Happy Canada Day! We asked our Collaborating Partners what they have in store for Canada's 150th. Read on to learn about some of the exciting child and youth-focused 150 initiatives taking place this year across the Canadian child and youth health and wellbeing sectors.
Physical & Health Education Canada
Celebrate Canada’s 150th in Ottawa, Ontario and discover how school communities across Canada are enhancing the well-being and achievement of children and youth. This biennial National event is a must attend for community leaders working in health, education, research, government and active living sectors. Connect with school health champions, and district and government leaders that have made healthy schools a priority goal in their community. Explore best practices that support the healthy development of all children.
A healthy school community increases student well-being and learning by promoting a culture of wellness for all members of the community. Students, teachers, administrators, staff, parents, and community partners all have a role to play in creating an environment that supports healthy choices among its members. A whole-child approach recognizes the relationship between health and learning and when students are healthy, learning outcomes are positively affected. Join Physical and Health Education Canada November 2nd and 3rd to experience a national community of practice committed to improving student achievement, health and well-being.
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Children First Canada
In 2017 Children First Canada will launch an exciting project to create a Canadian Children’s Charter – a vision and plan of action to improve the lives of all of Canada’s children. Several regions and municipalities in Canada have their own Children’s Charter, but no such vision exists for all of Canada’s kids. As we mark Canada’s 150th celebrations, this is a strategic moment in time to create a Children’s Charter that will benefit kids now and for generations to come.
The Canadian Children’s Charter will be developed through a dynamic process of consultation involving students from coast to coast to coast, including engagement through focus groups, interviews, a survey and online forums. The consultation will culminate in a National Summit in Ottawa on November 22nd to the 23rd, 2017, where children and youth will meet with leaders of children’s charities, corporations, government and the media. Together, they will create the Canadian Children’s Charter – a vision and plan of action for all of Canada’s children.
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Variety Village
Dance-Able: July 4th in Toronto
In celebration of Variety Village and Canada’s 150th birthday, guests will experience an evening of music, inclusive dancing and some special surprise performances. Variety Village and Help by Helping are excited to announce they are hosting the first ever all-inclusive FREE dance party, DANCE-ABLE. This will be an unparalleled night of entertainment in celebration of all those within the disabled community. Dance-Able 2017 is about bringing families, businesses, and the greater local community together to create a world that is inclusive and accessible and where people with disabilities are recognized and appreciated.
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Ability Online
To celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, and to build support for Ability Online and its 25 year history as a charity reducing the social isolation of youth with disabilities, Ability Online is issuing its own 150 challenge. The goal is to find 150 individuals, businesses, or even schools who will each donate or raise $1000 for Ability Online. Participants can even put together a team and raise the funds as a group. All donors will be listed on Ability Online's website and social media channels.
YMCA Canada
The YMCA LocalMOTION Challenge is celebrating Canada’s sesquicentennial by highlighting the shared history of the building of the national railway and how the YMCAs helped support the people and communities that were built around it.
Each month different provinces or regions of the country are highlighted with facts of the Railway YMCA’s found within them, and each week challenges are released. These challenges are activities that create ways for families and friends of all ages to get together and connect with their communities by learning new skills or by trying new things.
Each Challenge posted to Twitter or Instagram gains entries into draws for two VIA Rail prizes: a monthly draw for a $1,000 VIA Rail voucher and an entry into the Grand Prize Draw of VIA Rail’s “The Canadian” trip between Toronto and Vancouver!
Contest closes July 31. Learn more
The Psychology Foundation of Canada
The Psychology Foundation of Canada (PFC) is asking for ideas and strategies for helping Canadians stay mentally fit in support of Canada’s 150th Birthday. Using #150mentalhealthstrategies and #psychfdnCA, ideas or strategies can be tweeted or posted for a chance to win $150 worth or parental resources or a parental training session.
For full contest rules and regulations, visit the Psychology Foundation of Canada.
This Canada150 Spotlight was assembled by Tysha Campbell, Communications & Policy Intern.