FIRST-EVER FORUM PROMOTES HEALTH IN B.C. SCHOOLS

VANCOUVER – Health Services Minister Shirley Bond and Education Minister Tom Christensen welcomed educators, health professionals, parents, students and municipal leaders in Vancouver today for the first-ever provincewide forum to promote health in B.C. schools.

“Healthy, active children are more likely to become healthy, active adults,” said Bond. “While today B.C. enjoys its reputation for being among the healthiest provinces in Canada, we are committed to building an even healthier future. This forum focuses attention on the critically sensitive periods of life, giving B.C. students a healthy head start.”

A panel of educators and students will highlight successful policies, practices and evidence-based programs in schools. Ministers Bond and Christensen will be working alongside participants during the breakout sessions to explore ideas and gather information on the framework and best practices in schools.

“Our job today is to roll up our sleeves and develop a framework for health-promoting schools that will work for all students in British Columbia,” said Christensen. “By working with our partners and focusing on student health and achievement, our plan can be a model for Canada.”

The framework for health-promoting schools is a part of the Province’s $15.5 million investment announced on Nov. 23, 2004 to help make B.C. students the healthiest and most physically active in Canada. More than $14.5 million over five years goes to expanding Action Schools! BC provincewide. Action Schools! BC is a best-practice physical activity model designed to help schools create individual action plans to promote healthy living. An additional $220,000 will be invested over three years to develop the framework to promote health in schools.

“The school setting provides a unique opportunity to significantly and positively influence the many domains of student health in and outside the classroom setting,” said Dr. Perry Kendall, provincial health officer. “By working with teachers, parents, school administrators, health authorities, government, community groups and students, we’re creating an environment that fosters healthy living that we hope lasts a lifetime.”

A draft framework for health-promoting schools was distributed for participants to discuss and further develop. A key element of the draft framework is the building of long-term partnerships between the Province, parents, students, educators, health authorities and researchers.

Areas covered at the forum, and in the draft framework, include:

· Healthy physical school environments.

· Healthy social environments in schools.

· Promoting healthy food choices and physical activity.

· Enhancing health-related learning in and outside the classroom.

· Services within schools that support students to be physically and emotionally healthy.

· Partnerships, community links, and support services that promote health.

The framework, which is expected to be completed by spring 2005, will guide school boards, health authorities, and communities in creating health-promoting schools.

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For information on AchieveBC, visit http://www.achievebc.ca online.


Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Health Services 250 952-1887	Corinna Filion Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963

Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.