When the Blue Zones Project in the City of Airdrie shut down because of the pandemic last November, it looked as though the dream of becoming the healthiest city might have died with it.

Today (March 1) Mayor Peter Brown will bring his defibrillator paddles out at the City Council meeting in an effort to revive that dream.

The Mayor will bring forth a motion to create an initiative similar to that of the Blue Zones that will utilize what was learned in the project to improve the quality of health for Airdrie citizens, businesses and the community.

Airdrie had adopted the philosophy of Blue Zones, which involves 45 communities in the U.S. but none in Canada, which was to support communities to become healthier through changes to a city's environment, policy, social, health, and healthcare networks. 

At the last council meeting when Brown gave notice that he was going to make the motion, he said he'd hate to see the intellectual property the city retained from the Blue Zone Project be wasted. 

Brown believes, in some way, COVID-19 has had a positive effect by making Airdrie more health-conscious.

"Our community has become more active; it's healthier. People are more cognizant of growing vegetables in their backyards, walking, biking, if you try to buy a pair of skates around the city you won't find any. Unbeknownst to all of us, we're still following the same guidelines and principles of really becoming the healthiest community in Canada and there are so many amazing opportunities with having that name in front of who you are as a community."

The motion Brown will present today calls for the city, in collaboration with Alberta Health Serves and Alberta Health, to continue the work to become the healthiest city in Canada and use what was learned from the Blue Zones Project to continue advancing an initiative similar to it in planning activities and operations to improve the health and quality of life for Airdrie.

Council is facing a full agenda today including two items that could play into the "healthier" agenda.  Council will receive information on the sport of disc golf and will be asked to consider creating a Disc Golf Course in one of Airdrie's parks.  They'll also be provided with information on the feasibility of constructing a second skate park in Airdrie.

For those of you who prefer reading to working out, council will also be asked to allow a Free Little Library box to be placed in Nose Creek Park by the 4th Airdrie Girl Guides. 

Today's meeting gets underway at 3:30 pm. 

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