PROPEL is a pilot project that invited girls and young women experiencing systemic barriers to physical activity to co-design a physical activity program to increase their access, participation, and inclusion in programming. The project focused on identifying structural, social, cultural, and interpersonal barriers to participation, and incorporated ways to address them in the programming. Participants expressed that the PROPEL project increase their access and rates of physical activity, they also shared that their feelings of belonging, and social and community connections increased as a result of their participation in the project. Professional development opportunities to front-line staff of various education settings, including child and youth workers and educational assistants were also provided to increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities for developing inclusive programming. 

PHE Canada engaged 3 sites, 54 students in grades 8-12, and 11 front line workers in the project. The video shares first-hand experiences of the programming and resulting impacts for the participating sites.

The following outcomes were achieved with the PROPEL pilot:

• Increased intention of participants to engage in physical activity.
• Improved cultural awareness, confidence, and social engagement for participants.
• Reduction in identified barriers to participation. 
• Greater inclusion across sport and physical activity opportunities.
• Enhanced capacity of front line staff to provide quality physical activity programming and support to youth facing systemic barriers. 

SPIRIT is a youth-led pilot project with the aim of identifying and addressing barriers to physical activity participation for 2SLGBTQ+ students, as well as engaging youth in the planning and implementation of their own programming. As a result of empowering student leaders of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, teachers and students created a safe and welcoming environment, where students became changemakers and built knowledge, understanding, and capacity in their school.

For the SPIRIT project, PHE Canada engaged 8 schools and 180 students in 4 provinces. The video follows three students on their journey to advocating for inclusive programming and practices within their schools for gender and sexually diverse students.

As a result of pilot, the following outcomes were achieved:

• Increased rates of 2SLGBTQ+ students in school-based physical activity participation 
• Increased feelings of confidence and safety of 2SLGBTQ+ youth when participating in school-based physical activity programming
• Reduction/elimination of barriers to school-based physical activity participation for 2SLGBTQ+ students
• Increase in teacher understanding of developing inclusive physical activity environments for 2SLGBTQ+ students

To learn strategies and practices to embed inclusion into your programming, access the 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion in School-Based Physical Activity Programs Guidebook. 

Download Guidebook

Across Canada, teachers are going above and beyond to ensure their classrooms are inclusive and inviting for all students. Read more about what they are doing here.

ReBOOT Intramurals is a program that targets youth with low rates of physical activity and sport participation. It is designed to facilitate youth engagement and leadership by giving a voice to youth in the planning and implementation of an intramural program that fits the unique needs of students at their school. 

For this particular project, the focus was on young women and girls who are disengaged from physical activity and sport. PHE Canada worked with 4 schools to implement the pilot project with almost 500 young women and girls being engaged in physical activity and sport. 

As a result of the program, the following outcomes were observed at the participating schools: 

• increased physical activity levels at recess/lunch breaks 
• reduced sedentary behaviour during school hours 
• reduced barriers to sport and physical activity at recess/lunch breaks 
• increased enjoyment of physical activity during recess/lunch breaks 

We encourage more schools to ReBOOT their intramural programming to eliminate barriers and increase participation rates. For resources to support the implementation of ReBOOT Intramurals, click here.

In partnership with Growing Young Movers Inc. and the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC), PHE Canada embarked on an initiative to support and advance physical education in on reserve schools. PHE Canada worked with 28 physical educators of the PAGC communities and the Move Think Learn resource series to improve school effectiveness to better meet the needs of the children and youth.

The pilot program delivered the following benefits to participants:

• Enhanced physical education programming in school and after-school environments
• Increased knowledge, understanding, and capacity of teachers and program leaders in developing and delivering quality physical education programming
• Provided financial resources to support physical education program delivery
• Engaged physically active children and youth

Overall, 23 schools and close to 7,000 students of the Prince Albert Grand Council were reached with the implementation of this pilot project.

We hope this pilot program inspires others to implement similar initiatives in their communities!