Ideas > Community Level: Tapping Into Community Physical Activity Resources

At this level, explore ideas that help your workplace and the employees connect with people and groups, and make use of facilities and resources in the surrounding community.  Below are some ideas to help get you started.

• Encourage employees to participate in physical activities in the community. Publicize fun runs/walks, team sports, dragon boat racing or other opportunities for individual or group involvement.

• Link employees with community facilities that can assess fitness levels, or hire a qualified fitness professional to provide this service onsite.

• Invite recreation facilities and fitness clubs to showcase what they offer.

• Work with city planners to develop walking/bike paths around your workplace.

• Post a map showing several walking routes around the workplace, inside and/or out.

• Participate in physical activity campaigns such as Healthy Workplace Week, Winter Walk Day, Commuter Challenge Week, ParticipACTION events and local events happening in your area.

• Enter teams in community walks or runs. Run a contest to design a company T-shirt for employees to wear during the event.

• Subsidize employees’ enrolment in a community walking or running program designed to prepare them for a specific future event.

• Organize a lunch-and-learn series geared to employee interests. Invite experts from the community to speak. Open the sessions to neighbouring businesses.

Find out More

• Commuter Challenge Week: The National Commuter Challenge encourages Canadian communities to use active transportation to and from work.

• Healthy Workplace Month: Healthy Workplace Month celebrates workplace health in Canadian organizations.

• ParticipACTION Events Calendar: Want to know what’s happening across the country? Check out the calendar and other resources on this site.

• Encouraging Employees to be Physically Active at Local Events: This article offers tips on supporting the involvement of employees in community-based events, such as those related to health themes or “good causes.”