1. JANUARY 20, 2009 MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY

2. AGENDA What is Active Pictou County? The Partners Background Trends and Rationale Consultation Process Community Profile What’s next for Pictou County Your Opportunity

3. What is Active Pictou County? A cooperative partnership amongst the six municipalities in Pictou County. Its purpose is to educate and motivate all citizens to increase their daily physical activity in an effort to create a happier, healthier and active community.

4. Partners Municipal Recreation Departments of Pictou County Pictou County Health Authority Pictou Regional Development Commission YMCA of Pictou County Chignecto-Central Regional School Board Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection

5. How did we get this far? Active Kids Healthy Kids Strategy in Pictou County  Recreation Coordinators, DHA, Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, YMCA – initial partners on the inaugural committee in 2001  PRDC came on board in 2006 Funding  Department of Health Promotion and Protection committed $50k per year for two years from regional office  Enabled the new Active Communities Committee to confirm partnership funding and support project and full time staff person.

6. Trends and Rationale Our current state of activity: Physical Inactivity Physical Activity

7. Why a strategic plan for Pictou County? Current research has shown that physical inactivity has become a serious epidemic in this country that will impact the health of future generations. In particular, in Nova Scotia, less than 50% are active enough to achieve the health benefits. Everyone needs to take responsibility for the health of their community – a strategic plan in Pictou County will channel everyone’s efforts towards making a difference into improving the health of the community and individual lifestyles.

8. Did we make the grade? 2009 Report Card on Health for Pictou County released by Pictou County Health Authority Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (2005) Current Health StatusGrade Obesity and overweight adults C Physical Activity (adults) B Physical Activity (youth females) D Physical Activity (youth males) A

10. Physical inactivity is among the most important risk factors threatening global health. - World Health Organization

11. If Canadians were to become more active, there would be: The cost of physical inactivity in Nova Scotia  26% fewer deaths from type II diabetes  20% fewer deaths from colon cancer  22% fewer deaths from cardiovascular diseases Source: The Coalition for Active Living, 2006  The total economic burden of physical inactivity in Nova Scotia is estimated at $354 million annually. Source: Ronald Colman, GPI Atlantic, 2002, www.gpiatlantic.org www.gpiatlantic.org Did you know…

12. PACY Study A Nova Scotia based study, which objectively measured physical activity in children and youth – twice, in 2001 and 2005 Measured approximately 2300 students in grade 3, 7, and 11 – randomly selected from randomly selected schools across six regions in NS Screen Time – the time spent sedentary in front of a screen such as a TV, Computer, Video Games. Grade 11 boys and girls in NS average 6 hours per day!

13. Consultation Process Physical Activity Planning Day with key stakeholders in Pictou County – June 2008 Four focus groups with specific target groups – youth grades 10-12 (one rural, one central), seniors group aged 55 and up, a rural community

15. Community Profile Pictou County has a population of 46,513 people and an almost equal portion of those living in urban and rural areas. Pictou County has a higher percentage of people 65 years and over than many other counties in NS. NS has the highest rate of persons with a disability in Canada and Pictou County has the highest in NS. Based on these statistics, Active Pictou County is aware that attention needs to be given to those populations that are higher in this community, such as rural areas, persons 65 and over and persons with a disability.

16. Physical Activity Index Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 3.1 (2005)

17. Adding to this… When residents in Pictou County were asked about their life satisfaction in comparison to their physical activity levels, the following was reported: Active: 82.8% Moderately active: 84.7% Inactive: 91.1% It is significant to note that the inactive population is evidently satisfied with this lifestyle, which ultimately indicates that further education is needed for a large percentage of this community.

18. What’s Next for Pictou County? The evidence is clear The health of Pictou County residents needs to be a priority now

19. Actions County wide walking program Active Communities designation program Bicycle Friendly program Continue with Pictou County Bikeways plan Create active transportation plans for municipal units, communities, clubs/organizations Physical activity resource guide for the county

20. Your Opportunity…