Norquay’s community rink will get a facelift thanks to a $10,000 boost from the 2015 Get Our Community Moving Challenge powered by Blue Cross. Residents and supporters logged a total of 413,209 minutes of physical activity during the 15-day challenge to win the grand prize. Norquay plans to use its prize to fix up the local rink for skating in the winter and soccer in the spring.
Twenty communities registered for this year’s challenge, which rallied friends, family and neighbours to log their minutes of physical activity in support of community projects designed to get kids moving more. Participants logged an outstanding 2,160,391 minutes of physical activity in projects ranging from playgrounds and walking trails to a bike share program and a skateboard park. In addition to Norquay, six communities logged more than 100,000 minutes of physical activity: Saskatoon, Waldheim, North Battleford, Cudworth, Rocanville, and Martensville.
“All of our participants deserve congratulations. It’s inspiring to see such community pride and spirit, along with the creative ways communities are working to get more kids, more active, more often, ” says Cathie Kryzanowski, General Manager of Saskatchewan in motion. “We’re proud of these communities for doing their part to make Saskatchewan a healthier and active place to live, work and play.”
The Saskatoon Lakeview Playground Enhancement project logged the second most minutes of physical activity to win the runner-up prize: $5,000 towards the installation of three unique playground structures to let kids of all ages play.
Local schools got in on the action by holding active events and encouraging physical activity at school. Two lucky schools received $500 toward new sports equipment. White City’s Emerald Ridge Elementary held a Fitness Pa-Looza and Norquay Elementary hosted a skate-a-thon.
“Congratulations to the community organizers who promoted active living by registering for the Challenge, and to all who logged active minutes in support of a community project,” says Todd Peterson, VP Sales & Marketing at Saskatchewan Blue Cross, “It’s a real pleasure to watch Saskatchewan get active and build healthy communities.”
Saskatchewan Blue Cross and Saskatchewan in motion thank and applaud everyone for their participation. We look forward to the 2016 Challenge. For full Challenge results and project descriptions visit challenge.saskatchewaninmotion.ca.
