Healthy Lifestyle Day launched in Sherbrooke to promote well-being in the community
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The organizing committee for the 58th Finale of the Jeux du Québec – Sherbrooke 2024 held its inaugural Healthy Lifestyle Day Oct. 17 in Sherbrooke. This initiative was established in collaboration with the Sherbrooke Alliance for Healthy Youth, aiming to encourage the city’s residents, including its youth, to embrace healthier living through a diverse array of activities offered to employees of local businesses and organizations, stated a press release.
The central goal of Healthy Lifestyle Day is to foster the adoption of healthier habits within the Sherbrooke community. This includes promoting physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet, and practicing mindful screen usage, all of which are integral to good health.
This event builds on the organizing committee’s commitment to promote healthy living. Previous initiatives include the “Course Lumineuse” held in February, workshops in day camps and schools, and the dissemination of informative web capsules and columns.
At Cégep de Sherbrooke (CdeS), organizers planned out a series of walking routes on campus to encourage students and staff to take “active breaks”. They suggested walking at least 4 km/h for periods of five to fifteen minutes between classes to help keep active.
CdeS Kinesiologist Claude Demers, who helped man their kiosk and handed out pamphlets, explained that the walks would allow people to get a breath of fresh air and need not be too lengthy; the important thing is to keep moving. Walking benefits one’s joints, muscles, tendons, and cardiovascular system, stated their handout.
CdeS Student Life Advisor Nancy Roy said they do events like this regularly on all sorts of related topics like mental health, sexual health, and nutrition. CdeS has a large committee of related experts that set the year’s program on these issues ahead of time.
According to organizers, these initiatives are particularly important in today’s society, where sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy dietary choices have become prevalent. Healthy Lifestyle Day seeks to address these issues by inspiring individuals to make positive changes in their lives.
The projects that are a part of Healthy Lifestyle Day are primarily intended for the “internal audiences” of organizations that have enthusiastically embraced the challenge. These activities will be showcased extensively on social media platforms to inspire and engage the broader population.
The event involved a diverse range of engaging activities designed to promote health and wellness. Some of the Oct. 17 highlights included:
EXP’s Local Orchard Apple Distribution: EXP distributed apples from a nearby orchard, promoting the consumption of fresh, locally sourced produce.
Cégep de Sherbrooke’s (CdeS) Walking Route and Awareness Kiosks: Participants enjoyed designated walking routes while also gaining valuable insights into healthy living through informative kiosks.
Standish’s Zumba Session: An energetic Zumba session led by Standish had participants moving and grooving to the beat.
Desjardins’ Meditation and Mindfulness Conference: A conference on meditation and mindfulness led by Desjardins offered attendees tools to reduce stress and enhance well-being.
City of Sherbrooke’s Active Challenges and Intra-organizational Competitions: The City of Sherbrooke hosted active challenges and competitions to encourage teamwork and physical activity.
“Un Fermier Dans Mon Quartier” Farmer’s Market Booth: The Center for School Services of the Région-de-Sherbrooke (CSSRS) featured a farmer’s market booth, promoting local, fresh produce.