Transportation Alliance gets community award

The Yorkton Active Transportation Alliance (YATC) has been recognized for its efforts by the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF).

The Healthy Community Award was presented to YATC at a brief ceremony at the Gloria Hayden Centre in the city Monday.

The Heart & Stroke Healthy Community Award recognizes individuals, groups or agencies who have contributed to the development of Healthy Public Policy in Saskatchewan.

"The Healthy Community Award is awarded by the Heart & Stroke Foundation to community groups in Saskatchewan that demonstrate a proactive, leading edge commitment that impacts public policy and changes to community health," said Bill Ursel, Community Action Coordinator with the HSF.

"The Healthy Community Award is awarded through a nomination process by the Heart & Stroke Foundation's Healthy Public Policy Advisory Committee."

The Heart & Stroke Foundation is committed to recognizing the work of grass roots organizations. The Healthy Community Award is a hallmark of success from groups committed to proactive change in their community. The purpose of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan's Healthy Public Policy Recognition Awards is to recognize and reward Healthy Public Policy - relevant work that is applicable to the mission and values of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan (HSFS), detailed a release provided to media at the presentation.

"For us that means people taking control of their own lives and own health," said Ursel.

Ursel said the local group was at the forefront of doing that.

"YATC (Yorkton Active Transportation Alliance) was selected for demonstrating leadership in developing health and wellness interventions and policies for the Yorkton community," he said, adding they are " champions for taking charge of changing attitudes."

Sheila Hyrnuik said the recognition is nice to get because "at times it's not easy work changing attitudes and behaviours in our community."

Hyrnuik said the YATC simply tries to stay true to its mission to help create a safe community where people have choices in terms of active transportation as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy Public Policy is public policy that has a positive impact on the population's health. Public policy usually includes regulations and legislation, but can also include policies that shape the culture of a community, workplace or organization. The importance of public policy lies in the fact that it is sustainable and has a high impact by reaching many people, and can have far-reaching effects not only through 'rules' to be followed, but also by being a catalyst to change social norms, stated the release.