Grade 5 Action Pass returns to Durham Region

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department, in partnership with local municipal recreation centres and the Oshawa Mary Street YMCA, is relaunching the Grade 5 Action Pass program for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Grade 5 Action Pass gives students the opportunity to enjoy free public swimming, skating and drop-in programs at participating recreation centres across Durham Region. The pass is valid from September 2023 to August 2024 and can be used as often as the students want.

“The Grade 5 Action Pass is part of Durham Region Health Department's efforts to encourage children and youth to be physically active and develop healthy habits,” said public health nurse Tara Wheeler. “It’s a great opportunity for Grade 5 students to build physical activity into each day, helping to build a foundation for life-long healthy active living.”

Grade 5 students in Durham Region will receive an information card from their school at the beginning of the school year. To get the Grade 5 Action Pass, students will need to bring a parent or guardian, along with proof of age, address, and the information card, to a participating recreation center. Students who do not receive the card can download or print it from Durham Region Health Department website.

Children and youth need to accumulate at least one—and up to several—hours of moderate physical activity (such as swimming and skating) each day. However, according to a 2021 provincial survey, only 20.6 per cent of students reported they were engaging in at least 60 minutes of heart-pumping daily physical activity as recommended in the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth.

The Grade 5 Action Pass is supported by the City of Pickering, Town of Ajax, Town of Whitby, City of Oshawa, Municipality of Clarington, Township of Uxbridge, Township of Scugog, Township of Brock and the Oshawa Mary Street YMCA.

For more information and to learn how to get your Grade 5 Action Pass visit, durham.ca/PhysicalActivity or call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-666-6241 or 1-800-841-2729.

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For more information, please contact the Health Department.