Peace Arch Hospital + Community Health Foundation is proud to support programs that promote lifelong health and wellness, especially for youth in our community. That’s why we are longstanding partners with Move For Life, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Canadians. Through its innovative Physical Literacy for Communities initiative, Move For Life brings together community leaders across education, recreation, sport, health, and media to help children and youth build the skills and confidence they need to lead active, healthy lives.

For the past four years, this program has equipped elementary school teachers with practical tools in movement, PE, sport, curriculum planning, and physical literacy. During the 2024/25 school year, this program provided professional development to 126 elementary school teachers across multiple schools in the South Surrey area, strengthening their ability to deliver inclusive, engaging physical education experiences for students of all abilities.

Teachers valued the opportunity to observe experienced instructors in action, gaining practical strategies for lesson planning, classroom management, and breaking down movement skills step by step to ensure every student can participate. The program also introduced a wide variety of adaptable games that could be used in different spaces and modified for varying skill sets.

Participants shared the positive impact the program has had on their teaching, noting that it enhanced what they were already doing while aligning closely with curriculum goals. As a result, students are more likely to feel included and confident in physical education classes, which is an important step toward building active lifestyles in the future. When youth know how to move their bodies, they are more likely to move more often. And when teachers are empowered to create confident, inclusive learning environment for students to learn, magic happens.

By investing in physical literacy at the classroom level, Move for Life is helping ensure more children have positive early experiences with movement and laying the foundation for healthier, more active lives from an early age.

Interested in learning more about the Move For Life program? Visit HERE!

Read more about the incredible impact of this program on page 5 of our Winter 2025 edition of Thrive Magazine HERE!