Media Advisory - Champlain region's first-ever health promotion campaign to
combat parental knowledge gap, set to launch

OTTAWA, March 19 /CNW Telbec/ - Saturday, March 27, 2010 will mark the launch - with three distinct events - of a health promotion campaign specific to the Champlain region, designed to encourage parents to create more physical activity and healthy eating opportunities for their families. Research done by the Champlain Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Network (CCPN) suggests there is a gap between parents' perceptions and reality when it comes to their children's weight, physical activity levels, and eating behaviours. Most parents in the Champlain region think their children are at a healthy weight and are physically active on a regular basis but the findings of national organizations such as Statistics Canada do not support this. Their research clearly indicates that many children are not meeting the recommended guidelines for physical activity and healthy eating. The Know More Do More campaign aims to make parents aware of this knowledge gap and to encourage them - regardless of how healthy they think their children are - to engage in more physical activities and healthy eating opportunities as a family.

At the launch events, local champion families will speak about why they are part of the campaign and challenge other families to take part, while CCPN experts will speak about the research findings. There will also be kids' activities, healthy snacks and the opportunity to take home a Healthy Active Living Tip Jar full of ideas on fun activities and healthy eating suggestions to do as a family.

    
    WHAT:    Launch of the Know More Do More health promotion campaign

    WHO:     CCPN Spokespersons:
             Dr. Mark Tremblay, Director, Healthy Active Living and Obesity
             Research, CHEO (Ottawa)
             Dr. Vera Etches, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa
             Public Health (Ottawa)
             Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health, Eastern Ontario
             Health Unit (Rockland)

    WHEN:    Saturday, March 27th, 2010

    WHERE:   Clarence-Rockland YMCA            10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
             1525-1 Du Parc Ave, Rockland

             Dovercourt Recreation Centre        1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
             411 Dovercourt Avenue, Ottawa

             Petawawa Civic Centre             10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
             16 Civic Centre Rd, Petawawa
    

Families in the Champlain region can register on the campaign website at www.knowmore-domore.ca for a chance to win a great prize - membership to a community centre, a family paddling course or a water park experience.

The Champlain Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Network (CCPN)

As an alliance of 15 health and community partners from across the Champlain Region of Ontario, the CCPN is leading the implementation of a five-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention strategy with a goal to prevent 10,000 premature deaths from heart disease and stroke in the region by 2020. The Champlain Region includes the City of Ottawa, the Eastern Counties of Prescott and Russell and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Renfrew County, and parts of Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties. The Know More Do More campaign is part of the CCPN's Healthy School-aged Children Initiative, being led by several CCPN partners.

For further information: Heather Chew, Blueprint Public Relations, [phone] Ext. 21, cell: [phone], [email protected]