Boys and Girls Clubs Focus on Healthy Living

Boys and Girls Clubs across Nova Scotia are getting support to help young people make healthy eating and physical activity part of their daily lives.

The clubs offer after-school programs with a focus on healthy living and minimal or no fees to ensure children from lower-income families can participate.

The province and the federal government are providing $60,000 in funding this year through the Healthy Living Fund to improve the programs and ensure measurable results across the province.

"Helping Nova Scotians develop healthy lifestyle skills and habits at an early age is critical to improving the health of our population, now and in the future," said Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson. "We're pleased that Boys and Girls Clubs in Nova Scotia are doing their part to help young Nova Scotians of all backgrounds grow up healthy and strong."

The Healthy Living Fund is supported equally by the Department of Health and Wellness and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

"The federal government makes strategic investments across the country to increase healthy living opportunities for Canadians, including children, youth and their families," said Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of Rona Ambrose, federal Minister of Health. "By enhancing the capacity of the Boys and Girls Clubs to lead physical activity and healthy eating activities, our youth will benefit from enriched programming that will have a lasting positive impact on their health."

All of the Boys and Girls Clubs across Nova Scotia are working together to improve their programs, make them more consistent, and develop a formal evaluation process.

"The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is extremely pleased for the seven Nova Scotia clubs and the thousands of children and youth who will directly benefit from this funding partnership," said Debbie Cooper, regional director of the Boys and Girls Club. "We look forward to influencing their young lives by engaging them in healthy living practices."

The Boys and Girls Clubs' efforts to help young people adopt healthy lifestyles supports Thrive!, government's plan for a healthier Nova Scotia. More information about Thrive! is available at http://thrive.novascotia.ca .