Fit To Be Canadian

In recent years, recreation scholars and professionals began calling for a return to municipal recreation’s historical roots as a “public good.” Blaming neoliberal ideology for the current pay-per-use model, these calls for a more inclusive recreation system have suggested the sector's "business-like" practices should be of concern because they are in direct opposition to the historic mandate of “equal opportunity.” A central assumption underlying these calls for the recreation profession to return to its “historical roots” is that municipal recreation services, until the late 1980s and early 1990s, were available to all members of society. This narrative is, however, a romanticized account of recreation’s history. In this book, Lisa Tink challenges the often-repeated narrative of a more inclusive and equitable era in recreation’s past. Tracing some of the conditions that have given rise to what she has termed the recreation industrial complex, Tink’s research demonstrates how recreation has, by design, served the interests of white, heterosexual, able-bodied, middle- to upper-class Canadians. By exposing the ways particular bodies came to be centered in a recreation context, the purpose of this important piece of recreation scholarship is to demonstrate how historical inclusions and exclusions (whether intentional or not) were in fact part of a broader biopolitical project intended to sustain white supremacy, with the ultimate goal of encouraging critical dialogues about what is inherently problematic, difficult, and dangerous in the discourses, practices, and policies that govern our contemporary recreation systems.

Dr. Karen K. Lee is a force for good around the world, working behind the scenes to help people improve their diets, get in shape, and live longer. In the arena of public health, this Canadian woman is an international superstar. In the early 2000s, she went to the US to join a team of "health detectives" for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking was in decline, and so the US CDC's attention had turned to the next biggest causes of premature death: over-eating and under-exercising. Dr. Lee's zeal in seeking out the root causes--in schools, restaurants, and environments that encourage a sedentary, calorie-packed way of life--was matched by her inspired approach to finding solutions. She was next recruited by the City of New York, where she was instrumental in introducing Active Design, an initiative for creating opportunities for healthy living in everyday life that has helped reverse childhood obesity and lengthen life expectancies. Her influence has since spread around the world. Dr. Lee has always known that health education, public service announcements, and our individual struggles are not enough. The world around us needs to change to support us in taking steps (literally and figuratively) to save our own lives. Working with civic leaders, city planners, and architects, she has been a pioneer in addressing today's leading health problems, such as obesity, heart disease, strokes, cancers, and diabetes. Fit Cities is a riveting memoir of that work--the story of how Dr. Lee and her many teams of brilliant collaborators uncovered, and set about eradicating, the causes of a pandemic of unhealthy living. And every step of the way, it offers invaluable advice on how we can all help ourselves to live healthier lives.

Fitness for Life Canada: Preparing Teens for Healthy, Active Lifestyles is the only health and fitness education program backed by research and focused on shifting teens from dependence to independence when it comes to lifelong healthy lifestyles. Through Fitness for Life Canada, students are engaged in the process of personal program planning for a variety of health behaviours including physical activity, fitness, and health eating. This evidence-based and standards-based program follows a pedagogically sound scope and sequence to enhance student learning and progress and presents the science of healthy living at age-appropriate levels. Research clearly demonstrates that active and healthy adults use a variety of self-management skills to maintain their positive behaviours. Fitness for Life Canada helps students develop numerous self-management skills—such as self-assessment, self-monitoring, goal setting, finding social support, overcoming barriers, and managing time—to prepare them to independently engage in healthy lifestyles. Students also learn to engage in community physical activity opportunities, with national sport and health organizations, and with technology that supports healthy lifestyles. Through Fitness for Life Canada, students explore these aspects: The foundations of active and healthy living, including adopting healthy lifestyles and self-management skills and setting goals and planning personal programs Learning the basics for lifelong activity and health, including engaging in smart and safe physical activity, knowing how much activity is enough, and understanding healthy eating Beginning activity and building fitness, including participating in moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity and developing cardiorespiratory endurance Building muscle fitness and flexibility, including understanding muscle fitness applications and ergogenic aids Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including achieving a healthy body composition, choosing nutritious foods, and making good consumer choices Creating positive and healthy experiences, including managing stress, developing lifelong leadership skills, understanding reproductive and sexual wellness, and making wise choices regarding alcohol, drugs, and tobacco Fitness for Life Canada has extensive teacher resources with more than 100 lesson plans (classroom and activity based) that provide teachers with numerous options for student assessment and opportunities to demonstrate evidence of student learning (e.g., quizzes, tests, worksheets, student demonstrations, student projects). Teachers can integrate the program with existing curricula or deliver it as a stand-alone program. They can also apply our Fitness Club approach to deliver fitness education to large numbers of students using multiple activity areas. Teacher Ancillaries are available free with the adoption and purchase of a class set of the student text. Special Features in Chapters and Units Every chapter in the student text features two classroom lessons, one feature that engages students with prominent Canadian sport organizations and health organizations, and a chapter review. The book devotes multiple lessons to personal program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Go to Sample Content to view sample page layouts that show these special features. Each unit offers a Consumer Corner feature. The teacher web resources feature the same chapter content as the student text plus three physical activity lessons per chapter that help students apply what they’ve learned from the classroom lessons. In addition, the chapters have a series of other prominent features: Lesson objectives direct student learning. Lesson vocabulary helps students understand multiple uses of words (definitions in glossary and online). Art includes a version of the physical activity pyramid for teens. Photos and design give the chapters a refreshing student-friendly look with its dynamic four-color design. Muscle art identifies the muscles used in each exercise. Fit Facts give quick information about relevant topics. Quotes from famous people reveal their thoughts on fitness, health, and wellness. Fitness Technology offers opportunities for students to use and study technology. Science in Action provides in-depth coverage of innovations in fitness, health, and wellness. Self-Assessment allows students to evaluate their fitness, health, and wellness as the first step in personal planning for improvement. Taking Charge and Self-Management allow students to learn self-management skills for adopting healthy behaviors and interacting with other students to solve problems encountered by hypothetical teens. Taking Action features activities that are supported by the lesson plans. Consumer Corner helps students become good consumers of information on fitness, health, and wellness as they learn how to separate fact from fiction. Web-Based Resources Fitness for Life Canada provides physical educators with numerous delivery and assessment options in health and physical education. Specifically, the program has more than 100 detailed activity- and classroom-based lesson plans that can be delivered out of the box for beginner teachers and are modifiable for experienced teachers. The lesson plans are supported with assessment and teaching materials such as worksheets, activity cards, PowerPoint slides, quizzes, chapter and unit tests, an online test bank, portfolios (including digital), demonstrations (live, video, and pictures), journals and reflections (written and video), class presentations and video presentations, and supplemental project ideas. For students, web resources are included with each student text and feature the following: Video clips that demonstrate the self-assessments in each chapter Video clips that demonstrate the exercise in selected chapters Worksheets without answers Review questions from the text presented in an interactive format so students can check their level of understanding Expanded discussions of topics marked by web icons in the text Vocabulary terms with definitions Teacher web resources are available free with any class set purchase and include the following: An introduction that describes the body of knowledge and pedagogical foundations behind Fitness for Life Canada as well as the evidence supporting its effectiveness Daily lesson plans, including five lessons per chapter: two classroom plans and three activity plans Worksheets with answers Premade chapter and unit quizzes with answers Activity cards and task cards Presentation package of slides with the key points for each lesson A test bank that teachers can use to make their own quizzes if they prefer SummaryFitness for Life Canada develops higher-order physical literacy knowledge and skills that help students become active and healthy adults. Fitness for Life Canada focuses on developing students’ knowledge of health and health-related fitness concepts, training principles, and personal physical activity and fitness program planning. That knowledge is combined with numerous self-management skills that are critical for maintaining physical activity, healthy eating, and general health behaviours. In short, Fitness for Life Canada enhances engagement, learning, and assessment while paving the way to a healthy lifestyle throughout the life span.

