General

Huron Perth in motion: a year in review

Happy new year!  2009 was a busy year for Huron-Perth in motion; following is a summary of activities that we undertook over the last year as well as things we’re looking forward to in 2010. 

Baseline survey
The results of our baseline survey were distributed to stakeholders and the public in January.  The survey asked 770 adults and 80 children/youth from Huron and Perth counties about their physical activity habits and found that, when light, moderate and vigorous activities are considered, just over half are active enough for health benefits.  For more details on the survey results, visit www.hpinmotion.ca.

Pilot in motion workplaces
- Four workplaces agreed to be pilots: Huron Perth Catholic District School Board, County of Huron, Festival Hydro and the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance. 
- They each developed a plan for increasing physical activity in their workplace, attended two networking meetings, participated in Turn Off the Screens, Get “in motion” and October in motion month, and implemented other physical activity initiatives for their employees. 
- For their participation, they were provided with incentives and prizes for employees. 
- Overall, feedback from the pilot workplaces was positive.  We look forward to them continuing to be “in motion” and to recruiting some new workplaces. 

Schools
- In motion partners from the YMCAs and parks and recreation departments worked together to develop the playground games training component of the YAH! (Young, Active and Healthy!) workshops for grades 5 to 7 students. 
- After participating in the workshop, these students will have gained skills in leadership, conflict resolution, fair play and safety, and will be able to lead their peers in a variety of playground games. 
- The workshops had to be rescheduled from November and will now take place January 19 and 20 in both Perth and Huron counties. 
- Following the workshops, in motion partners will provide additional training/support to schools who request it. 

Community
Many partners began incorporating in motion into their existing community activities/events to help promote the importance of physical activity, for example, the YMCA’s Active Healthy Kids Day, North Perth’s Teddy Bear Day, and North Huron’s Family Funapalooza Winter Lugeathon.  

Marketing and communications
- The web site received over 32 000 visits
- Two displays were created – one targeted to adults and one targeted to children and youth.  They are available to use at health fairs and other community events/activities.
- The general brochure was updated and reprinted
- We purchased and distributed a number of promotional items including:  t-shirts, water bottles, stickers, pens, photo frames and beach balls
- Saskatoon and Winnipeg in motion partnered to develop MOTI, a character/icon based on the in motion logo.  MOTI is depicted doing a number of physical activities such as golfing, skateboarding, dancing and playing sports.  You will start to see MOTI on some of our print materials.
- Media coverage was good with 32 newspaper/newsletter ads printed, 26 articles/editorials printed, radio ads aired nearly 100 times, 15 radio interviews completed and one television interview completed.

Campaigns
- Turn Off the Screens, Get “in motion” took place April 27 to May 3.  It encouraged people to turn off their TV, computer and video game screens and to get physically active instead.  Our partners offered approximately 100 FREE physical activities for people to participate in during the week.  Those who recorded their screen and physical activity time and returned their tracking form were eligible for prizes.  57 schools participated with nearly 1500 students returning their tracking forms. 
- In motion month took place in October.  It included in motion BINGO, a radio DJ challenge, the International Walk to School (IWALK) challenge, and workplace physical activity challenges.  In addition, our partners and other organizations offered almost 400 FREE activities for all ages including Nordic walking, swimming, skating, badminton and a pets “in motion” event!

Looking ahead to 2010

On the Move workshop
- In motion submitted a letter of interest to the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) to host a workshop called On the Move.  It provides the community with tools to engage more girls and young women in sport and physical activity.
- We will find out shortly if we have been chosen as a host community.  If so, the workshop will take place before the end of March.

Funding
- We are coming to the end of a two-year grant from the Ministry of Health Promotion’s Communities in Action Fund (now called the Healthy Communities Fund). 
- We will be looking into another grant to continue implementing the in motion strategy in Huron and Perth counties.

Regional meeting
- Huron-Perth in motion agreed to host the 2009 regional meeting of Ontario in motion communities.  Unfortunately, due to H1N1 in the fall, it had to be rescheduled and will now take place March 25. 
- Representatives from Southwest Ontario in motion (Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton, and Windsor-Essex), Wellington Dufferin Guelph in motion, London Middlesex in motion and Hamilton are expected to attend.
-Topics for the day include marketing, evaluation and collaboration.

1000 cities, 1000 lives
- This World Health Organization event promoting active transportation takes place April 11.  It encourages cities around the world to close their streets to cars and open them to people.
- Huron-Perth in motion will assist with organizing and promoting the event locally.

Follow-up survey
We are preparing to conduct a follow-up survey this spring.  The survey will examine whether there has been any change in physical activity levels since the baseline survey, as well as people’s awareness of the in motion strategy.

Promotional campaigns
We plan to continue with two main promotional campaigns per year, in the spring and fall. However, we may implement something new this spring, rather than Turn Off the Screens, Get “in motion”.  Stay tuned…

Please visit www.hpinmotion.ca for more information about Huron-Perth in motion.  Don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

Wishing you a happy, healthy year “in motion”!

The Huron-Perth in motion steering committee