November 15, 2004

Health and recreation opportunities for residents of Winnipeg’s inner city will improve with funding of $163,697 from Manitoba’s Neighbourhoods Alive! initiative, Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.

"When we promote healthy lifestyles and prevent illness and costly treatment down the road, all Manitobans benefit," said Oswald, on behalf of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade Minister Scott Smith, lead minister for the Neighbourhoods Alive! program. "The earlier we start the better, and that makes the recreation and sport opportunities provided for our children and youth especially important."

Neighbourhoods Alive! has contributed funding to a number of complementary initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles including:

• $15,344 to Klinic Community Health Centre for its Healthy Choices – Diabetes Prevention project. The project will co-ordinate activities such as diabetes awareness, nutrition education and physical fitness promotion in the Spence and West Central areas of Winnipeg.

• $48,177 to the Sister MacNamara Public School Parent and Community Council for the redevelopment of the school’s playground including a new play structure. The new structure enhances the physical fitness and play opportunities for children who attend this inner-city school or live in the surrounding area.

• $28,276 to SEED Winnipeg for Phase 2 of the Winnipeg Quality of Life project. Phase 1 surveyed Winnipeg residents on quality of life issues such as housing, recreation and safety as well as their well-being in general. Phase 2 involves working with governmental and community organizations to use this information to improve services.

• $46,900 to the William Whyte Residents’ Association for the Aberdeen and Alfred Avenue Tot Lot revitalization project. This project improved green space, play structures and the overall accessibility of these small parks used by local families in the North End of Winnipeg. This project was cost shared with the City of Winnipeg.

• Renewed funding of $25,000 to the Rotary Leadership Circle for summer programming in 2004 and 2005. The project provides leadership training opportunities for young people at 12 inner-city recreation sites.

"Neighbourhoods Alive! recognizes that healthy living is about the decisions we make and the actions we take to consciously lead healthier lives," added Oswald. "This includes making informed choices about the foods we eat and the degree and frequency of physical activity we engage in that will have a significant impact on our present and future health."

Neighbourhoods Alive! is a long-term, community-based, social and economic development strategy that supports and encourages community-driven revitalization efforts in specific neighbourhoods in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson. The strategy focuses on key areas such as housing and physical improvements, employment and training, education and recreation, safety, and crime prevention.

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