By Hannah Hollingsworth
The plan for Ontario students to get more active officially has legs.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a plan Thursday to help schools implement 60 minutes of daily physical activity for students.
Partnering with groups like @CanadianTire & @opheacanada to create opportunities for 60min of daily physical activity pic.twitter.com/6oaz9G9vIL
— Kathleen Wynne (@Kathleen_Wynne) November 27, 2014
A 2013 study showed 93 per cent of children and youth in the GTA aren’t getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity. Wynne promised to introduce 45 minutes of exercise for students in her June campaign.
The plan is in partnership with the Ontario Physical Health and Education Association and the province, and will be led by the Active at School program.
Canadian Tire pledged $1 million to the program.
“Let kids be kids. Let them play” – Michael Medline, @CanadianTire President & incoming CEO pic.twitter.com/ldZXilnpqG
— ActiveAtSchool (@ActiveAtSchool) November 27, 2014
Active at School is part of the new Health Schools Certification Program by OPHEA, set to fully launch next year.
ICYMI: Congrats to @PremierWynne and #Ontario for committing to get students active 1 hour a day. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/Llqz4HSx1H
— ActiveAtSchool (@ActiveAtSchool) November 27, 2014
The program will be implemented in 20 Ontario schools next year and is projected to be in 250 schools by 2016.