For Immediate Release
January 18, 2005

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT HELPS LOCAL YMCA
Funds Will Create Physical Activity Plans In Kingston

KINGSTON - The Kingston Family YMCA will receive $20,857 to create a physical activity plan for Kingston, John Gerretsen, MPP for Kingston and the Islands announced today.

The funding is part of a $322,142 grant through the Communities in Action Fund - established by Ontario's Ministry of Tourism and Recreation - being shared by nine YMCAs in 16 communities across the province.

The Communities in Action Fund grant will help YMCAs in Brampton, Mississauga, Brighton, Whitby/Port Perry, Cambridge, Fort Erie, Kingston, Cobourg/Port Hope, Sarnia, Chatham, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Barrie, Collingwood, Midland and Orillia to develop community-wide physical activity plans by September 2005.

"This Communities in Action Fund grant will create opportunities for communities across Ontario to get active," said MPP Gerretsen. "Providing enhanced opportunities for physical activity and community sport and recreation will help us to become healthier and improve our quality of life."

The multi-year $5.2 million Communities in Action Fund invests in new initiatives that increase Ontario's physical activity and sport participation rates. The fund helps local and provincial not-for-profit organizations provide more community sport and recreation projects. Priority is given to projects that benefit under-served groups like older adults, children and youth, girls and women, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal people, those in low-income categories and visible and ethnic minorities.

"For years, the YMCA has helped people lead healthy, active lives," said Gary Bissonette, CEO of the Kingston Family YMCA. "This grant will enable us to bring together a variety of organizations in a community-wide collaboration to develop the ideas, partnerships, and programs that will extend to more people the many benefits of being physically active."

The Communities in Action Fund is part of ACTIVE2010, Ontario's new strategy to increase physical activity and sport participation throughout Ontario. The goal of the program is to have 55 per cent of Ontarians physically active by the year 2010.

- 30 -