Partrnership Working



Vancouver: Winter Olympics 2010



When it was announced that Vancouver BC would host the Winter Olympics 2010 , the premier (  head of the BC province)  created a legacy for the Olympics :" For BC to be the healthiest place to host the olympics globally". As a result " Act Now BC was created. It was an intergovernmental platform to promote health so every Ministry signed up to the partnership and agreed to contribute. The 5 key components of Act Now BC were identified and strategies produced:

1.  Physical Activity
2. Healthy eating
3. Healthy Pregnancy
4. Healthy Body weight
5. Smoking reduction

The World Health Organisation  ( WHO) evaluated Act Now BC and identified  strong political leadership, sustainability,excellent infrastructure and  excellent intergovernmental relationships. It is regarded worlwide as an excellent example of promoting health . This would not  have been possible without the strong partnership working especially with BC Healthy Living Alliance. "The BC Healthy Living Alliance is a group of organisations that have come together to address the risk factrs and health inequities that contribute significantly to chronic disease". The members are:

1. The Lung Association BC
2. BC Recreation and Parks Association
3. BC Pediatric Society
4. Canadian Cancer Society- BC and Yukon
5. Canadian Diabetes Association
6. Dietitians of Canada
7. Heart and Stroke Foundation -BC and Yukon
8. PHABC Public Health Association of BC
9. Union of BC Municipalities

 With $ funding from Act Now BC  the BC Healthy Living Alliance  could work with and most importantly fund $ partner organisations to improve the health of all British Columbians where they learn, work. live and play. Act Now BC was funded at Canadian $5million per year  for 5 years totalling  Canadian$25million.

Act Now BC has since morphed into Healthy Families BC ( more about this later)

UVIC University of Victoria

 
I'm getting used to going to UVIC, University of Victoria. This time I went to The School of Exercise Science, Physical  and Health Education to meet Dr PJ Naylor, Assistant Professor ( who used to work in the Ministry of Health so everyone there was sending their best wishes!) and Dr Joan Wharf Higggins,Associate Professor,Canada Research Chair, Health and Society. The Department is a key partner with The Ministry of Health.

Meeting PJ and Joan at UVIC

Partnership working throughout BC is evident with key partners playing various roles.UVIC provides the Research/Evaluation of health projects , predominantly physical activity and healthy eating , and develops health interventions. The Department was highly involved in evaluating Act Now BC programs. PJ is currently developing " Screen Smart" which limits TV/screen time for children, encouraging them to participate in physical activity.

Commuting from Victoria to Vancouver



Hopping across from Victoria to Vancouver on a seaplane





Arriving in Downtown Vancouver 25 minutes later