Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation and Francophone Affairs were in Bradford on Wednesday morning to announce the new active school travel project, ‘On The Move’, led by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU).
Lecce and Mulroney made the announcement about the project in the gym of St. Angela Merici Catholic School in the Grand Central subdivision. St. Angela Merici principal, Joe Almeida along with Mayor Rob Keffer and members of council were on hand to welcome the ministers as well as members from Green Communities Canada, the SMDHU, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and the Simcoe County District School Board.
The $1.5 million dollar province wide project will encourage students to live a more active and healthy lifestyle by walking to school and spending more time outside. Of the $1.5 million, Simcoe County will be receiving a $110,600 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 announcement coincided with the town’s Walk ‘n’ Wheel event and International Walk to School Day, where students are encouraged to walk or bike to school to promote an physical activity and reduce congestion on the roads.
The grant will be used to help promote healthy, active living through events and activities within 50 schools in Ontario. A streering committee comprised of representation from the following muncipalities: Midland, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil, District of Muskoka, Bracebridge and Huntsville, as well as the Environment Network and the Health Unit, has been formed to help develop activities that encourage active travel to school.
“We are grateful that families in BWG will have the opportunity to benefit from the active school travel project” said Mayor Rob Keffer.
“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.”
“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 in Bradford West Gwillimbury,” said Kate Berry, Program Director for Ontario Active School Travel.
Minister Lecce spoke to the audience, specifically 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 i-pads, 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.
“It’s wonderful that you’re taking that step to be active,” she said to the St. Angela Merici students.
“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.
“People are just busier, so it’s often easier to just throw your bags in the car and go. You have to make a conscious decision and change your habits and be deliberate about the choices we’re making and that’s what this program does,” said Mulroney, speaking about the initiatives and programs that will be funded with the new active school travel project.
“It’s an opportunity as a group to make some healthy choices.”
