PROVINCE LAUNCHES MEASURES TO IMPROVE STUDENT HEALTH

VANCOUVER – As part of its ActNow BC program, the Province is introducing a series of measures to help improve the health of B.C. students, Education Minister Shirley Bond and Health Minister George Abbott announced today.

“Childhood obesity is a serious problem,” said Education Minister Shirley Bond. “One in four B.C. children between the ages of two and 17 is overweight or obese. The measures we are launching today will help make our students more physically active and improve their eating habits.”

To help improve the health of B.C. students, the Ministry of Education and ActNow BC are investing $3.8 million, including:

· $1.5 million for Action Schools! BC to develop a new healthy eating component, and to provide physical activity bin supplies, and teacher support and training.

· $1.3 million in direct funding to public schools to purchase physical activity equipment.

· $950,000 to develop a provincial network of healthy schools.

· $50,000 to B.C. School Sports to support volunteer committees responsible for hosting zone and provincial championships for over 400 schools.

“These measures are an investment in our children’s good health, now and for the future,” said Abbott. “They build on the work being done through ActNow BC, which aims to reduce the burden of chronic disease and disability on individuals and communities, and ensures the sustainability of our health-care system.”

The new measures support the Province’s earlier initiatives to improve the health of B.C.’s students, including:

· Working with school boards and vending companies to eliminate junk food in B.C.’s schools as soon as possible.

· Guidelines for food and beverage sales to help schools decide what products should be sold in their stores, cafeterias and vending machines, and to provide students with healthier options.

· $14.5 million over five years for Action Schools! BC, which includes expanding the program to grades K-9 provincewide by 2010 and developing a secondary school model.

“Schools play an important role in shaping the attitudes and beliefs of B.C.’s students,” said Bond. “That’s why it is important that we help students develop healthy living habits now, so that they can be healthy and successful adults who pass those habits on to their children.”

ActNow BC is a provincewide effort to establish a culture of fitness and healthy living with British Columbians. ActNow BC is helping the Province reach its goal of leading the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness.

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For information on ActNow BC, visit www.gov.bc.ca online.

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Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963

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