SALMON ARM BOOT CAMPS PROMOTE ACTIVE AGING

VICTORIA – Older adults in Salmon Arm are participating today at Pro-active Fitness in a free physical activity camp designed to connect them with sports they played in their youth, said George Abbott, Minister of Health Services and MLA for Shuswap.

“The Boomer-Friendly Boot Camps and Get Strong for Life Camps both allow older adults to get active and participate in sport and physical activities together,” said Abbott. “The camps promote healthy, active lifestyles for older adults through a community initiative that is age-friendly.”

Boomer-Friendly Boot Camps can help older adults train together for sports featured in the 2008 BC Senior Games in Prince George, and also allow them to participate in recreational activities including walking and stretching, and strength, mobility and other activities. The camps are held over a six-week period throughout B.C. and are designed for men and women aged 55-70. They are targeted for older adults who regularly do a moderate level of physical activity. Each camp will include 10 to 30 participants.

For older adults who are beginning to get back into shape, the Get Strong for Life Camp focuses on helping participants get stronger and more confident in their daily tasks.

The camps were developed through a one-time $75,000 grant from government to the BC Recreation and Parks Association to design and implement the program throughout the province. They support ActNow BC goals, which include increasing physical activity levels among British Columbians.

“The Boomer-Friendly Boot Camps are helping older adults in communities throughout B.C. get physically active by involving them in recreational activities and sport,” said Suzanne Allard Strutt, Chief Executive Officer of the BC Recreation and Parks Association. “We are proud to deliver a program that promotes healthy living and will involve older adults in communities throughout B.C.”

In addition to Salmon Arm, there are 11 other communities that will host camps, including Campbell River, Saanich, Kimberley, Prince George, Kelowna, Nelson, Vancouver (False Creek), Fort St. John, Surrey, Kitimat and Williams Lake.

ActNow BC is the provincial government’s healthy living initiative aimed at encouraging British Columbians to eat healthier, increase physical activity, eliminate tobacco use and ensure healthy pregnancies. For more information on healthy living tips and to take the ActNow BC Healthy Living Pledge, visit www.actnowbc.ca.

For more information, call the BC Recreation and Parks Association at (604) 629-0965 or go to http://www.bcrpa.bc.ca/BoomersPlusBootCamps.htm.

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Contact:

Gillian Rhodes

Communications Manager

Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport

250 888-1462 (cell)

Robin Shantz

Communications Coordinator

BC Recreation and Parks Association

604 629-0965 ext. 242 (office)

604 375-3874 (cell)

rshantz@bcrpa.bc.ca




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