Last week, ParticipACTION released its 2025 Report Card on Physical Activity for Adults, revealing that only 46% of adults in Canada are meeting physical activity guidelines. This number has remained stagnant for years, and the findings underscore the urgent need for a whole-society approach to get Canadians active and avoid deepening Canada’s public health and economic crises.

Physical inactivity is costing our health-care system $3.9 billion a year, and the Report Card finds that only 22% of communities (of at least 1,000 people) in Canada have a formal strategy for physical activity and sport, and 42% have a formal plan for parks and recreation. Meanwhile, just 32% of adults in Canada meet daily step recommendations, a decline from 49% in 2021, and less than half (42%) spend fewer than eight hours being stationary per day.

A physically active future is vital for Canadians’ health and Canada’s economic prosperity. Physical activity not only prevents heart disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia, but it also helps reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and improves productivity. A modest 15% relative increase in physical activity levels in Canada could save nearly $1 billion each year in health-care, absenteeism and chronic disease management costs.

“As Canada looks for ways to reduce public spending, address the mental health crisis and strengthen social connections, prioritizing physical activity offers a proven, cost-effective solution,” said Brian Torrance, President and CEO of ParticipACTION. “Canadians recognize the benefits of living an active lifestyle, but awareness alone isn’t enough – systemic change and supportive social and physical environments are needed to help make movement a natural part of daily life. We urge the Government of Canada to make long-term investments in physical activity that will strengthen communities, enhance well-being and help create a stronger, more resilient nation.”

Governments, employers, urban planners, organizations within the sport, physical activity and recreation sector, and individuals all have a role to play in elevating physical activity levels – from creating more walkable cities and accessible recreation options to embedding movement into workplaces and health-care settings.

“All movement matters,” said Dr. John C. Spence, Report Card Chief Scientific Officer. “Engaging in daily physical activity is one of the most important things we can do for our overall health and well-being, and the Report Card’s recommendations help build a path forward to a healthier and more active country. Concerted efforts across various sectors are key to helping adults move more where they live, learn, work and play.”

Movement drives economic growth, reduces the strain on our health-care system, strengthens communities, improves mental health and even advances climate change action. Without change, physical inactivity will continue to erode Canada’s health and economy, and the quality of life of millions of people across the country.

Canada has the evidence, the expertise and the organizations to make physical activity a priority and nation-building tool, and the return on investment is clear: when Canada makes room to move, it makes room to thrive.

The 2025 Report Card on Physical Activity for Adults uncovers timely opportunities to help mitigate the negative impacts of physical inactivity. It provides recommendations for all levels of government, employers, urban planners, individuals and others on how they can collectively contribute to improving physical activity levels.

To read Moving Beyond Stagnation: Elevating Physical Activity in Canada, please click HERE.

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For the month of June, the Y will offer free day passes on Saturdays to encourage residents to be active and promote health and wellness. A variety of activities are available at the Y, including Open Gym, Family Swim, Lane Swim, a fitness center, and more. The YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka offers a wide variety of programs. For more information, visit www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca.

The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka will track the average movement minutes of its members and visitors in Collingwood, Gravenhurst, Innisfil, Midland, and Wasaga Beach in June, and add the numbers together to find out the total for each community. Participants and members will be encouraged to record their own activities outside of YMCA facilities as well. In the event that the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka wins the challenge, more members of the community will have access to financial aid and be able to overcome access barriers.

YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka Vice President of Health, Wellness, and Community Impact, Karen Pulla, said, “We’re really excited about providing free access to the Health, Fitness, and Aquatics facilities every Saturday in June thanks to ParticipACTION, a project that bas been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.” The YMCA is a great place to have fun, improve your well-being, and make connections with friends and family. Pulla says, “We know exercise can help us improve both our mental and physical health. We hope these FREE passes will welcome new members to the community and inspire them to join the challenge.”

A $100,000 top prize is at stake for the winning community of the Community Better Challenge, which allows anyone, from individuals to organizations, to track their minutes of active participation in their communities.

Residents can get their free Saturday Day Pass by visiting their local YMCA in Collingwood, Gravenhurst, Innisfil, Midland, or Wasaga Beach, or by going to www.YMCAOnlinePortal.ca and entering the code ACTION2023.

To try out the Y beyond the free Saturdays, you can get one-week free until June 16th. Check your local Y for details. For more information about the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, visit www.JoinTheY.ca.

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An initiative aimed at encouraging Canadians to embrace an active lifestyle while reaping the numerous physical and mental benefits of physical activity, the ParticipACTION Community Challenge is a national initiative through the Government of Canada to encourage physical activity that is held throughout the month of June annually.

