High River Recognized For Healthy Living

The Town of High River has been chosen from 130 communities to receive two prestigious healthy lifestyle awards from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). The awards, one for Health Education and the other for Overall Achiever, recognize the community's outstanding efforts to support and promote healthy lifestyles. They are part of the ChooseWell initiative under the Government of Alberta's Healthy U Campaign, which is focused on increasing awareness of healthy eating and active living.
“This honour is shared by a variety of partners who have been instrumental in providing healthy living programs to our community,” said Cynthia Farrow, community program supervisor at Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex. “The Calgary Rural Primary Care Network, made up of local physicians, and the Healthy Community Coalition are just two examples of organizations that have supported a variety of initiatives aimed at helping residents stay healthy.”
The Overall Achiever award includes a $2,000 cheque to fund additional programs that promote healthy lifestyles and is presented to a community that has demonstrated a wide breadth of programs and strategies encompassing a large demographic. High River's programs include weekly free swimming and skating, Family Sports Nights and an After School Drop-in for youth at the recreation complex, the ChooseWell Challenge, and adding distance markers and maps to the Happy Trails system. Programs under the Health Education banner include lunch and learn sessions, nutrition seminars and workshops and Science in the Cinema where participants are invited to free movies focusing on a variety of health issues and challenges. Guest speakers are invited to answer questions after each show. As well, a number of entertaining hands-on programs have been created including Big Cooks and Collective Kitchens where participants have the opportunity to cook as a group and produce budget conscious, healthy meals for their families.
“We are proud of everything we have accomplished and we're especially proud of having done it in collaboration and in cooperation with community partners, agencies and citizens,” said Darren Goldthorpe, manager of parks and recreation, “We are very fortunate to have a committed group of health care professionals, business owners and volunteers working together to help make High River a healthy place to live, work and play.”
The awards will be presented during a banquet and ceremony in August 2012 at the Foothills Centennial Centre in Okotoks.