The earlier a healthy lifestyle is introduced to a person's life, the more likely that individual is to remain physically active for the rest of his or her life.
The earlier a healthy lifestyle is introduced to a person's life, the more likely that individual is to remain physically active for the rest of his or her life.
"It's easier to establish such habits earlier rather than later," said Ian James, the manager of the Town of Sundre's community services department, during a recent phone interview with the Round Up.
Local officials had submitted an application for funding through the RBC Learn to Play grant, to launch a local program called Sports for Life that will focus on physical literacy, not only to help develop children's confidence of physical movement, but also to encourage them to lead an active lifestyle as well. Word was recently received that the grant application for $10,000 was approved, he said.
The program is geared for youth up to the age of 13, by which point a person should have already established active habits that will carry over throughout the rest of his or her life. A healthy routine does not necessarily have to mean being an extremely hardcore adrenalin junkie who is always seeking to push new physical boundaries. The idea is simply to encourage a person to exercise a bit more, regardless of whether that means simply going for regular walks or perhaps even joining a local sports team, he said.
Community services will be partnering with the Sundre Daycare as well as the Olds College athletics and sports management program to get the new Sundre Sports for Life program up and running, he said, adding that could be by the end of October.
While the funding is now in place for the fall of 2016 through to the end of 2017, the intent is to create a legacy that local community organizations and businesses will eventually be able to sustain after the initial grant money gets the program off the ground, he said.
Town officials planned to meet on Oct. 5 with representatives from Greenwood Neighbourhood Place and the Sundre Daycare to finalize scheduling, after which point registration forms will be available, he said.
Anyone who is interested in getting involved or finding out more information can contact the community services department at 403-994-7061 to speak with Barb Rock, community services assistant, who will be able to provide additional details.
