Leading Canadian companies band together to celebrate National Health and Fitness Day

Canadians encouraged to get moving on June 6, 2015

TORONTO, Ontario June 5, 2015 /Canada NewsWire/ - Connected by a shared commitment to improve the health and fitness of all Canadians, a powerhouse group of Canadian companies today announced a collaborative project to align resources to get Canadians moving as part of National Health and Fitness Day (NHFD), taking place on June 6, 2015.

Adidas Group Canada, Canadian Tire Corporation, GoodLife Fitness, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, RBC and Sun Life Financial have stepped forward to help promote and participate in the first annual National Health and Fitness Day.

In Canada, one third of all children and youth are considered overweight or obese and less than five per cent of children are getting the recommended 60 minutes of moderate physical activity daily. NHFD is an initiative to get Canadians moving by marking one day, the first Saturday in June, as the day when Canadians get out and get active in any way they think appropriate.

Working together to leverage their networks, employees and corporate programs, the corporations will look to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity and make it a personal priority for Canadians from coast to coast. As a first step to get everyone moving, the corporations will focus on raising awareness for NHFD through a social media campaign, using the hashtag #CANMOVE as well as encouraging their employees to show their support by getting up, getting out and getting active.

"Helping Canadians to be healthy and fit takes effort by everyone, across all sectors. The Government of Canada has many partnerships with the private and not-for-profit sectors to promote programs and activities that support healthy living, physical activity and chronic disease prevention for Canadians of all ages. By working together, we can make a difference," said Minister of Health Rona Ambrose.

From Alert Bay, British Columbia to Hamlet of Pond Inlet, Nunavut to St. John's, Newfoundland, more than 175 communities have proclaimed the day and are encouraging residents to get out and get active. To see what communities are supporting NHFD or learn how to get your community involved, check here.

National Health and Fitness Day was an idea that developed during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games as a project to mobilize the spirit of the Games and create a legacy of improved health for all Canadians. In December 2014, the National Health and Fitness Day Act, Bill S-211, became law in Canada, as a national day to promote health and fitness for all Canadians.

SOURCE RBC