The National Health and Fitness Day Act was passed in 2014, designating the first Saturday in June as National Health and Fitness Day (NHFD). NHFD is intended to draw attention to declining rates of physical activity and increasing rates of preventable illness, and ultimately encourage Canadians to reap the benefits of active living. This year, more than 350 communities across the country have...Read more

The new school year is on the horizon and parents want to make sure that their children stay active and healthy. One of the easiest ways to help that along is by signing them up for a sport. A 2015 study noted that 85% of Canadians agree that sport builds communities and has an overall positive effect on participants, however 90% have also stated that the rising costs of sport are a barrier. How...Read more

SIRC is pleased to be working together with Sport Canada to share current research on topics informing policy and promoting quality sport programming. This week we are sharing highlights of a recent article reviewing a research study evaluating NEWCOMERS EXPERIENCES WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CANADA. Fitting it in: How being new to Canada influences physical activity . Curtin K, Loitz C, Spencer-...Read more

Conference Background In 2005, as part of the Sport Canada Research Initiative (SCRI), Sport Canada launched a joint initiative with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) called the Sport Participation Research Initiative (SPRI) . Sport Canada funds the initiative to better evidence the benefits of, and barriers to, quality sport participation with the aim of...Read more