ANOTHER SUCCESS - YOUTH EXCHANGE 2005

The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability, in partnership with YMCA Exchanges Canada, recently held it's fifth annual Youth Exchange in Ottawa. The event took place from June 28th to July 3rd and hosted 49 delegates between the ages of 14 and 17 from all over Canada. This Exchange, sponsored by Pfizer Canada, aims to expose delegates to a wide variety of active living and cultural activities.

Delegates toured the nation's capital, visited Parliament Hill, hit the ice for curling and sledge hockey, spent a day tubing on the Rideau River, tried out rock climbing, and got to know people from across the country.

The event was hosted by Ottawa's own advocates and active living enthusiasts Sally Thomas, George Simpson and Fran Cutler. This trio set the stage at the Advocacy Sessions, sharing personal experiences and expertise on how to self-advocate as well as the importance of physical activity in the lives of persons with a disability. The goal of the sessions was to encourage delegates to become Youth Ambassadors for active living.

The Youth Ambassadors are now headed back to their home towns looking for ways to advocate in their communities for active living opportunities for people with disabilities. For further information on the Youth Exchange or the Youth Ambassador Program, please contact Wendy Ireland at wendy@ala.ca.