Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is a national advocacy leader for the healthy growth and development of Canadian children.

CAHPERD Vision: All Canadian children living healthy, physically active lives.

CAHPERD Mission: CAHPERD advocates and educates for quality, school-based physical and health education programs, within supportive school and community environments to achieve its vision.

How Healthy Are Our Children

• In 2000, 57% of Canadian children and youth aged five to seventeen years were not sufficiently active to meet international guidelines for optimal growth and development (Craig, Cameron, Storm, Russell, & Beaulieu, 2001).

• 40% of youth do not meet average fitness standards (OMA, 1996).

• 25% of children are overweight and this proportion is increasing. Of these children, 90% of them become obese adults (CFLRI, 1998).

• 40% of children already face one risk factor for heart disease – reduced fitness due to an inactive lifestyle (Heart and Stroke 2002).

Our Evolution…

The Risk

Today, our kids are at risk of developing a variety of debilitating diseases that, at one time, were considered adult diseases:

•Cardiovascular Disease

•Cancer (Colon and Breast)

•Osteoporosis

•Obesity

•Mental Health Disorders

•Diabetes

•Hypertension

The Burden

• In 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1.9 million global deaths were directly attributed to physical inactivity.

• In 2001, the economic burden of illnesses and injuries associated with physical inactivity was $5.3 billion. This represented 2.6% of all health care costs in Canada that year (Katzmarzyk & Janssen, 2004).

Benefits of Physical Activity

•Improved health and quality of life

•Improved psychological well-being

•Improved behaviour and ability to learn

•Better health habits

•Reduction of health care costs

What’s Happening In Canadian Schools

• Most children do not receive the recommended five periods of Physical Education per week.

• Many provinces have cut back on Physical Education Specialists and Consultants.

• Compulsory Physical Education is being questioned in schools across Canada.

• Over the past 10 years, only 9% of nearly 16,000 schools have been formally recognized as QDPE Schools.

• In many schools/provinces, schools are not meeting the requirements of Physical Education curriculum, and schools are not being held accountable.

• There is a growing confusion distinguishing between Physical Education time and Physical Activity time.

• Schools have been identified as the most important venue to provide children with attitudes, skills, and knowledge to lead active healthy lifestyles.

What’s Happening In Canadian Schools

Professionalism

Professionalism is not a label we give ourselves. It is a description we hope others apply to us. You do the best you can as a matter of self respect.

We must live, walk, and demonstrate our beliefs, values and our integrity.

“Every child has a fundamental right of access to physical

education and sport.”

UNESCO

“We must accord [physical activity] the same level of attention that we give other important public health practices that affect the entire nation.” U.S. Surgeon General on Physical

Activity and Health (1996)

Our Initiatives

• Quality Daily Physical Education

• Quality School Health

• Quality Dance Education

• Quality School Intramural Programs

QDPE

QDPE is a well planned and implemented program of physical education learning opportunities provided to all students on a daily basis. 

QDPE program includes daily curricular instruction for all students, as well as intramural activities and school sports in which all students have the opportunity to participate.

School Recognition Award Program Pre/In-service Teacher Workshops Advocacy Mentorship Program Resource and support tools

QDPE

QSH promotes a comprehensive approach to school health and includes curriculum considerations, as well as considerations for the school environment, community support and school services.

QSH

Dance Education promotes the importance of dance in the lives of children and youth. Dance offers variety and provides students with the experiences and opportunities of movement skills in the context of expressive arts.

DANCE EDUCATION

QSIR promotes active intramural and recreational programs in elementary, high school and post-secondary institutions.

QSIR

150 minutes of well-planned Physical Education classes per week.

120-150 minutes of school physical activity time per week.

Variety of program instruction over the school year (in at least four different Physical Education dimensions).

Health information is taught and reinforced through a comprehensive school health environment.

Safe, caring, challenging and inclusive environment.

Features of a Physically Active Classroom

Improved learning

Students feel better about themselves and about school

Better personal health habits and coping skills

Students get along better with peers and others

Lower absentee rates

Healthier and more physically fit students

Positive attitudes about physical activity

Benefits of a Healthy Physically Active Classroom

Lack of skills, experience and confidence of teachers

Safety and liability concerns

Academic subject pressure

Lack of administrative encouragement

Inadequate facilities

Crowded timetables

Inadequate equipment

Challenges to Building a Healthy Physically Active Classroom

A Physically Educated person:

• Has the skills to perform a variety of physical activities

• Participates regularly in physical activities

• Understands and values physical activity

What are the Qualities of a Physically Educated Person?

• AVANTE

• The PHE Journal

• The Clipboard Teaching Tips Series

• Excelway.ca

• National PHE Conference

• Mentor Program

CAHPERD Resources and Teacher Support Tools

In Touch online newsletter Physitalk Bulletin Board/Ask the Expert CAHPERD Mentorship program The Clipboard teaching tips series 10% discount on resources, subscriptions and

national conference registration Voting privileges The right to hold office or serve on committees

Benefits of a CAHPERD Membership

As an old woman walked the beach at dawn, she noticed

a young woman ahead of her picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. Finally catching up to her, she asked the young woman why she was doing this.

The answer was – the stranded starfish would die in the morning sun. “But the beach goes on for miles, there must be millions of starfish,” countered the old woman. “How can your effort make any difference?” The young woman looked at the starfish in her hand and threw it safely in the waves and said “it makes a difference to this one.”

Anonymous

You Can Make a Difference

What greater gift can we give our children, than the ability to make healthy choices.

QUESTIONS ???COMMENTS ???