To participate, residents can download the free ParticipACTION app and track their movement or by joining local activities organized by the City of Orillia. By getting involved, individuals contribute to their own well-being while collectively striving to be recognized as Canada’s Most Active Community. The winning community will be awarded $100,000 to support local physical activity and sport initiatives. Additionally, prizes will be awarded to the most active community in each province and territory.

“We invite everyone in Orillia to join the ParticipACTION Community Challenge this June and make a positive impact on their physical and mental well-being,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “On behalf of Council, I would like to thank ParticipACTION and the Government of Canada for their generous funding to help the City of Orillia provide additional programming to engage Orillians in various physical activities to help build a stronger, healthier, and more active community.”

Thanks to funding from ParticipACTION and the Government of Canada of $4,050, the City of Orillia will be hosting a series of free drop-in programming events throughout the month of June specifically designed to engage youth aged 11-17. These events aim to promote physical and mental well-being while providing opportunities for social interaction and community involvement. Participants can look forward to a variety of activities, including yoga sessions, dodgeball matches, racket sports, aquatic sports, backyard games, and open swim sessions.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant funding as it allows us to further our mission of creating an inclusive and active community for our youth,” said Erica Veldman, Recreation Program Supervisor. “By offering programs tailored to the youth in our community, we can ensure that young individuals have the chance to engage in physical activities, promote their overall health, and foster a sense of belonging.”

Additionally, there will be access to the Orillia Recreation Centre Fitness Centre on June 3, 2023, from 3 to 6 p.m. This opportunity allows individuals aged 16 and over (or 14 and above with a prior Fitness Centre orientation) to experience the state-of-the-art facilities and receive professional guidance in their fitness journey.

For a comprehensive list of events and activities, please visit orillia.ca/programsorillia.ca/programs. Physical copies of the Event Calendar (attached) are available for pick up at the Orillia Recreation Centre and the Orillia Youth Centre. For more information, contact the Recreation, Youth, and Culture Services Division at 705-325-4386 or email recreation@orillia.ca.

This project has been made possible thanks to the support of the Government of Canada.

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When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, there was a sudden and drastic shift in the ways kids could access physical activity opportunities. Playing with friends, in-person physical education classes, sport competitions and recreation programming came to a halt. Most families understood the urgent need for public health measures, but there was also a realization that many kids were suddenly deprived of essential opportunities to grow strong, develop skills and connect with peers through sport and physical activity. This year’s “D” grade in overall physical activity is a decrease from the 2020 Report Card and reflects a substantial drop in kids’ movement.

COVID-19 also elevated sedentary screen use into a position of increased prominence and dependence. Only 18% of children and youth meet the Canadian 24-Hour Movement recommendations of no more than 2 hours per day of recreational screen time. The pivot to virtual learning and calls to stay at home transformed kids’ screens from an indulgence into a necessity for education and a default for leisure-time behaviour creating even greater concerns for the many ways that screen time adversely impacts healthy movement behaviours and overall well-being. This is highlighted in the “F” grade for screen time, a significant decrease from a “D+” in 2020.

“There is no doubt that many opportunities for physical activity were lost due to necessary public health measures,” says Dr. Mark Tremblay, Chief Scientific Officer, ParticipACTION Report Card, and Senior Scientist with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, CHEO Research Institute. “Restricted access to schools and opportunities for sports and recreation contributed to a national decrease in children’s and youth’s physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviours. However, we also saw sparks of inspiration and opportunities for a new normal, with some kids showing positive outcomes throughout the pandemic, especially when you look at active transportation and active play.”

Throughout the country, many families, communities and organizations worked hard to provide active opportunities for kids. Car-free urban spaces, rural trails and paths, and open-air markets allowed families and kids to walk, roll and ride more, leading to an increase in this year’s active transportation grade. Parks, trails and other outdoor spaces became popular outlets for family entertainment and exercise, providing a much-needed boost to kids’ mental and physical health. This dedication, perseverance and creativity meant that this year’s grade for household support for physical activity remained a “C”, active transportation increased to a “C-” and active play improved from an “F” to a “D-“, a remarkable feat considering the strain many families experienced during the peak of the pandemic.

Unfortunately, many physical activity opportunities were not experienced in an equitable way. For example, car-free street spaces were generally allocated in areas with fewer visible minority populations and fewer households with children; moreover, increases in outdoor time were more likely for children in higher-income families. In order to emphasize the importance of physical activity for equity-deserving groups, the 2022 Report Card features key findings specific to children and youth with disabilities, girls as well as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomer, and racialized children and youth.

“We hope this report will serve as a catalyst for heightened awareness on the importance of measuring, promoting and understanding physical activity for equity-deserving children and youth,” says Elio Antunes, President and CEO of ParticipACTION. “Improving physical activity for equity-deserving groups will help increase physical activity for all children and youth, which is key to protecting the health and well-being of all throughout the pandemic and in the future.”

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