Local residents have been challenged by the City of Guelph in a contest to see who can generate the highest per capita rate of physical activity during In Motion Week, Oct. 7 to 13.
The Town of Minto is an active member of the Minto-Mapleton Communities in Motion committee (MMCiM), which has members from the Mapleton recreation department, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit, Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, Seniors Centre for Excellence and Alma Optimist Club.
Current initiatives include providing pedometers at local libraries for free community use, donating daily physical activity kits to local schools and participating in the annual In Motion week.
During In Motion week of 2012, Centre Wellington challenged other municipal councils from the County of Wellington as well as the City of Guelph to see who could accrue the highest daily average of physical activity.
Minto council was victorious, averaging 373 minutes of active transportation over a five-day period. The City of Guelph followed closely in second, averaging 368 minutes per person over the five day period.
The Township of Guelph-Eramosa finished in last place. Its councillors were presented with Minto golf shirts by Mayor George Bridge which were worn at one of their council meetings.
The City of Guelph was narrowly defeated last year. Guelph councillor Todd Dennis issued a challenge to Minto for this year’s event. Minto council has accepted the challenge and is looking for their community’s support.
There are some changes this year:
– the contest covers the entire seven days of In Motion Week;
– the contest does not need to involve walking, running or biking to a “destination” – all physical activities are eligible to be counted; and
– the contest is open to all residents of the municipalities that participate, with results being calculated per capita based on the population of the municipality.
Results need to be submitted by the morning of Oct. 15 by visiting www.wdginmotion.ca. The winner will be announced on the afternoon of Oct. 15. Anyone who submits their results will also be eligible to win a gift card for participating.
Minto recreation services manager Matt Lubbers kicked off the challenge by presenting a complete set of Ontario Physical and Health Education Association Daily Physical Activity kits to students at Palmerston Public School. The kits were purchased by Minto-Mapleton Communities In Motion.
The town also provided students with In Motion Bingo Cards to complete during In Motion Week. The primary, intermediate and junior classrooms with the highest percentage of participation will receive prizes.
“We are hoping all kids and parents that participate record their activity,” said Lubbers. The Guelph-versus-Minto challenge is part of a region-wide In Motion Week initiative by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph In Motion committee.
WDG In Motion notes that 60 per cent of Guelph residents 18 and over and 69% of Wellington and Dufferin residents do not engage in enough moderate to vigorous activities to produce health benefits.
“We have a real health crisis we need to respond to,” stated Minto-Mapleton Communities In Motion chair Helen Edwards in a press release.
Residents throughout the region are encouraged to participate by tracking what they do to be active (i.e.- swimming, hiking, walking, gardening, badminton, etc.) at www.wdginmotion.ca.
