News Release
2003-80
October 25, 2003
For immediate release
Secretary of State DeVillers launches Stairway To Health initiative
TORONTO - The Honourable Paul DeVillers, Secretary of State for Physical
Activity and Sport, today launched Stairway to Health, an on-line resource developed
by Health Canada and the Canadian Council for Health and Active Living at Work. Stairway
to Health is an interactive, easy to use resource for encouraging stair use as a convenient
and cost-effective way to build healthy physical activity into our daily lives, particularly
at the workplace.
"There is compelling scientific evidence that shows that regular physical activity is
fundamental to good health and quality of life", said Mr. DeVillers. "The workplace is
a critical setting to support Canadians' intentions to become more physically active -
15 million Canadians spend more than half their waking lives at work. Stairway to Health provides
workplaces with helpful tools to encourage and assist employees to incorporate healthy
living into their lives."
The Stairway to Health web resource will be available, at no cost, to all interested
workplaces via the Internet on Health Canada's web site. In addition to providing tools
and resources, Stairway to Health will provide a means for workplaces to manage
and promote their own in-house programs via contests, participant data and newsletters.
"It is very exciting that workplaces will have a practical tool to help employees overcome
barriers and build physical activity into their daily worklives", said Marion Reeves, Chair
of the Canadian Council for Health and Active Living at Work. "Physical activity improves
health, and healthier employees are happier and more productive".
Stairway to Health was launched in conjunction with the 26th anniversary of the
Enbridge CN Tower Stair Climb for United Way benefitting over 200 social and health service
agencies in an effort to build a healthier community. At 1,776 steps, the CN Tower in Toronto
is the world's tallest staircase. As part of the event, Mr. DeVillers climbed to the top
of the Tower. The College of Family Physicians of Canada also participated in the launch.
The Stairway to Health Website offers the necessary tools to develop and manage
a stairway to health program, from downloadable point of choice posters to virtual challenges.
This interactive website provides fact sheets on motivating employees, addressing the barriers,
design considerations for making stairways attractive and safe, power point presentations
on how to convince your employer/property manager, research on proven approaches and much
more. It can be found at  www.healthcanada.ca/stairwaytohealth
Stairway to Health builds on the Business Case for Active Living at Work website
that was launched in March 2001 by Health Canada and Canadian Council for Health and Active
Living at Work. That website outlines the benefits of physical activity-supportive workplaces,
summarizes available research in this area, and provides information to help practitioners
get started on developing physical activity policies and programs, including a helpful
template for a business case.
Canada's Healthy Workplace Week began in 2001 to help increase awareness of how important
healthy workplaces are to both the short and long term success of organizations. It is
taking place this year from October 20-26.
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For more information please contact:
Emmanuel Chabot
Media Relations
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803
Mario Tremblay
Press Secretary
Office of the Secretary of State (Physical Activity and Sport)
(819) 953-7329
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