Let’s Move Canada 2024 Challenge!
Vancouver (British Columbia) and Toronto (Ontario), May 30, 2024
The Let's Move Canada Challenge is inspiring Canadians to be active. It is a collaborative initiative led by the Canadian Health and Fitness Institute (CHFI), the Indigenous Physical Activity & Cultural Circle (IPACC) and Strava. Canadians from Coast to Coast to Coast are engaging to collectively reach a goal of 243,042 hours of physical activity from June 1st to June 21st, 2024.
Why 243,042? It’s the length of Canada’s coastline! Canada has the longest coastline in the world and we want to make Canada the fittest nation in the world. And you can be part of the movement.
Walk, wheel, paddle, bike, yoga, pickleball—get together in whatever way moves you with family, friends and neighbours! Download the STRAVA app and join the Let’s Move Canada 2024 Challenge. Send us your photos or tag us @letsmovecanada. Enter our draw for a chance to win one of ten iPads.
“We are very excited to engage with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from Coast to Coast to Coast. One of the things I have learned from our partnering with Indigenous leaders is to emphasize a strength-based approach rather than always to focus on our health deficits”, said John Weston, President of the Canadian Health and Fitness institute (CHFI).
“It is a great honour to be part of such an inspiring campaign,” said Dr. Rosalin Miles, IPACC’s Executive Director and Founder. “When we bring communities together to be physically active on the land, we practice Indigenous ways of knowing to be healthy and well! The #LetsMoveCanada campaign will celebrate National Indigenous Physical Activity Awareness Week (NIPAAW) from June 14th to June 21st. Our active spirits will be celebrated across our communities!"
This year’s Let’s Move Canada Challenge is being launched in celebration of National Health and Fitness Day on June 1st, 2024 during the National Forum on Health and Fitness. We are proud to have the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Physical Activity with us on this day. Together we are encouraging people to have fun with physical activities which help build inclusive communities and a higher quality of life for Canadians. The benefits of community, exercise and connecting with nature will last a lifetime. Be part of the movement.
“I am so honoured to be part of the CHFI and IPACC Let’s Move Canada Challenge,” added Dr. Darren Warburton, Indigenous Health & Physical Activity Program at UBC. “In 2023, we engaged more than 24,000 participants and exceeded our goal. I am particularly proud of how this initiative incorporates Indigenous ways of being and doing for the health and well-being of all Canadians.”
CHFI and IPACC aim to improve Canadians’ physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Other supporters include the Government of Canada through the Canadian Healthy Communities Initiative, TELUS, Trans Canada Trail, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, and BC Recreation and Parks Association.
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For more information, contact:
Canadian Health and Fitness Institute
John Weston
604-329-6146
Indigenous Physical Activity & Cultural Circle
Dr. Rosalin Miles
Nlha7kápmx and a member of Lytton First Nation
604-537-7777
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About the Canadian Health and Fitness Institute (CHFI)
The Canadian Health and Fitness Institute inspires Active Citizenship to enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual health of all Canadians to Make Canada the Fittest Nation on Earth by December 31, 2030.
About the Indigenous Physical Activity & Cultural Circle (IPACC)
The Indigenous Physical Activity & Cultural Circle (IPACC) is a network for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people whose vision is to establish and expand relationships between individuals engaged in physical activity by improving access to resources and promoting health and wellness opportunities.
About the Indigenous Health & Physical Activity Program at UBC
The Indigenous Health & Physical Activity Program at UBC is dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples via healthy lifestyle behaviours.
About Strava
Strava is an American internet service for tracking physical exercise which incorporates social network features and is mostly used for cycling and running using Global Positioning System data.