CBC Archives

Discuss the ParticipACTION program with students. Ask if they have heard of it or participated in it, or what kind of program they think it might be. Explain that its purpose was to get Canadians to become more active in the hopes of reducing health care costs in the future. Eventually, successive governments reduced funding for ParticipACTION, until it was cut completely.

Direct students to the topic Canada Gets Physical on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Have students view Clips #4, 8, and 10, and the Additional Clip “Interview with ParticipACTION ad writer.”

Students will write a letter to the local MP (who may or may not be a member of the governing party) either supporting or criticizing the decision to close ParticipACTION. Students should give reasons why they think the closure is or is not a good idea, and what they think might happen to Canadians as a result of its closure. Any students claiming money should be spent on ParticipACTION should make suggestions about where that money could come from.

Have students share their letters. How do they feel about the ideas of their classmates? Did any of the letters make them change their position?

Make a class list of students’ predictions for what might happen to Canadian levels of fitness as a result of the closure of the ParticipACTION program.

Students can design a program to replace ParticipACTION and explain what its goals and methods would be. To advertise their program, they can create print, radio, or television ads.