Community Stories:
Spirit River - Creating opportunities to play
March 17, 2018
The Central Peace Health and Wellness Coalition (CPHAWC) works to provide information, tools and resources to residents of the Central Peace area to create supportive physical and social environments and promote health and reduce cancer risk. It’s the coming together of people in community to share their gifts and talents to create healthy places and social spaces for all to be active, healthy and engaged in their community.
The Plan
The team continues to work on bringing more opportunities to play outdoors and during special events. The Gift of Play Initiative was developed by the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Be Fit for Life Alberta. The Faculty of Kinesiology wanted to give back to the community by providing a low-cost initiative to help children and youth become more physically active. Large stencil games were created and painted throughout Calgary. The large stencils, with accompanying supplies and games, are designed to encourage fun physical activity and the enjoyment of play.
CPHAWC obtained the stencils from the local Be Fit For Life Centre in Grande Prairie. The coalition then offered the stencils and supplied paint to local schools and community groups to create more spaces for play in the community. The Stencils included Hopscotch, Left Right Out, Bull’s Eye Toss, 4 Square and Random Circles. Games were painted at Eaglesham School, St Maries School in Spirit River, at a local park and outside the local Public Health Centre.
The Outcomes
Children can be found enjoying these play spaces during recess, after school and on weekends. An accompanying resource, available from the Be Fit For Life Centre, Move and Play at Recess was purchased by the Central Peace Health and Wellness Coalition and provided to school and local libraries to encourage various games that can be played on the painted areas. Plans are to expand to other locations this Spring.
Learn more: Be Fit for Life - Moving Alberta
Ways to take action: Community Strategies - Physical Activity