The Municipality of Saanich is committed to be a model organization for our community and support the promotion of active lifestyles and choices through the 2006 initiative ACTIVE SAANICH!

The Municipality of Saanich will facilitate the education and motivation of employees to lead healthy lifestyles and also extend further educational opportunities and information to all citizens of Saanich to ensure accessibility to activity is an option for everyone.

What is Active Saanich?

Active Saanich is a component of the Strategic Plan under the Healthy Communities Initiative. It is a co-coordinated health/physical fitness promotion strategy focusing on increasing the physical activity levels of all Saanich residents by 20% by the year 2010. Active Saanich is part of the provincial strategy called Act Now BC.

Why Active Saanich?

Philosophically part of our mandate as an organization committed to improving the health of British Columbians. Active Saanich gives us the ability to target high risk populations and the non-involved. The specific initiatives of Active Saanich will allow us to put emphasis on Children & youth, girls and young women, older adults, aboriginals, persons with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged.

Is there a cost to our system?

38% of British Columbians are not active enough to achieve health benefits. This is equivalent to a related health cost to British Columbia of $600 million per year. Therefore, by increasing physical activity within our community and encouraging employers to provide physical activity and an Active Lifestyle, inevitably we will save money with healthier members in our community.