News Releases

GNWT Announces New Active After School Program

YELLOWKNIFE (February 11, 2010) –The Government of the Northwest Territories, in partnership with the NWT Sport and Recreation Council (NWTSRC),  is pleased to announce eighteen projects in the Northwest Territories (NWT) that are a part of the new Active After School Program. The projects are testing various approaches aimed at getting NWT youth more physically active. 

“Across Canada, the physical activity level for children and youth is very low,” said the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA). “We are investing in these pilot projects to test out new and innovative solutions to help raise the physical activity levels. If we can encourage youth to be more physically active, we can help them avoid future health problems.”

Projects across the territory will be funded and incorporate a broad range of activities, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Nordic walking, hip hop, floor hockey and badminton. In some cases, the funding is being provided for much needed equipment such as soccer and basketballs; to set up fitness centres with cardio and weight machines; or to provide students with a healthy snack to fuel their play.  The organizations receiving funding include:

  1. Chief Jimmy Bruneau School – Behchokö;
  2. Tae Kwon Do Club – Behchokö;
  3. Colville Lake School – Colville Lake;
  4. Ehsteo Ayha School – Deline; 
  5. Kaw Tay Whee School – Dettah;
  6. Yellowknives Dene First Nation – Dettah;
  7. Chief T-Selehye School – Fort Good Hope;
  8. Chief Julius School – Fort McPherson;
  9. Deh Gah Elementary – Fort Providence;
  10. Deninu School – Fort Resolution;
  11. Cheif Sunrise Education Centre – K’átåodeeche First Nation;
  12. Mini-Soccer League – Inuvik;
  13. Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary School – Inuvik;
  14. Angik School – Paulatuk;
  15. Chief Paul Niditchie School – Tsiigehtchic;
  16. École J.H. Sisson’s – Yellowknife;
  17. École St. Joseph’s School – Yellowknife; and
  18. École William McDonald School – Yellowknife.

In August 2009, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Physical Activity heard strong scientific evidence that physical activity programs held in the after school time period provide a critical opportunity to encourage young people to be more physically active as it is has become a very inactive time for youth.

“It used to be that kids would rush home from school, grab their hockey sticks or a ball and rush back out the door to play. Nowadays many kids go home and sit themselves in front of a screen. We hope this funding will provide fun and active alternatives for those kids, to the point where after school play becomes the norm,” said Ms. Bridget Larocque, Chair of the NWTSRC. 

In order to qualify for the funding, schools and community groups must demonstrate they are providing activities that appeal to inactive or underactive youth, and ensure that the kids are active for a minimum of 40 out of every 60 minutes. Over the course of the program, MACA and the NWTSRC will work with the project leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of their program and help guide future investments in physical activity promotion.  

The Government of the Northwest Territories is working to build our future by promoting healthy and active living among children and youth. Improving the physical and mental well-being of our youth will create healthy, educated Northerners as envisioned in the 16th Assembly’s Vision of Northerners Working Together.

For more information, please contact:

Rebecca Alty
Communications/Website Advisor
Corporate Affairs
Municipal and Community Affairs
Tel: (867) 920-3092