Ophea is committed to working in partnership with government, non-government, and community partners to advocate for healthy public policy related to H&PE and healthy active living. We are also committed to playing a strong leadership role on related committees and at stakeholder events.
Ophea’s Advocacy Goals
- Advocate in partnership for the development and implementation of inclusive policies that strengthen H&PE Curriculum and other policies that enhance opportunities for healthy active living.
- Increase understanding of the role that the implementation of a quality H&PE curriculum and physical activity play in chronic disease prevention.
- Facilitate and support sector alignment to make healthy schools and healthy communities a reality.
Ophea's advocacy efforts in 2010-11 are made possible in part through funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Following are some examples of the work we have done or participated in to support these goals.
May 2011
Ophea has been actively working as a member of the After School Collaborative Initiative. This initiative is a result of support from the Public Health Agency of Canada, in conjunction with Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport. Seven organizations (Boys and Girls Clubs Canada – Central Region, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario, Evidence (First Work), Ontario Public Health Association, Ophea, Parks and Recreation Ontario, YMCA Ontario) are working to enhance the quality of Ontario’s after-school programs.
Read the Collaborative's response to the 2011 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
November 2010
Health and Physical Education (H&PE) is the key to making Ontario the healthiest province in Canada
This advocacy statement was developed with funding support from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and reinforces Ophea's position that H&PE is the fastest, least expensive and most effective way to make Ontario the healthiest province. It includes research evidence and recommendations to support this position.
Read the Statement
April 2010
Controversy related to the Human Development and Sexual Health Topic within the 2010 H&PE Curriculum
Ophea came out in full support of the 2010 H&PE Curriculum when it was released in January 2010, and continued this support when the Ontario government withdrew the curriculum due to controversy regarding the Human Development and Sexual Health topic in April 2010. Ophea developed a Statement of Support for the H&PE Curriculum, which was signed onto by over 770 partners and stakeholders.
Read the Statement of Support
The H&PE Curriculum was reinstated with the exception of the Human Development and Sexual Health topic, which was replaced by the Growth and Development content from the 1998 curriculum, until further consultations could be held. Ophea then disseminated an editorial statement to emphasize support for the curriculum as a holistic and integrated policy.
Read the editorial
February 2010
Healthy Schools. Healthy Communities. A Submission to the Government of Ontario
Ophea submitted considerations for the provincial budget to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Our recommendation was that the provincial government provide ongoing funding support for the implementation of the many healthy schools and communities policies that they have developed in recent years.
Read our submission
November 2009
Ministry of Education Working Group on the Elementary Curriculum Supporting Learning and Teaching in Ontario’s Elementary Schools: Discussion Paper for a Province Wide Consultation
The Ministry of Education, in consultation with the Curriculum Council, appointed a working group to examine the elementary curriculum in general and to respond in particular to concerns that the curriculum is “overcrowded”. Educators and stakeholder groups were invited to provide input on this issue by completing an online survey.
Read Ophea's response
June 2009
Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card
Active Healthy Kids Canada release a yearly Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. According to the 2009 Report Card, children who are physically active perform better in school than those who are not active. Disturbingly, despite the academic and health benefits of physical activity, for the third consecutive year, the 2009 Report Card assigned an F for Physical Activity Levels. Only 13% of Canadian children and youth are meeting the minimum recommendation of 90 minutes of physical activity a day. Ophea supports the key findings from the Report Card and believes that a shared responsibility among entire school communities is needed to improve the Grade.
View the 2009 report card
January 2009
Healthy Active Schools and Communities in Ontario: Contributing to the Government’s Aim of Getting Results for Ontario Families
Ophea submitted considerations for the provincial budget to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Our recommendations included using integrated approaches to address health-related issues; supporting the implementation of the revised curriculum for H&PE in the context of a safe and healthy school; and a continued commitment to infrastructure, with specific attention placed on sustaining and enhancing school and community infrastructure to support health and learning opportunities for children, youth and their families.
Read Ophea’s Pre-Budget Submission
May 2008
Healthy Schools Matter: a discussion paper on making healthy schools a reality in Ontario schools.
Prepared by Ophea (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association), OASPHE (Ontario Association for the Supervision of Physical and Health Education) and the OHSC (Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition).
Read the Healthy Schools Matter Discussion Paper