Creating a culture of movement in Nova Scotia

Kerry Copeland, executive director, Healthy Tomorrow Foundation and her dog Beau

As life gets more convenient, we move less. But at what cost?

Nova Scotians hold the unfortunate title of having one of the highest rates of preventable chronic diseases in Canada. This, along with a health-care system in crisis and an aging population, is creating the perfect storm. Almost half of Nova Scotian adults report having at least one underlying health condition.

The Make Your Move campaign, led by the Healthy Tomorrow Foundation, is tackling this issue by shifting the way Nova Scotians think about movement. This awareness and social media marketing initiative meets people where they are, reminding people that moving more can be accessible, easy and natural, and emphasizing how good they will feel if they move more. Instead of focusing on structured workouts, sports and exercise, MYM encourages people to engage in frequent bouts of light physical activity throughout the day to improve their long-term health outcomes.

Our modern lifestyle has led to an increase in sedentary behaviour, with people spending almost nine-10 hours of their waking time not moving. Whether sitting in a car, at a desk or in front of a TV screen, most of us spend most of our time barely moving. While structured exercise is beneficial, Kerry Copeland, executive director of the Foundation, emphasizes that it is not enough to counteract the negative effects of prolonged inactivity. Integrating frequent, light physical activity, such as walking, standing, doing household chores or even playing lawn games, can improve how we feel today and in the future.

“We’ve traditionally encouraged physical activity through exercise and sports, but not everyone embraces those activities,” Ms. Copeland explains. “We know that simple movement like standing during meetings or walking short distances throughout the day can have important benefits to our health and well-being.”

Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic had an unexpected positive impact on movement. As restrictions limited indoor activities, many Nova Scotians rediscovered the joy of outdoor movement. Walking, biking and other simple activities became more common as people sought ways to stay active. “Bike sales skyrocketed, and trails were packed with people of all ages,” Ms. Copeland says.

“This shows that people want to move and that it is just about creating the right opportunities and environment to sustain this behaviour.” Investing in multi-use trails and promoting active transportation are key steps toward a healthier Nova Scotia.

While personal choices play a role, Kerry stresses that systemic change is needed to create a cultural shift. Make Your Move also encourages workplaces to integrate movement into the workday. The Foundation’s Make Your Move at Work program is an example of how businesses can create movement-friendly environments for employees.

But the challenge remains: How do we make movement the norm rather than an exception?

“We want Nova Scotians to view this type of movement as something they get to do, rather than something they have to do,” says Kerry. “When people experience the benefits first-hand, I believe they will want to keep moving.”

Follow the Make Your Move campaign on Facebook for regular encouragement and opportunities across the province to embrace small, meaningful changes into your routine. Whether it is choosing the stairs over an elevator, walking during phone calls or dancing while doing household stories, every move counts. Together, we can build a culture where movement is valued, encouraged and celebrated.