Intermediate students at Katzie Elementary in Clayton Heights spent their afternoon outdoors Wednesday, in a special Move for Health Day event put on by the City of Surrey.
People across the province participated in the international event, which was established in 2002 by the World Health Organization in an effort to promote physical activity.
Today, the B.C. Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) promotes activities across the province that get communities involved in hundreds of activities hosted by local schools, workplaces and parks and recreation departments.
At Katzie Elementary in Clayton Heights, around 300 students in Grades 4-7 moved between stations featuring relay races, tug of war and other fun activities. The stations were put together by the City of Surrey and partner sport organizations, including Softball BC, RCMP Mini Blue program and Pacific Sport.
“Surrey is a city that values health and wellness and Move for Health Day events like these bring people together in the spirit of fun, inclusivity and support of healthy active living,” parks operations co-ordinator Mandy Hadfield said.
Donations from VOLO and the BC Lions meant each student got to take home a backpack filled with goodies, and DJ Freshly Cut provided musical entertainment.
Principal Solomon Lee said he hoped the students took away a message to “get active, get healthy and have fun.”
It’s the first event of its kind at Katzie Elementary, which was opened in 2014.
“This is the end of our fourth year, so this is one of the first big partnerships with City of Surrey to this level,” Lee said. “I wish I could get them all out. Today is just (Grades) four to seven, and we have 300 in the intermediate groups. We went with the older kids for this one, and maybe next time we can do something with the little ones.”
For more information on Move for Health Day, visit www.bcrpa.bc.ca/mfhd or email mfhd@bcrpa.bc.ca