Hay River, also known as the “Hub of the North” in the Northwest Territories, won the $100,000 grand prize as the winner of the fifth edition of the ParticipACTION Community Challenge. This national physical activity and sports initiative encourages everyone across Canada to get active throughout June. Between June 1-30, 2024, over 591,000 people from 1,250 communities across the country competed for the title of Canada’s Most Active Community.

In addition to Hay River’s grand prize win, ParticipACTION awarded prizes to the following communities for their exceptional efforts in promoting physical activity

• Red Deer, AB
• Richmond, BC
• Snow Lake, MB
• Salisbury, NB
• Carbonear, NL
• Truro, NS
• Iqaluit, NU
• Timmins, ON
• Three Rivers, PE
• Quebec City, QC
• Prince Albert, SK
• Whitehorse, YT

Laura Richard, Chair, ParticipACTION Board of Directors, congratulated Hay River and other provincial and territorial winners. “By creating more opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get active, we can build stronger, healthier and more inclusive communities. We hope those who participated in the Community Challenge harness the excitement and energy of the challenge beyond June and continue to be active in their communities throughout the year,” she said.

Physical activity and sports are vital for bringing communities together, strengthening connections, and increasing a sense of belonging. They unite people in neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, and beyond. Since its inception, the ParticipACTION Community Challenge has awarded over $1 million to winning communities for local sports and physical activity programs and has provided $6 million in grants to organizations across Canada to promote inclusive and accessible opportunities for everyone to get active.

In Hay River, local organizations and businesses organized 197 free or low-cost events, programs, and activities to encourage participation, ensuring that cost was not a barrier.

Mayor Kandis Jameson, Hay River, NT, said, “Over 40 organizations with hundreds of participants, clocking thousands of activity hours while uniting our community around a common fitness goal and exceeding expectations. Hay River once again proved its strength as a recreation hub.”

ParticipACTION is a national non-profit aiming to make physical activity a part of everyday life for everyone in Canada. The ParticipACTION Community Challenge, presented by Novo Nordisk, encourages Canadians to be active throughout June. It recognizes the Most Active Community, which wins $100,000 for local sports and activity programs.

Source: Yahoo Finance