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Motivate Canada – Toronto (ON) – August 4, 2016 – A total of 24 youth from the Greater Toronto area are gearing-up for Motivate Canada’s ACTIVATE Toronto which takes place at the YMCA Cedar Glen August 4th-7th. Supported by GEN7 messengers, Leland Macleod and Jordan Miller, ACTIVATE Volunteer Team, Cassi Hutchinson, Kyla Crocker, Meaghan Marton, and Motivate Canada staff Courtney Stevens, Rebekah Wilson and Baies Haqani, the youth attending will develop their leadership skills, physical literacy knowledge and community connections. 

ACTIVATE Toronto is part of a greater project known as, the Motivate Canada Physical Literacy for Youth Leaders project, and is one 6 regional forums that will be taking place across Ontario. Funded by the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund, the project will train youth to encourage positive behaviour change in youth in their communities through a youth-driven development framework that equips them to engage their communities as role models and initiate ACTIVATE in Action projects that enhance the levels of physical activity, fundamental movement skills, self-esteem and resilience. The training session, participants will learn about physical literacy, physical activity programming and positive mental health; to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their respective communities; to develop their leadership and mentorship skills; and to work together to formulate effective action plans for ACTIVATE in Action projects. Once these youth leaders return to their communities, they initiate their ACTIVATE in Action project with support from their youth mentors, Motivate Canada staff and their community partner organization. These ACTIVATE in ACTION projects will engage inactive youth in quality physical activity programming on a weekly basis.

Nearly 800 youth have participated in previous forums and are now part of the national ACTIVATOR network. Past and current projects have ranged from summer recreation camps and youth-led conferences to mini-ACTIVATES and charity hockey tournaments.

This ACTIVATE and GEN7 collaboration will include a unique aspect that has previously never been a part of the forum agenda. Instructed by Elder Gerard Sagassige, participants and volunteers will be part of the development of a pilot workshop focused on indigenizing the YMCA Cedar Glen by building a traditional wigwam on the venues grounds. This project stems from a partnership between Motivate Canada and the 4Rs Group, an initiative focused around changing the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people. 

Three-time World Champion Boxer and GEN7 Messenger Mary Spencer will present her keynote speech on Friday morning on behalf of Motivate Canada’s ESTEEM Team, and share her story of challenges and triumphs following her rise to fame as the first Indigenous Female Boxer to compete at the London 2012 Olympics.

For more information visit www.motivatecanada.ca/en/activate

About Motivate Canada: 
Motivate Canada’s Youth-Driven Development approach taps into the natural optimism, energy, curiosity, and adventurous spirit that young people have in abundance. Using the power of sport, physical activity and positive peer role models, Motivate Canada’s four core programs— GEN7, ESTEEM Team, ACTIVATE, and Clean Air Champions —give young people the tools, training, and confidence to make a difference in their lives and communities on their own terms. For more information please visit: www.motivatecanada.ca.

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Dan Dubeau

ACTIVATE Program Manager 

Motivate Canada

613-789-3333 ext 227

Cell: 613-355-0735

dan@motivatecanada.ca

Rebekah Wilson

GEN7 Program Manager

Motivate Canada

Phone: 613-789-3333 ext 228

Cell: 613-203-2196

rebekah@motivatecanada.ca