
Move for Life
Move for Life — Get active for better health!
As part of the Foundation's commitment to ensuring our community is the healthiest possible, we have partnered with Sport for Life, a national not-for-profit organization that strives to improve the health and lives of all Canadians. The innovative project brings community leaders together to spearhead a five-year Physical Literacy for Communities initiative in the areas of education, recreation, sport, health and media.
Why is this so important?
Today's children won't live as long as their parents due to an alarming decrease in physical activity and the many diseases and health issues caused by inactivity. Our adults and seniors are facing chronic health conditions that lead to medical interventions and worsen due to a lack of exercise and recreational activities. We believe that to effect change upstream and keep people out of the hospital, a healthy lifestyle is key. Peace Arch Hospital will always be here if you need it, but with committing to a being as healthy as possible, hopefully you won't.
DOWNLOAD OUR MOVE FOR LIFE RACK CARD
Benefits of Physical Activity
- 33+%
- reduction in risk of heart disease
- 25+%
- reduction in risk of diabetes
- 2-3
- years added to a physically active senior's life span
- $150M
- saved per year by increasing activity by 10%
- 40%
- reduction in risk of Alzheimer's
Our Vision
A healthy community where people are committed to physical, social and mental well-being.
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Project Goals
- Change physical activity behavior through targeted communications and increased awareness.
- Deliver creative, safe, inclusive and effective physical activity and programs.
- Integrate and coordinate expertise across sectors to create cross-sectoral solutions.
- Develop sustainable programs to have ongoing impact in the community.
- Improve competence, confidence and motivation of 33,000 community members to be physically active for life.
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A physically literate community is:
- A community where parents, teachers, coaches and practitioners are informed and supported.
- A community where seniors are vibrant and active.
- A community where children feel healthy, happy and can thrive
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How will we integrate physical literacy into South Surrey and White Rock?
Phase 1: Educate, facilitating an understanding and awareness of physical literacy.
Phase 2: Train, delivering physical literacy-enriched programs.
Phase 3: Mentor, establishing sustainable physical literacy for our community. -
Physical Literacy Project with Alex House Childcare
Alex House is a large childcare & afterschool care provider, operating 900+ childcare spaces, 16 centers, 95+ staff (and growing). An embedded physical literacy program is operating throughout Alex House childcare programs: three Alex House early childcare educators have taken on Physical Literacy lead roles to further educate, mentor, and support other staff with integrating quality physical literacy programming. Education and training are provided by Sport for Life, with additional education supported by Appetite to Play workshops and e-learning courses.
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Physical Literacy in Schools
Our Physical Literacy (PL) mentorship program is focused on engaging local elementary schools, offering physical literacy capacity-building to teachers, conducting fundamental movement skill assessments with students, and providing PL programming throughout an entire school day. This program also provides PL presentations to staff, teachers, and parents to increase awareness and knowledge around the importance of developing physical literacy to improve health, impact learning and support positive well-being.



Our Programs
Prescriptions to Get Active
‘Prescriptions to Get Active’ utilize the legitimacy of doctor’s prescriptions, allowing patients to receive comprehensive health recommendations from health care providers. This could be anything from engagement with the arts, physical activity, or connection to community. As part of this program, we have partnered with the White Rock and South Surrey recreation centers to provide complimentary passes to their recreation facilities to assist with getting started. Physicians and other allied healthcare professionals can download our PRESCRIPTION TO GET ACTIVE here to use right away!

Hospital Activation Program
The Hospital Activation Program provides education on the many benefits of being active during a patient’s stay in hospital. After discharge, the program supports continued physical activity through personalized activity prescriptions and connection to community activation programs focused on improving recovery, reducing hospital admissions, and enhancing quality of life.

Chronic Disease Management Program
The Chronic Disease Management program is a rehabilitative, cohort-based exercise program for referred individuals of different activity levels to assist in the prevention and management of chronic disease. This 3-month program is supported through our Healthy Community Grant, which provides 150 subsidized seats. Delivered by a Certified Clinical Rehab Specialist, this program aims to increase participants’ level of physical activity and ability to remain active and engage in social connection. Physicians can download our REFERRAL FORM for the program here.

FAME (Fitness and Mobility Exercise) Program
The Fitness and Mobility Exercise (FAME) Program is a group exercise program developed for people after stroke who have some standing and walking abilities. This program is offered over the span of 12 weeks and is located at White Rock’s Centre for Active Living. It is generously subsidized by Peace Arch Hospital Foundation’s Move for Life project.
To sign up, please DOWNLOAD and complete the program Consent & Referral Form and submit to Fred Kikhosrowkiany, Certified Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Specialist via email to fredkiany@shaw.ca. To complete registration for the program series, please contact the City of White Rock’s recreation team by calling 604-541-2199.
For more information about this program, please read our web story.

South Surrey WALKit Beginner Program 55+
Move for Life has partnered with the City of Surrey’s WALKit program to offer a free beginner 6-week walking program for South Surrey residents 55 years+. Walking is a great way to add more movement in your day, achieve health goals, and connect with your community. WALKit Beginner is a gentle walking program designed for those new to activity. Register for the program on the WALKit website.

Sport Club and Coach Development
We believe in creating positive experiences in supportive sport environments. If sport participation and physical activity isn’t fun, progressive, positive, or welcoming, people of all ages will turn to other activities that may be significantly less healthy. Through quality sport education, we aim to see a higher percentage of children and youth choosing to stay active through the school years, and adults and seniors pursuing a sport of their choice or being physically active for life. A successful, positive experience in sport can impact a person’s wellbeing for life.
M4L Partners
The Move for Life project has established an engaging partner table of community leaders from Health, Recreation, Sport, and Education. Partners are committed to collaborating on cross-sectoral solutions to increase physical activity and support community members in being active across the lifespan.
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Generations Playground — Bringing Generations Together
The brand new all abilities and all ages playground built next to Centennial Arena in White Rock held its official grand opening on Saturday, September 1. A collaboration between Peace Arch Hospital Foundation and the City of White Rock, the playground is the first of its kind in this community.
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Related Gallery
Move for Life Project Contacts
Related Projects
Join our movement to make a lasting impact on community health for all who live in White Rock and South Surrey! Visit our Healthiest Community Possible page to learn where this initiative began. You can also donate to our Generations Playground project or consider applying for a Healthy Community Grant.