Town wins Health Education Award

Melonie Dziwenka, FCSS/Community Program Coordinator, will accept an award from the province on behalf of the Town of Morinville’s recreation team. – Morinville News Photo

by Lucie Roy

The Town of Morinville is the recipient of the Providing Health Education Award.

Melonie Dziwenka, FCSS/Community Program Coordinator said she received an email Aug. 25 from Patrick MacQuarrie, Program Officer – Communities Choose Well, Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA).

The Providing Health Education Award recognizes communities that have provided their residents with information or skills to increase their health and wellness knowledge. The Health Education is not only about communicating but developing the skills, motivation and capacity that individuals require to take action on improving their health.
Dziwenka said the award was the result of work done by the Town’s entire recreation team, made up of early childhood, youth, fitness, adult and senior health.

“They all work extremely hard to pull together all the initiatives within our Active programming,” Dziwenka said. “This award is on behalf of the whole rec team, and I just get to accept it on their behalf.

Dziwenka will accept the award on behalf of the Town Oct. 22 at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise during the upcoming ARPA Conference.

“I’m excited to be winning again,” she said. “This year we worked hard on the High Five [program] and physical literacy. Incorporating that with the healthy pieces that if you are not health, you cannot be active. The team incorporated it into every piece of programming right from early childhood to youth and adults and seniors.”

Four awards will be presented in each of five community population categories. Award categories include Creating Supportive Environments, Providing Health Education, Building Community Capacity and Developing Healthy Policies. There is also one award for Most Significant Community Change and one award for Overall Healthy Community Champion.

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