Construction of a new, multi-purpose iconic building on National Capital Commission (NCC) property is about to begin. Fences are being put up, a biologist will be onsite Monday, and the removal of trees (as few as possible) will start Tuesday. Trees destined to be cut will be turned into lumber for future use inside the...
Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt, Professor at the University of Ottawa and Chair of the Royal Society of Canada's Working Group on Children and Schools, recently wrote an Op Ed piece for the Globe and Mail, entitled: 'Physical activity - the forgotten core area of child development during the pandemic'. In the piece Dr. Vaillancourt highlights the observation...
On March 13, 2021, Dr. Mark Tremblay, chair of Outdoor Play Canada, was interviewed by Adrian Harewood on the CBC show 'Our Ottawa'. Dr. Tremblay discussed major findings from the national survey of children and youth's movement and play behaviours during COVID-19, that he led with researchers from universities across Canada, commissioned by ParticipACTION. In the interview,...
ParticipACTION and Sonnet Insurance commissioned a survey on how Canadians have been feeling and coping during COVID-19. The survey looked at things Canadians prioritized as a result of the pandemic, things Canadians missed, ways Canadians coped, as well as silver linings. Getting active outdoors was among the top 3 priorities, and was also THE top way...
In their newest article for The Conversation, Dr. John J Reilly, Professor of Physical Activity and Public Health Science, University of Strathclyde, and Dr. Mark Tremblay, Professor of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, discuss how children's outdoor play was in decline before the pandemic and now is in danger of becoming...
Thank you to Natasha Parent (PhD Student, University of British Columbia) for providing this post. Outdoor play – such as climbing, jumping, running or collecting things in nature – plays a critical role in children’s healthy development. However, over the past few decades, there has been a substantial decline in the amount of time Western children...
Thank you to Dr. Mark Tremblay, chair of Outdoor Play Canada, for providing this post. Active outdoor play for children and families is an ideal antidote for COVID-19 transmission and coping mechanism for related restrictions - provided that public health guidance is followed. Outdoor play can help to cope with, contain, and combat COVID-19 – but...
Lawson Foundation invests $4.95 million in 8 demonstration projects, including Outdoor Play Canada, to build adult capacity to support outdoor play in Early Learning and Child Care The Lawson Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the second phase of its Outdoor Play Strategy and an investment of $4.95 million in 8 demonstration projects,...
In a recent article for The Conversation, Professor Patrick Lewis and Master's student Whitney Blaisdell from the University of Regina, describe preliminary findings from their survey on play (or the lack thereof) during the pandemic, and provide recommendations on how to support play at home as we move forward into the new year. The authors make...
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Parks Council and Mount Royal University’s Institute for Environmental Sustainability, recently announced the launch of the Pan-Canadian Parks and Protected Areas Research Network. The Network is made up of scientists, researchers, Indigenous knowledge holders, students, and parks and protected areas specialists and managers, who collectively will...
