'Water Does Wonders' says Healthy Kids Community Challenge

NEWS RELEASE

HEALTHY KIDS
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
TIMMINS — MISIWAY
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The Timmins-Misiway Healthy Kids Community Challenge is launching the Water Does Wonders campaign to encourage kids and families to drink water as a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages.

Water Does Wonders is the next phase of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, which promotes healthy eating, physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices for children.

Timmins is among 45 communities across Ontario selected to take part in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge. Over the course of The Challenge, community partners from different sectors (e.g. public health, education, recreation, local businesses) will work together to implement activities to promote healthy behaviours for children.

The following initiatives in Timmins are just some of many that will promote water as a healthy drink, and will help make water an appealing and easy choice for kids and families:

A Water-on-Wheels Mobile Water Refill Station will be part of the Downtown Urban Park during the month of August for residents to have access to fresh, filtered drinking water for free! Just bring a refillable water bottle.
Outdoor hydration stations will be installed at several parks across the city and east end to ensure everyone stays hydrated while being active.
There will be Water Does Wonders awareness campaigns and new policies and programs, all aimed at making fresh drinking water easy to access in the places where kids spend time.

The purpose of the Water Does Wonders theme is to motivate kids to drink water when they are thirsty. Water is essential for good health. It is also a simple, convenient, and low-cost option for quenching thirst.

Community members can participate in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge by signing on to be a partner and promoting the Healthy Kids Community Challenge in your business, library, school, fitness centre, etc.; by helping to promote the healthy living theme in the community; by volunteering; or by providing expertise and/or resources to support the program.

The Healthy Kids Partnership eagerly welcomes any persons, local businesses or organizations who would like to get involved and help create a healthier environment for children to live, eat and play!

For more information or to get involved, please contact Madison Mizzau at (705) 264-2200 ext. 141 or [email protected]. Follow our Facebook page, HKCCTimminsMisiway, for updates.

QUOTES

“I am excited to move forward with the second theme of Ontario’s Healthy Kids Community Challenge, encouraging kids and their families to drink water instead of sugary drinks. Helping kids and their families to make healthy choices in their everyday lives is an important part of our plan to help Ontarians lead happier, healthier lives.”

— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“The key to the success of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge is committed local partners, whether it’s promoting the program or coming up with creative ways we can make positive changes in our community. By working together, we can help make our community one where it is easy for children to lead healthier lives.”

— Madison Mizzau, HKCC Project Manager

“As mayor, I believe it is important to provide the infrastructure to enable healthy activities for our children. When we as leaders make healthy drinks, like water, available we increase the likelihood kids will make healthy drink choices. Community members and parents can be important role models by consuming healthy foods and drinks in the presence of kids.”

— Mayor Steven Black, Community Champion for the Timmins-Misiway HKCC

“Choose water to meet your fluid needs. Water is useful for so many things! It helps move nutrients and waste through your body, keep your blood pressure normal, control your body temperature, and much more.”

— Caitlin Minard, Public Health Dietitian, Porcupine Health Unit

QUICK FACTS

The Timmins-Misiway HKCC is receiving up to $175,000/year from Ontario to fund local community projects.
As one of the initiatives for Theme 1: Run, Jump, Play, Every Day, the Timmins-Misiway Healthy Kids Community Challenge will be installing outdoor fitness equipment for children and youth in Hollinger Park.
Children need lots of water to stay hydrated and healthy. Water makes up more than half of a child's weight. A steady supply is necessary to keep bodies working properly. Water contains no sugar, calories, additives or caffeine, making it the smart choice for sipping throughout the day.
Dietary preferences are established between the ages zero and four years, laying the foundation for eating habits later in life. Research has shown that when children are used to consuming water at a young age, they are more likely to drink water later in life.

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