Some books are catalysts. Shake Hands with the Devil was one. For 2017, that book is Out Standing in the Field. In her memoir, Sandra Perron describes her experience of the Canadian Military - one of the most important institutions of our nation. What she has to say is exactly what the top brass has been paying lip-service to for years, and doing nothing to improve. In 2016, the Auditor General's Report noted that the military had no strategy to recruit women, even though they are required to meet a target that 25% of the uniformed personnel be women. According to Statistics Canada, 1,000 members of our military say they have been sexually assaulted in the past year. In her revealing and moving memoir, Sandra Perron, Canada's first female infantry officer and a member of the Royal 22e Régiment - the legendary "Van Doos" - describes her fight against a system of institutional sexism. Though repeatedly identified as top of her class throughout her training, she was subject to harassment by her male colleagues. Her military experience, however, wasn't all negative. Through two deployments to Bosnia and Croatia, Perron forged lasting friendships with men and women, serving her country with courage and compassion, and her determination helped pave the way for women's inclusion in the Armed Forces. Out Standing in the Field is the story of a soldier who refused to let her comrades or her country down, even while serving a military institution that failed her repeatedly. Beautifully written, Perron's memoir is a testament to her fortitude and patriotism, and serves as proof that the spirit of a true hero cannot be bent or broken.

With content targeted specifically toward higher education students in Canada, Fitness and Wellness in Canada: A Way of Life With Web Study Guide presents evidence-based physical and mental health guidance to point students toward healthy choices that will develop into healthy lifestyles. Authors Sarah J. Woodruff Atkinson, Carol K. Armbruster, and Ellen M. Evans have more than 80 years of combined professional experience in health and wellness, the majority of which has focused on the higher education population. This enables them to present the material in a contemporary manner that is relatable and easily understood by students. Relevant information on topics such as cardiorespiratory exercise, strength training, stretching, nutrition, weight management, stress management, substance abuse and addiction, and sexual health will start students on the path to developing a healthy mind and body, which can lead to a better quality of life. Additionally, because Fitness and Wellness in Canada: A Way of Life emphasizes behaviour modification to develop desired habits, students are armed with the tools they need to make healthy lifestyle changes—for both the present and future: A web study guide offers more than 50 video clips and practical learning activities to provide real-life context for the material. Behaviour Check sidebars help students integrate health and wellness concepts into their daily lives. Now and Later sidebars encourage students to consider how their actions today will affect them in the future. The Functional Movement Training section shows exercises to strengthen specific muscles and explains their importance for everyday activities. Infographics, research-based tables, and figures illustrate and reinforce key concepts so they are easy to understand. Canada’s Food Guide is included to assist students in making healthy nutritional choices. The companion web study guide offers students the unique opportunity to engage directly with the content and practice the exercises and strategies presented. Lab activities for each chapter will guide students in completing individual assessments, setting goals, and identifying the pros and cons of modifying their behaviour. Video clips of 48 exercises demonstrate proper exercise technique, and additional learning activities and quizzes gauge student comprehension of the content. In addition, students will benefit from learning aids such as key terms, a glossary, and review questions for each chapter. Instructors will benefit from an abundance of online ancillaries: a presentation package plus image bank, test package, chapter quizzes, and an instructor guide that includes chapter summaries, chapter objectives, class outlines, sample answers to the chapter review questions, and suggested class activities. The primary goal of Fitness and Wellness in Canada: A Way of Life is to provide evidence-based guidance to help students embrace living well. Students will learn how to make healthy choices and positive behaviour changes to lead healthier, happier, and more productive lives, now and in the future.